Walmart Says Green Monday Is Busiest Online Shopping Day in December and Hosts Special “One-Day Only” Event Online

Big savings up to 60 percent on popular gifts, plus an incredible low price on a secret top brand 55” LED HDTV (up to $600 savings) revealed Monday 

      Walmart  had its best day in history on Cyber Monday this year thanks to its customers. And, with only two weeks left before Christmas, it is rewarding customers with a big “one-day only” online event on Monday, Dec. 10, including up to 60 percent savings on top toys, electronics and more.* Green Monday, which is the second Monday in December, is becoming another major trend in strong online shopping performance. In fact, this day last year was Walmart.com’s highest traffic day in December. And, according to comScore, the second Monday in December last year represented a 19 percent increase in online spending and was the third highest online shopping day of the season.

     “We know our customers are relentlessly looking online for the best savings this holiday and our goal is to give them low prices on the gifts they want most,” said Joel Anderson, President & CEO, Walmart.com U.S. “Given this highly competitive season, we are living up to our commitment with even more big savings online before Christmas that keeps more money in their pockets this year."

Walmart Gives $120,000 to 14 Nonprofits Supporting Children on the Fifth Day of “12 Days of Giving” Holiday Campaign

On the fifth day of its “12 Days of Giving” holiday campaign, Walmart is awarding $120,000 to 14 nonprofits that are creating a better future for children across the country. One of the winning organizations, Para Los Niños, serves its community by providing high-quality education integrated with family support, mental health services and community engagement opportunities to thousands of children living in at-risk neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.

Over twelve consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 140 organizations across the country that are providing basic needs and services such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Organizations receiving grants today are featured on Walmart’s Live Better tab on Facebook. The organizations serve communities in: Vermont, California, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
“Building a better tomorrow starts with our children, yet 22 percent of kids in the U.S. live in poverty,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “Through education, nourishment, mentorship, clothing and shelter, the organizations honored today are helping children community by community achieve a brighter future. We’re honored to help support their mission with grants this holiday season.”
Walmart’s November call for submissions resulted in more than 21,677 nominations from Facebook users who submitted descriptions of each nonprofit’s impact in its local community. Submissions were initially reviewed by Walmart associates from across the company and then a panel from the Walmart Foundation selected the winning organizations.

Walmart Gives $100,000 to 10 Nonprofits Supporting Seniors on the Second Day of “12 Days of Giving” Holiday Campaign

Walmart awards grants to organizations from Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Connecticut and Missouri

 BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 11, 2012 – On the second day of its “12 Days of Giving” holiday campaign, Walmart is awarding $100,000 to 10 nonprofits that are helping senior citizens in their local communities. One of the winning organizations, Helping Hands of Vegas Valley, serves its community by providing free services in the Las Vegas Valley to assist senior citizens with transportation and food as well as vouchers for short-term, temporary care to relieve family members who are caring for seniors in their homes.
Over twelve consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 140 organizations across the country that are providing basic needs and services such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Organizations receiving grants today are featured on Walmart’s Live Better tab on Facebook. The organizations serve communities in: Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Connecticut and Missouri.
“More than 3.6 million adults age 65 and older live below the poverty line,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “Through these grants, we want to support local organizations who are helping seniors live more fulfilled and stable lives and also say ‘thank you’ for all the wisdom and experience they’ve contributed.”
Walmart’s November call for submissions resulted in more than 21,677 nominations from Facebook users who submitted descriptions of each nonprofit’s impact in its local community. Submissions were initially reviewed by Walmart associates from across the company and then a panel from the Walmart Foundation selected the winning organizations.

Walmart Foundation Grants $150,000 to Wreaths Across America

       Wreaths Across America™ (WAA) announced a $150,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to help fund the placement of more than 355,000 remembrance wreaths across the country — including 105,000 at Arlington National Cemetery — on Saturday, Dec. 15. WAA is a nonprofit organization, whose mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies on National Wreaths Across America Day each December. This is the fifth consecutive year that Walmart has supported Wreaths Across America.
       “Walmart has been an invaluable partner over the last several years, and this year’s donation will help us honor so many more veterans who fought to protect our freedoms,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “Every Walmart employee involved — from the drivers delivering wreaths, to individuals volunteering their time to lay wreaths across the country — have given so much of their time and energy to support our mission. We are incredibly grateful.”
Walmart also donates transportation services through its network of distribution centers across the country. Nearly 100 professional drivers will transport wreaths from Harrington, Maine, to their final destinations at more than 800 locations throughout the United States.
     “The men and women of our nation’s military are among the most spirited and talented of Americans, who not only serve to protect our freedoms abroad, but make great contributions to our workforce and way of life here at home,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “This year we are honored to help Wreaths Across America reach the great milestone of laying the one-millionth remembrance wreath to honor our nation’s heroes and their families, and to remember the sacrifices they’ve made.”
Wreath sponsorships and volunteers for Arlington are still needed.

