March 10, 2009 – Walmart’s 19-year commitment to Beardstown will hit a new milestone this month when the retailer opens the community’s first Supercenter. With nearly 100,000 square feet and 150 associates, the Super center, newly relocated to 100 Lincoln Ave., includes a full line of groceries, expanded merchandise selections and a variety of time-saving services. Doors to the Super center open at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 18, after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. As part of the festivities, associates will hand out $10,000 in grants to local food banks.
“We’ve been proud to serve the Beardstown community since we opened in 1990,” Store Manager Jenny Coad said. “Our relocated and expanded store brings new jobs to our community and additional savings that our customers count on, especially in these tough economic times.”
The Beardstown Super center will not only save shoppers time and money, but also will strengthen the city’s economy by adding to the tax base.
“I believe everyone in the area is eagerly awaiting the opening of the new store,” said Mayor Bob Walters. “The store will offer new jobs and career opportunities for area residents, as well as a new grocery department and expanded selection of merchandise for consumers. It will increase revenue for our city and our schools. We anticipate that Walmart will serve as an anchor store for future economic growth in the immediate area. These are extremely important factors given today’s economic climate.”
The Beardstown store is one of two Walmart Super centers opening in Illinois March 18. The other is located in Orland Hills. Walmart is opening 10 Supercenters across the country in March. They are among the first stores to feature the new Walmart logo and store design. Last June, Walmart announced that U.S. locations would update store logos as part of an ongoing evolution of its overall brand.
One-Stop Shopping Close to Home
The 98,695-square-foot Super center is designed as a convenient one-stop family shopping center, featuring a full line of groceries as well as a bakery, a delicatessen, a frozen food section and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. Merchandise areas include apparel and accessories, sporting goods, electronics, home, fine jewelry and health and beauty, all at unbeatable prices.
“At Walmart, we're committed to saving people money so they can live better,” Coad said. “In today's economy, our customers are looking to us to be an advocate and find solutions that save them money on their groceries and other products that their families need.”
New Layout Improves Customer Experience
The Super center is designed to make shopping easy for customers. The new store features wider aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers than ever before. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently.
The layout creates an open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas.
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.
“In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh our stores, our merchandising and our customer experience,” said Coad. “The improvements we’ve been making have all come together in our new store.”
Store’s Expansion Brings 50 New Jobs
The Supercenter plans to employ approximately 150 associates, including approximately 50 new positions created by the relocation.
“I’m happy to be a part of this relocation, as we now have the opportunity to provide additional jobs and career opportunities to the community,” Coad said. Like most Walmart store managers, she started her career with Walmart as an hourly associate. She joined the company in 1983, working as a sales clerk at a store in Jacksonville. She is one of 29 of the Beardstown store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Twelve associates have worked at the store since its original opening in 1990.
Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Beardstown Super center, 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 throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.
Part of 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.
Food Banks Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $10,000 in grants from the WalMart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. Associates selected three local food banks to receive grants to support their hunger-relief efforts. Recipients include Cass County Health Department Food Basket, Schuyler County Food Basket and the Two Rivers Council Foundation. “With these grand-opening grants, we wanted to support agencies that help families through hard times and contribute to a higher quality of life in our community,” Coad said.
Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., March 18
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Walmart associate Linda Williams will perform the national anthem and members of the local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will present the colors. Local community leaders will join Coad to cut the ribbon to the new store. Throughout the day, customers will be able to enjoy character appearances, product samples and giveaways.
About WalMart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart Stores, super centers, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. WalMart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $296 million to local communities in the United States.
EDITORS’ NOTE
• An invitation-only open house for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, March 16. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
FACT SHEET
Beardstown Walmart Supercenter
Store facts
* Location: 100 Lincoln Ave., Beardstown, Ill.
* Originally opened in 1990 at 61 Plaza Dr.
* 98,695-square-foot Walmart Supercenter, gaining an additional 44,000 square feet
* Store opens at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 18, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
* Store manager: Jenny Coad
Store features
* Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce
* More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics
* Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
* Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday through Saturday.
Charitable giving
$10,000 in charitable contributions to the following area organizations:
* Cass County Health Department Food Basket
* Schuyler County Food Basket
* Two Rivers Council Foundation
Employment
* Store plans to employ approximately 150 associates, including approximately 50 positions created by the relocation.
