New Walmart provides 300 jobs, plus savings on wide selection of merchandise
EL PASO, Texas, May 1, 2012 – A new Walmart opens this month in El Paso, bringing 300 new jobs, savings for local shoppers 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 5631 Dyer St., will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Friday, May 11, following a 7:30 a.m., ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Economic Impact Includes 300 New Jobs
The new El Paso Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager Jarrod West. West began his Walmart career in 2003 as an hourly associate at a store in Charleston, Ill.
Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
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 El Paso Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.
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 layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said West. “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 and Site-to-Store pick-up location 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.
Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
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. Those receiving grants are Special Olympics, Chapin High School Band Boosters and Bassett Middle School.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The El Paso 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.
Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., May 11
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Friday, May 11, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chapin High School Choir will perform the national anthem and Chapin High School will present the colors. The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon to the new store.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 10,000 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 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 Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.
FACT SHEET
El Paso Walmart
Store facts
- Location: 5631 Dyer St., El Paso, Texas
- 150,000-square-foot Walmart
- Store opens at 8 a.m., Friday, May 11, following a 7:30 a.m., ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Jarrod West
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Store features
- 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 and digital photo processing center
- Leased areas include a Subway restaurant and First Convenience Bank
Charitable giving
$5,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations:
- Special Olympics
- Chapin High School Band Boosters
- Bassett Middle School
Employment
- Store plans to employ approximately 300 associates
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Texas is approximately $12.26 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 quarterly incentive based on the company performance.
* Average wage taken January 2012. See www.walmartstores.com for details.
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