Community of Elk City Welcomes New Walmart

Newly relocated Walmart provides 150 new jobs, $5,000 in local grants

ELK CITY, Okla., Oct. 20, 2010 – A new Walmart opens this month in Elk City, bringing approximately 350 planned new jobs, savings on a full line of groceries and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 20221 E.1110 Road, will be open to customers at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27.

In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Elk City Walmart.

The new Walmart features enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said store manager Lee Litterell. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase, including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.”

A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. Walmart also combined the customer service desk, Site-to-Store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs.

Approximately 150 new jobs were created as a result of the relocation. More than 65 of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $5,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following local organizations are among those receiving funds to support programs that serve the community: Canute Ag Boosters, Elk City Fire Department and Beckham County Sheriff’s Office.

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.

The Elk City Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

The cement used in the concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.

Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27 for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Doors to the new store will open immediately following the grand-opening event.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,600 retail units under 55 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.0 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2010 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.

• Location: 20221 E.1110 Road, Elk City, Okla.
• Formerly located at 3105 W. 3rd
• 180,000-square-foot Walmart, gaining 86,000 additional square feet
• Store opens at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Lee Litterell
• Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

• Full line of groceries including a bakery, a deli serving fresh food and meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and a full liquor department
• More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a drive-through lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
• Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center

$5,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to various area organizations, including:

• Canute Ag Boosters
• Elk City Fire Department
• Beckham County Sheriff’s Office

• Store plans to employ approximately 350 associates, including 150 new positions created by the relocation
• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Oklahoma is approximately $11.89 per hour*
• Walmart benefits – available to eligible full- and part-time associates – include health insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, company performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance

* Average wage taken September 2010. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

###