* Twenty-nine of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years.
* Twelve associates have worked at the Beardstown store since it originally opened in 1990.
* Store manager Jenny Coad started her career with Walmart as an hourly associate in 1983, working as a sales clerk at a store in Jacksonville.
* The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Illinois is approximately $11.67 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 February 2009.
WalMart in Illinois
As of February, WalMart employed 50,595 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in Illinois:
* Supercenters: 90
* Discount Stores: 57
* Sam’s Clubs: 29
* Distribution Centers: 5
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Lakeview receives $500 donation for Mystic women's volunteering efforts Michael Schaffer, Daily Iowegian, Centerville, Iowa
Mar. 9-The volunteer efforts of two Mystic women has paid off in the form of a $500 donation to Lakeview Elementary School.
Cheryl Upton, Donnabell Repp's daughter, and both WalMart employees, have for several years taken advantage of the company's volunteer program. And for the past three months they both volunteered time for Mary Beth Thomas' fourth-grade class at Lakeview.
"If you volunteer 20-25 hours for the three months, WalMart donates $250 per person for that time," Upton said. "You can do it for so many quarters. January is the starting date and then it ends like in May. And then the other starting date is in September and it ends in December. And both of them quarters you can get $250 per person that works at Wal-Mart."
For Upton, she has been taking advantage of the volunteer program since her son attended kindergarten in Mystic.
"I did it in Mystic from kindergarten to third and then when he came here, I said I wasn't going to do it anymore," Upton said. "Mary Beth was my school bus driver. So, here I am again."
Now in their fifth year, they both have raised $5,000 for various schools.
The $500 donation made Thursday afternoon at Lakeview was used to pay SIEDA Headstart teacher Shawna Morgan for painting a main mural and several other motivational sayings in the hallways. She said the mural and sayings are trying to teach the children about respect.
"It's all about PBIS, Positive Behavior Interventions and Support," Morgan said. "And it's just about respecting the hallways and the school and each other and the teachers."
Morgan said the paintings took approximately 30 hours to complete. The main mural is a big white capital C with "True Reds" inserted into it surrounded by the words "Respect, "Caring," "Safety" and "Responsibility" in red. The two sayings in the hallways are, "True Reds Feel the Pulse" and "True Reds Get on Beat," and they feature a picture of a heartbeat.
Lakeview Elementary School Principal Mike Halupnick, who delivered the $500 check to Morgan, explained PBIS.
"And we'll start it next year. We have selected various areas of the school where we have behavioral problems and we're developing lessons to teach kids how to act in those particular areas," Halupnick said. "And they'll be taught when school starts."
Halupnick said the program has a system of rewards for kids who behave and it has a tracking system to see if the program is working.
"We'll have a database system that we're working with through the AEA and so we'll know whether it's working," Halupnick said. "Because we'll track the behaviors. If they go down, we know its working. And if it's not, we'll have to change it."
The message is how to be "True Reds."
"If you're a "True Red" you know respect, caring, safety and responsibility," Halupnick said.
Thanks to Morgan's artistic talents, the approximately 315 fourth- fifth- and sixth-grade students at Lake view have hallway reminders to be "True Reds."
Cheryl Upton, Donnabell Repp's daughter, and both WalMart employees, have for several years taken advantage of the company's volunteer program. And for the past three months they both volunteered time for Mary Beth Thomas' fourth-grade class at Lakeview.
"If you volunteer 20-25 hours for the three months, WalMart donates $250 per person for that time," Upton said. "You can do it for so many quarters. January is the starting date and then it ends like in May. And then the other starting date is in September and it ends in December. And both of them quarters you can get $250 per person that works at Wal-Mart."
For Upton, she has been taking advantage of the volunteer program since her son attended kindergarten in Mystic.
"I did it in Mystic from kindergarten to third and then when he came here, I said I wasn't going to do it anymore," Upton said. "Mary Beth was my school bus driver. So, here I am again."
Now in their fifth year, they both have raised $5,000 for various schools.
The $500 donation made Thursday afternoon at Lakeview was used to pay SIEDA Headstart teacher Shawna Morgan for painting a main mural and several other motivational sayings in the hallways. She said the mural and sayings are trying to teach the children about respect.
"It's all about PBIS, Positive Behavior Interventions and Support," Morgan said. "And it's just about respecting the hallways and the school and each other and the teachers."
