Renovated store offers a glimpse into the next generation of shopping
INDIANAPOLIS, July 12, 2010 – The Indianapolis Walmart, located at 3221 W. 86th St., will celebrate a grand re-opening this week, giving local shoppers a glimpse of the company’s next generation of store design and customer experience. The results of a three-month remodeling project will be unveiled at the Indianapolis Walmart at 7:30 a.m., Friday, July 16. Among the many improvements are a new layout, wider aisles, low-profile shelving, bright interior paint scheme, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signage to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers.
New Layout Improves Customer Experience
The remodeled Indianapolis store features a more open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently, making it quicker to purchase everyday items, including moving the pet department next to the grocery department.
“We listened to our customers and have redesigned the store to make shopping at Walmart even easier,” said store manager Steve Dubbs.
A bright interior paint scheme and enhanced lighting create a more inviting shopping experience and help define the store’s merchandise areas. Low-profile shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage helps customers find the products they need.
Among the changes, Walmart upgraded the pharmacy and vision center, creating a much friendlier, accessible experience. Customers will appreciate that the store now offers pre-cut fabrics and upgraded all of the 28 registers with new touch screens for faster checkout.
Expanded Departments Add Value and Savings
The remodel brings Walmart customers expanded departments and added values. The grocery department features new produce displays and added shelf space for gluten-free, organic and ethnic product offerings. The infant department expanded to offer additional accessories, clothing and furniture.
The electronics department doubled in size and now features a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with expansive video gaming selection and portable electronics. The interactive experience enables shoppers to test new technology. In addition, the store offers convenient photo processing in the digital lab now located next to the electronics.
A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons and helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap.
Grand Re-opening Activities Include Support for Local Organizations
The grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for Friday, July 16, and will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Store associates who have been working at the store for more than 15 years will help Dubbs cut the ribbon to the remodeled store and members of the local VFW will present the colors. Associate Shelia Brown and her family will sing the national anthem.
During the ceremony, store associates will present $4,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to local organizations. The grant recipients include Guion Elementary School, Indianapolis Police Department, Pike Township Fire Department, Pike High School and the local VFW post.
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed $2 billion to U.S. hunger relief efforts through 2015. The Fighting Hunger Together campaign will also engage Walmart customers and associates in the fight against hunger. More information can be found at walmart.com/fightinghunger.
Commitment to the Environment
The store is also committed to being a good environmental steward. Part of the cement used in the store’s concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the baseboards are manufactured from 100 percent recycled plastic. The photo department also uses green technology, operating completely without liquid chemicals for photo processing. The store also has improved its recycling efforts with a new recycling program which features a sandwich bale process that takes all loose plastic, hangers, aluminum cans and office paper, sandwiches them between cardboard, bundles them into bales and sends them to recycling centers. In addition, the store will be composting all organic products.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at walmart.com and samsclub.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTES
- Steve Dubbs, store manager, can provide details about the grand re-opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 317-875-0273.
- Walmart PR and Brand Reputation, 800-331-0085
- Media contact: Joanna King, Mitchell Communications Group, 312-399-1821
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the legal trade name of the corporation. The name "Walmart," expressed as one word and without punctuation, is a trademark of the company and is used analogously to describe the company and its stores. Use the trade name when it is necessary to identify the legal entity, such as when reporting financial results, litigation or corporate governance.