Renovated store offers a glimpse into the next generation of shopping
VIVIAN, La., July 21, 2010 – The Vivian Walmart, located at 929 S. Pine 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 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., Friday, July 30. 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.
“We listened to our customers and have redesigned the store to make shopping at Walmart even easier,” said store manager Dawn Lafitte.
Mayor Stephen G. Taylor said, “We are excited to see the renovations at the Vivian Walmart, a place where we are able to shop for a variety of items and also visit with neighbors and friends. We are especially proud of the national recognition our local store received in 2006 as the ‘Home Store of the Year,’ the number of jobs provided to local residents and the sales tax revenue it generates for our town.”
New Layout Improves Customer Experience
The remodeled Vivian 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.
“The new layout is easier to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for necessities,” said Lafitte.
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.
Expanded Departments Add Value and Savings
The remodel also brings Walmart customers an expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The new design includes a more hands-on experience for customers with interactive displays for hi-definition Blu-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The interactive experience enables shoppers to test new technology.
A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons, helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap.
Grand Re-opening Activities
The grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for Friday, July 30, and will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. During the ceremony, associates will present the Children’s Miracle Network with the store’s total contribution raised so far this year.
“In addition to the Children’s Miracle Network, we’ve supported local agencies and community charitable efforts for years with grants from the Walmart Foundation and by hosting fundraisers, providing volunteers and giving in-kind merchandise donations,” said Lafitte. “We think of them as our partners and consider it a privilege to support the good work they do.”
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.
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 www.walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.
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