Morgan said the paintings took approximately 30 hours to complete. The main mural is a big white capital C with "True Reds" inserted into it surrounded by the words "Respect, "Caring," "Safety" and "Responsibility" in red. The two sayings in the hallways are, "True Reds Feel the Pulse" and "True Reds Get on Beat," and they feature a picture of a heartbeat.
Lakeview Elementary School Principal Mike Halupnick, who delivered the $500 check to Morgan, explained PBIS.
"And we'll start it next year. We have selected various areas of the school where we have behavioral problems and we're developing lessons to teach kids how to act in those particular areas," Halupnick said. "And they'll be taught when school starts."
Halupnick said the program has a system of rewards for kids who behave and it has a tracking system to see if the program is working.
"We'll have a database system that we're working with through the AEA and so we'll know whether it's working," Halupnick said. "Because we'll track the behaviors. If they go down, we know its working. And if it's not, we'll have to change it."
The message is how to be "True Reds."
"If you're a "True Red" you know respect, caring, safety and responsibility," Halupnick said.
Thanks to Morgan's artistic talents, the approximately 315 fourth- fifth- and sixth-grade students at Lake view have hallway reminders to be "True Reds."
Lt. Gov. Bauer to bring Blanket Blitz 2009 to Upstate Monday stops scheduled for Anderson, Pickens and Seneca; event caters to seniors in need
More than 3,600 blankets will be distributed to seniors in need throughout South Carolina over the next few weeks through Blanket Blitz 2009.
The program is a cooperative effort of Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer's Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation, the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Duke Energy Foundation and other donors.
"I am excited to kick off another round of blanket distributions again this year. Having strong corporate partners like WalMart and Duke means a great deal to me and the Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation's efforts to help our senior citizens," Bauer said. "My grandparents kept a blanket handy year-round in their later years, and many people will find a great deal of comfort in this small gesture of a warm blanket."
Chris Neeley, director of governmental affairs for WalMart Stores Inc., said, "WalMart's 27,716 South Carolina associates are proud to assist Lt. Gov. Bauer with this worthwhile endeavor. Wal-Mart strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in our communities and has a particular interest in supporting underserved groups and individuals with disabilities."
The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $17,500 to the initiative.
"Duke Energy Carolinas understands that many people are in need during these challenging times, especially the elderly. We are pleased to support Lt. Gov. Bauer's Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation and its efforts to assist South Carolina's senior citizens," said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy Carolinas.
The Duke Energy Foundation donated $10,000 to the initiative.
Bauer as well as representatives from Duke Energy and Wal-Mart will distribute blankets at the following times and locations Monday:
8 a.m. Seneca Seneca WalMart 1636 Sandifer Blvd.
9 a.m. Pickens Cannon Memorial Hospital 123 W.G. Acker Drive
10:15 a.m. Anderson Anderson Meals on Wheels 105 S. Fant St.
Noon-1 p.m. Greenwood WLMA, Ann Elder Show
3 p.m. McCormick McCormick Senior Center 1300 S. Main St.
4:15 p.m. North Augusta Aiken Area Council on Aging Home Delivered Meals program Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 1002 Carolina Ave.
The program is a cooperative effort of Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer's Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation, the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Duke Energy Foundation and other donors.
"I am excited to kick off another round of blanket distributions again this year. Having strong corporate partners like WalMart and Duke means a great deal to me and the Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation's efforts to help our senior citizens," Bauer said. "My grandparents kept a blanket handy year-round in their later years, and many people will find a great deal of comfort in this small gesture of a warm blanket."
Chris Neeley, director of governmental affairs for WalMart Stores Inc., said, "WalMart's 27,716 South Carolina associates are proud to assist Lt. Gov. Bauer with this worthwhile endeavor. Wal-Mart strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in our communities and has a particular interest in supporting underserved groups and individuals with disabilities."
The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $17,500 to the initiative.
"Duke Energy Carolinas understands that many people are in need during these challenging times, especially the elderly. We are pleased to support Lt. Gov. Bauer's Palmetto Tomorrow Foundation and its efforts to assist South Carolina's senior citizens," said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy Carolinas.
The Duke Energy Foundation donated $10,000 to the initiative.
