Walmart Ready to Reveal New Store to North Olmsted Shoppers

 Expanded Walmart provides 85 new jobs, full line of groceries, savings on wide selection of merchandise

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio, July 17, 2012 – A newly expanded Walmart opens this month in North Olmsted, bringing 85 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 North Olmsted Walmart, located at 24801 Brook Park Road, will open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 18.

North Olmsted Mayor Kevin Kennedy appreciates Walmart’s commitment to the community and says that Walmart has built a loyal base in North Olmsted. “Walmart has been a great corporate citizen of North Olmsted. Their efforts in beautifying their community not just at their own location, but throughout the entire area, have been top of the line,” said Kennedy.

The expanded North Olmsted Walmart will employ approximately 400 associates, according to store manager Wanda Stallworth, including 85 new positions created by the expansion. Stallworth began her Walmart career in 2011 as a developmental store manager. Thirteen associates have worked for Walmart since the store originally opened in 1995, and 80 associates have worked for Walmart for 10 years.

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 North Olmsted Walmart, with fast service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Stallworth. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase, including household cleaning 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.

The store now offers customers a complete grocery department, including a bakery featuring custom cakes and artisan breads, deli, dairy, frozen food, a meat department and fresh produce. The pharmacy is now adjacent to health and beauty, making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their everyday needs.

The electronics department features a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment, including hi-definition Blu-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The new digital photo lab is located in the electronics department and can produce posters, customized greeting cards, calendars and digital prints. Customers now have easy access to these services with associates on hand to help meet their needs.

The North Olmsted Walmart also added a fabric department and an expanded Celebration Station, featuring party supplies, greeting cards, balloons, helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap. Walmart also combined the customer service desk and Site-to-Store pick-up location in one area near the entrance.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $2,000 in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. These grants will be presented to local service organizations, including the City of North Olmsted, to support the educational scholarship fund, and the North Olmsted Police Department for its Safety Town project.

Like all new Walmart stores, the Walmart includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

The store also operates a recycling program, an organic waste recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.

Community and business leaders will join North Olmsted Mayor Kevin Kennedy and Walmart associates at 8 a.m., Wednesday, July 18, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Members of the North Olmsted Veterans of Foreign Wars will present the colors and store associate Candi Allgood will sing the national anthem.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 10,130 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.

• Location: 24801 Brook Park Road, North Olmsted, Ohio
• 160,000 square-foot Walmart
• Store opens Wednesday, July 18, following an 8 a.m., ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Wanda Stallworth
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• Full line of groceries, including a bakery, a deli with 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, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
• Leased space includes a branch of US Bank, a Subway restaurant and a Smart Style hair salon.

• Store plans to employ approximately 400 associates, including 85 positions created by the expansion
• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Ohio is approximately $12.85 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 April 2012. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

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