New Walmart provides 300 jobs, plus savings on wide selection of merchandise
RED OAK, Texas, May 16, 2012 – A new Walmart opens today in Red Oak, 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 100 Ryan Drive, will be open to customers at 8:15 a.m., Wednesday, May 16.
Economic Impact Includes 300 New Jobs
The new Red Oak Walmart will employ approximately 300 associates, according to store manager Josh Aston. Aston is a Texas native who began his Walmart career in 1995 as an hourly cart pusher at a store in College Station, Texas.
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 Red Oak 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 Aston. “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.
Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $3,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The Special Olympics and the Ellis County Sherriff’s Department Explorer Unit will each receive $1,000. Funds will also be distributed to the Red Oak Police Department.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Red Oak 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 an innovative super-efficient refrigeration system and a recycling program that includes organic composting and will promote sustainable product purchases.
Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 8 a.m., May 16
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 16, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. A store associate will perform the national anthem and members of a local high school will present the colors. Mayor Alan Hugley 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
Red Oak Walmart
Store facts
- Location: 100 Ryan Drive, Red Oak, Texas
- Store opens at 8:15 a.m., Wednesday, May 16, following an 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Josh Aston
- 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, digital photo processing center, Walmart Connect Center, hair salon and bank
Charitable giving
$3,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations
- Special Olympics
- Ellis County Sherriff Dept. Explorer Unit
- Red Oak Police Department
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, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.
* Average wage taken January 2012. See www.walmartstores.com for details.
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