Bauer as well as representatives from Duke Energy and Wal-Mart will distribute blankets at the following times and locations Monday:
8 a.m. Seneca Seneca WalMart 1636 Sandifer Blvd.
9 a.m. Pickens Cannon Memorial Hospital 123 W.G. Acker Drive
10:15 a.m. Anderson Anderson Meals on Wheels 105 S. Fant St.
Noon-1 p.m. Greenwood WLMA, Ann Elder Show
3 p.m. McCormick McCormick Senior Center 1300 S. Main St.
4:15 p.m. North Augusta Aiken Area Council on Aging Home Delivered Meals program Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 1002 Carolina Ave.
Help for the consumer; Cutting of generic drug prices is a break that merits praise
Retailers are acutely in tune with the current difficult economic times, which are reflected woefully in lower sales figures. That awareness is reflected, to the benefit of consumers, in the lowering of prescription drug prices at WalMart, with stores like Wegmans following suit.
Whether this is purely altruism is a matter of fruitless discussion. It could be that these moves are borne out of competitiveness in an increasingly discerning market, but so what? It's a boon for consumers, and the stores deserve credit for providing it.
The latest news: Wegmans customers with a Shoppers Club card will discover lower prices on 389 generic prescription medications at the chain's pharmacies. Certain generic drugs will be reduced, with 30-day prescriptions for $4 and 90-day supplies at $10. Wegmans had already started offering select generics for $11.99 for 90-day supply back in 2006, shortly after WalMart started selling generics at $4 for a 30-day supply.
Moreover, Wegmans also is adding free generic oral antibiotics during the cold and flu season. By doing so, the Rochester-based company has raised the stakes. This response can only be good for cash-strapped consumers. Competition is good.
WalMart, in making its initial offers, may have been feeling the pinch of accusations that the company was not providing health insurance to its own employees. Lowering drug prices did boost the company's public image, and competitive forces encourage other companies to match offers. The loss of a customer would be potentially much greater than the profit margin companies would absorb on the medicine.
From an economic angle, these companies do not want to lose shoppers because, once that happens, they tend to be lost indefinitely. The grocery basket contains a variety of products, some of which are high-margin and others that are low margin -- for example, store brands, which are more profitable than nationally advertised brands. A shift in customer loyalty would mean a loss of money on private-label brands for one store and a gain for the other; the cost to companies from lowering generic drug prices could be minimal but the potential rewards much greater.
That said, there's also another element that can't simply be dismissed. These stores exist within our communities, and share the community's pain. Extending help on such vital commodities as medicines doesn't just make economic sense, it's an act of good corporate citizenship as well. These companies are enhancing their image in the minds of consumers, but they're also providing some real help in tough times. Expect consumers to be more than willing to accept the offer.
Whether this is purely altruism is a matter of fruitless discussion. It could be that these moves are borne out of competitiveness in an increasingly discerning market, but so what? It's a boon for consumers, and the stores deserve credit for providing it.
The latest news: Wegmans customers with a Shoppers Club card will discover lower prices on 389 generic prescription medications at the chain's pharmacies. Certain generic drugs will be reduced, with 30-day prescriptions for $4 and 90-day supplies at $10. Wegmans had already started offering select generics for $11.99 for 90-day supply back in 2006, shortly after WalMart started selling generics at $4 for a 30-day supply.
Moreover, Wegmans also is adding free generic oral antibiotics during the cold and flu season. By doing so, the Rochester-based company has raised the stakes. This response can only be good for cash-strapped consumers. Competition is good.
WalMart, in making its initial offers, may have been feeling the pinch of accusations that the company was not providing health insurance to its own employees. Lowering drug prices did boost the company's public image, and competitive forces encourage other companies to match offers. The loss of a customer would be potentially much greater than the profit margin companies would absorb on the medicine.
From an economic angle, these companies do not want to lose shoppers because, once that happens, they tend to be lost indefinitely. The grocery basket contains a variety of products, some of which are high-margin and others that are low margin -- for example, store brands, which are more profitable than nationally advertised brands. A shift in customer loyalty would mean a loss of money on private-label brands for one store and a gain for the other; the cost to companies from lowering generic drug prices could be minimal but the potential rewards much greater.
That said, there's also another element that can't simply be dismissed. These stores exist within our communities, and share the community's pain. Extending help on such vital commodities as medicines doesn't just make economic sense, it's an act of good corporate citizenship as well. These companies are enhancing their image in the minds of consumers, but they're also providing some real help in tough times. Expect consumers to be more than willing to accept the offer.
