Walmart Brings New Shopping Experience to Lake City

 Newly relocated Walmart provides 85 new jobs

LAKE CITY, S.C., Sept.1, 2011 – A new Walmart opens this month in Lake City, bringing approximately 85 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 900 Highway 52, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14.

“Florence County Council has made economic development its number one priority, and we see Walmart’s grand opening as affirmation of our continual ascent to prosperity,” said Rusty Smith, council chairman. “The new store represents strong corporate investment providing much needed employment and confirmation of the economic strength of the Greater Lake City area.”

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 Lake City Walmart.

The new Walmart features wide aisles, 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 layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said store manager Al Beckum. “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.

Approximately 85 new jobs were created as a result of the relocation. More than 20 of the store’s associates have worked at the store since its original opening 30 years ago, and 18 associates have worked for Walmart for more than 20 years.

The Lake 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, Sept. 14 for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Lake City High School ROTC will present the colors, and a store associate will perform the national anthem.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,600 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

• Location: 900 Highway 52, Lake City, S.C.
• Formerly located at 230 Kelley St.
• 148,218-square-foot Walmart
• Store opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Al Beckum
• Open 24 hours, seven 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 beer and wine
• More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
• Convenience services include a pharmacy, vision center, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center

• Grants from the Walmart Foundation will be distributed to local organizations

• Store plans to employ approximately 300 associates, including 85 new positions created by the relocation
• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in South Carolina is approximately $12.16 per hour*
• Walmart’s benefit program is available to eligible full- and part-time associates and provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including medical insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise for store associates, a Sam’s Club membership for club associates, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive an annual incentive based on the company performance.

* Average wage taken June 2011. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

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