A ray of shopping sunshine
Americans bagged plenty of discount goods and even some pricey fashion merchandise in February, giving retailers reason for hope after a protracted recession-induced sales slump.
The main driver was WalMart, the world's largest retailer, which reported a 5.1% surge in its same-store sales last month.
That was more than double analysts' estimates for a 2.4% increase, according to sales tracker Thomson Reuters.
Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a month, are a key measure of a retailer's health.
As a result of WalMart's performance, Thomson Reuters said overall February same-store sales for a group of 35 retailers that includes WalMart rose 0.3%, breaking a four-month string of monthly sales declines
The firm originally forecast February sales to decline 1.2% versus a 2.2% increase a year ago.
WalMart last reported a same-store sales gain over 5% in June 2008, when its sales increased 5.8% on the back of robust back-to-school merchandise sales.
The retailer's net sales for the month rose 2.8% to $30 billion. Separately, citing the "strength of [WalMart's] operations," the company upped its annual dividend Thursday by 15% to $1.09 a share.
WalMart said falling gas prices helped boost its discount customers' shopping budgets.
More importantly, the company said it saw an increase in both customer traffic and the average amount spent.
The retailer averages more than 130 million shoppers to its stores every week.
Some optimism
Given WalMart's status as a broad barometer of consumer strength, there's some cautious sentiment that Americans are starting to feel a bit more optimistic about the economy and their jobs.
"Although WalMart may have been the poster child of February's relatively better-than-expected industry sales performance, there was a slightly broader industry improvement for the month," said Michael Niemira, chief economist and director of research with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
"Moreover, the last four months show an increasingly less negative performance for the industry, which is an encouraging sign and one that ultimately will form a foundation for stronger sales performance later in the year," he added.
Others adopted a wait-and-see approach.
"It's certainly good that these [retail sales] numbers aren't as bad as they've been but you need to be careful not to be put too much stock in one month's data," said Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics with Moody's Economy.com.
Retail analysts point out that January and February typically are two of the slowest sales months of the year.
The other takeaway, Hoyt said, is that WalMart's results showed consumers are still shopping more for necessities than for discretionary items.
To his point, a number of higher-end merchants suffered same-store sales declines last month. Department store chain Macy's logged an 8.3% sales drop, sales at Gap Inc. fell 12%, high-end seller Nordstrom posted a decline of 15.4% and sales at Abercrombie & Fitch tumbled 30%
"Americans are still losing jobs at a prodigious rate, stock prices and home values are falling," Hoyt said. "There's not a lot of fundamental support to lift spending right now."
Stimulus question
Instead, Hoyt said he's waiting to see April and May sales results after most households receive payroll tax credits as part of President Obama's economic stimulus package.
"We'll see if consumer spending picks up in April and May after the stimulus takes effect," he said.
Besides WalMart, other merchants also reported slight improvements in their sales. Of the 35 retailers it tracks, Thomson Reuters said 57% beat analysts estimates while 43% missed expectations.
Among the most obvious winners, fashion seller The Buckle posted a 21% surge in its same-store sales and teen clothier Hot Topic logged a strong 10.8% sales gain.
A few other chains, including J.C. Penney andAmerican Eagle Outfitters reported sales drops, but the declines were about half of what analysts had forecasted.
The main driver was WalMart, the world's largest retailer, which reported a 5.1% surge in its same-store sales last month.
That was more than double analysts' estimates for a 2.4% increase, according to sales tracker Thomson Reuters.
Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a month, are a key measure of a retailer's health.
As a result of WalMart's performance, Thomson Reuters said overall February same-store sales for a group of 35 retailers that includes WalMart rose 0.3%, breaking a four-month string of monthly sales declines
The firm originally forecast February sales to decline 1.2% versus a 2.2% increase a year ago.
WalMart last reported a same-store sales gain over 5% in June 2008, when its sales increased 5.8% on the back of robust back-to-school merchandise sales.
The retailer's net sales for the month rose 2.8% to $30 billion. Separately, citing the "strength of [WalMart's] operations," the company upped its annual dividend Thursday by 15% to $1.09 a share.
WalMart said falling gas prices helped boost its discount customers' shopping budgets.
More importantly, the company said it saw an increase in both customer traffic and the average amount spent.
The retailer averages more than 130 million shoppers to its stores every week.
Some optimism
Given WalMart's status as a broad barometer of consumer strength, there's some cautious sentiment that Americans are starting to feel a bit more optimistic about the economy and their jobs.
"Although WalMart may have been the poster child of February's relatively better-than-expected industry sales performance, there was a slightly broader industry improvement for the month," said Michael Niemira, chief economist and director of research with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
"Moreover, the last four months show an increasingly less negative performance for the industry, which is an encouraging sign and one that ultimately will form a foundation for stronger sales performance later in the year," he added.
Others adopted a wait-and-see approach.
"It's certainly good that these [retail sales] numbers aren't as bad as they've been but you need to be careful not to be put too much stock in one month's data," said Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics with Moody's Economy.com.
Retail analysts point out that January and February typically are two of the slowest sales months of the year.
The other takeaway, Hoyt said, is that WalMart's results showed consumers are still shopping more for necessities than for discretionary items.
To his point, a number of higher-end merchants suffered same-store sales declines last month. Department store chain Macy's logged an 8.3% sales drop, sales at Gap Inc. fell 12%, high-end seller Nordstrom posted a decline of 15.4% and sales at Abercrombie & Fitch tumbled 30%
"Americans are still losing jobs at a prodigious rate, stock prices and home values are falling," Hoyt said. "There's not a lot of fundamental support to lift spending right now."
Stimulus question
Instead, Hoyt said he's waiting to see April and May sales results after most households receive payroll tax credits as part of President Obama's economic stimulus package.
"We'll see if consumer spending picks up in April and May after the stimulus takes effect," he said.
Besides WalMart, other merchants also reported slight improvements in their sales. Of the 35 retailers it tracks, Thomson Reuters said 57% beat analysts estimates while 43% missed expectations.
Among the most obvious winners, fashion seller The Buckle posted a 21% surge in its same-store sales and teen clothier Hot Topic logged a strong 10.8% sales gain.
A few other chains, including J.C. Penney andAmerican Eagle Outfitters reported sales drops, but the declines were about half of what analysts had forecasted.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Walmart Plans for Twilight Events and Includes "Star talk" with Taylor Lautner
Fans can send an “eBite” to friends for DVD movie release activities
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 2, 2009 –Walmart today announced detailed plans to bring teens, women and “Twilighters” of all ages more access to their beloved Twilight story as it gears up for the March 21 DVD release from Summit Entertainment. Bringing “Twilight shops” to all Walmart stores next month, the retailer announced today it will also host midnight events and giveaways in its 24-hour stores upon the DVD’s release, including a program for fans to interview Twilight cast member Taylor Lautner on BlogTalkRadio.
Today, its special micro site www.walmart.com/twilight shares more details on these events, viewing party ideas, new behind-the-scenes movie footage, and a way to engage friends with a create-your-own electronic invitation (“eBite”) on the site.
“Fans of all ages have fallen in love with the Twilight series and we will bring to as many as possible special access to the stars, great priced products and additional, memorable activities around this DVD movie release, both in our stores and online,” says Greg Hall, vice president, Merchandising at Walmart.
Behind the Scenes with Taylor Lautner (aka Jacob Black) on BlogTalkRadio
In partnership with BlogTalkRadio, Walmart will host actor Taylor Lautner, who plays “Jacob Black” in Twilight, on the “Stardish Radio” program March 9, 2009 at 9 pm (EST). Speaking from the set of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon, Taylor will take questions from fans “logged in” to BlogTalkRadio with hosts Jo Ann Kubasek (Stardish Radio) and Amy Clark (MomAdvice).
“BlogTalkRadio is excited to join forces with Walmart to bring Twilight fans direct access to one of the year’s hottest new actors,” said Alan Levy, CEO of BlogTalkRadio. “By logging onto our live broadcast, they’ll be able to interact with other members of the hit film’s rapidly-expanding global community to talk about the movie and hear directly from Taylor about his experience.”
Midnight Twilight Events and In-Store Giveaways
Walmart plans to give fans thirsting for more Twilight a good reason to be at its 24-hour stores late Friday evening Mar. 20 as they await the midnight DVD movie release. Among store activities will be ideas and products for fans looking to host their own Twilight viewing party. And, especially for Twilight super fans, Walmart has reserved exclusive Twilight gifts for those first 50 fans in line to purchase the DVD movie at each 24-hour store.
Send an “eBite,” see exclusive movie footage, download your Twilight widget
If you ever wondered what a Twilight vampire bite might look like on you, and want a way to gather your Twilight friends together
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 2, 2009 –Walmart today announced detailed plans to bring teens, women and “Twilighters” of all ages more access to their beloved Twilight story as it gears up for the March 21 DVD release from Summit Entertainment. Bringing “Twilight shops” to all Walmart stores next month, the retailer announced today it will also host midnight events and giveaways in its 24-hour stores upon the DVD’s release, including a program for fans to interview Twilight cast member Taylor Lautner on BlogTalkRadio.
Today, its special micro site www.walmart.com/twilight shares more details on these events, viewing party ideas, new behind-the-scenes movie footage, and a way to engage friends with a create-your-own electronic invitation (“eBite”) on the site.
“Fans of all ages have fallen in love with the Twilight series and we will bring to as many as possible special access to the stars, great priced products and additional, memorable activities around this DVD movie release, both in our stores and online,” says Greg Hall, vice president, Merchandising at Walmart.
Behind the Scenes with Taylor Lautner (aka Jacob Black) on BlogTalkRadio
In partnership with BlogTalkRadio, Walmart will host actor Taylor Lautner, who plays “Jacob Black” in Twilight, on the “Stardish Radio” program March 9, 2009 at 9 pm (EST). Speaking from the set of The Twilight Saga’s New Moon, Taylor will take questions from fans “logged in” to BlogTalkRadio with hosts Jo Ann Kubasek (Stardish Radio) and Amy Clark (MomAdvice).
“BlogTalkRadio is excited to join forces with Walmart to bring Twilight fans direct access to one of the year’s hottest new actors,” said Alan Levy, CEO of BlogTalkRadio. “By logging onto our live broadcast, they’ll be able to interact with other members of the hit film’s rapidly-expanding global community to talk about the movie and hear directly from Taylor about his experience.”
Midnight Twilight Events and In-Store Giveaways
Walmart plans to give fans thirsting for more Twilight a good reason to be at its 24-hour stores late Friday evening Mar. 20 as they await the midnight DVD movie release. Among store activities will be ideas and products for fans looking to host their own Twilight viewing party. And, especially for Twilight super fans, Walmart has reserved exclusive Twilight gifts for those first 50 fans in line to purchase the DVD movie at each 24-hour store.
Send an “eBite,” see exclusive movie footage, download your Twilight widget
If you ever wondered what a Twilight vampire bite might look like on you, and want a way to gather your Twilight friends together
Wal-Mart Increases Annual Dividend 15 Percent
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 5, 2009 – The Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has approved an increase in the annual dividend to $1.09 per share, a 15-percent increase from the $0.95 per share paid during fiscal year 2009. For this current fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2010, the annual dividend of $1.09 per share will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.2725 per share, according to the following record and payable dates:
Record Date
March 13, 2009
May 15, 2009
August 14, 2009
December 11, 2009
Payable Date
April 6, 2009
June 1, 2009
September 8, 2009
January 4, 2010
“The strength of our operations and the resulting strong financial position allow us to increase our dividend payout to shareholders again this year,” said Mike Duke, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president and chief executive officer. “Our free cash flow remains strong enough to fund Wal-Mart’s growth around the world, make strategic acquisitions and fund returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.”
Based upon this announced increase, the company plans to return more than $4.2 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends in fiscal year 2010. Wal-Mart has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend of $0.05 per share in March 1974.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Walmart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT.
Record Date
March 13, 2009
May 15, 2009
August 14, 2009
December 11, 2009
Payable Date
April 6, 2009
June 1, 2009
September 8, 2009
January 4, 2010
“The strength of our operations and the resulting strong financial position allow us to increase our dividend payout to shareholders again this year,” said Mike Duke, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president and chief executive officer. “Our free cash flow remains strong enough to fund Wal-Mart’s growth around the world, make strategic acquisitions and fund returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.”
Based upon this announced increase, the company plans to return more than $4.2 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends in fiscal year 2010. Wal-Mart has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend of $0.05 per share in March 1974.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Walmart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The company also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT.
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