Big savings up to 60 percent on popular gifts, plus an incredible low price on a secret top brand 55” LED HDTV (up to $600 savings) revealed Monday

     Walmart had its best day in history on Cyber Monday this year thanks to its customers. And, with only two weeks left before Christmas, it is rewarding customers with a big “one-day only” online event on Monday, Dec. 10, including up to 60 percent savings on top toys, electronics and more.*  

     Green Monday, which is the second Monday in December, is becoming another major trend in strong online shopping performance. In fact, this day last year was Walmart.com’s highest traffic day in December.  And, according to comScore, the second Monday in December last year represented a 19 percent increase in online spending and was the third highest online shopping day of the season.

“We know our customers are relentlessly looking online for the best savings this holiday and our goal is to give them low prices on the gifts they want most,” said Joel Anderson, President & CEO, Walmart.com U.S. “Given this highly competitive season, we are living up to our commitment with even more big savings online before Christmas that keeps more money in their pockets this year."

     Secret Top-Brand 55”LED HDTV Revealed Monday – Nearly $600 SavingsOn Monday only, Walmart.com will unveil an incredible low price on a specific top-brand 55” LED HDTV (while supplies last), which represents nearly $600 savings on comparable TVs. This secret TV and price will be revealed on the site early Monday, and will also be available for free shipping to home.

    “One-Day Only” Online Specials – Monday, Dec. 10This one-day only event includes up to 60 percent savings online on top items

Walmart Economic and Customer Insights Report - Q3 2012

      Increased Shopper Optimism Imminent, But Not All Elements Aligned: Since Q2, portions of shopper confidence have been building, with economic and personal finance expectations on the rise.

    Additionally, among job seekers, optimism is growing, moving in concert with favorable employment reports. Back-To-School shopping was a bright spot, with consumers bucking recent years’ trends and spending more this year. Despite this, the economy remains the key concern. Gas prices came down but were still higher than what consumers expected; they are reluctant to trust that sustained lower prices are forthcoming. Although we haven’t seen pricing effect from the Midwestern drought as of yet, media attention caused increased apprehension about food prices among shoppers.

     Sluggishness in disposable income remains a key barrier to confidence growth, and there are indications that some consumers are patching income gaps with credit card purchases. Because of this, consumers’ mindset for Holiday spending is both hopeful and guarded.

Massmart Identified in Top 10 Best Performing Companies in JSE’s 2012 Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index

       Dec. 4, 2012 -- Massmart has once again been recognised as one of the top 10 best performers in the medium environmental impact category of the JSE’s 2012 Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index, the results of which were announced on Wednesday (28 November 2012). The SRI Index comprises of listed companies which meet criteria related to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies, management practices and reporting.

      The intention of the index is two-fold: to encourage companies to operate responsibly and transparently and to prompt institutions to consider ESG factors when evaluating investments. The SRI Index is a key benchmark for broad-based environmental, social and governance practice amongst listed companies.

      This year Massmart met all 39 core indicators and 42 out of 49 desirable indicators in social performance. For governance and related sustainability concerns, 32 out of 32 for core indicators and 32 out of 33 for desirable indicators were met. All environmental performance indicators were met. Massmart has been a constituent of the SRI index since its inception in 2004. Last year saw Massmart achieve full marks in the governance and related sustainability concerns dimension, meeting all 32 core indicators as well as all 33 desirable indicators. It also met 92 out of 98 criteria on the social dimension making it one of the best performers in the medium environmental impact category of the JSE’s 2011 SRI Index. Massmart achieved best performer status in the SRI in 2007 and 2008. The criteria covered in the index provide a comprehensive framework for monitoring corporate responsibility. In this sense the Massmart Social & Ethics committee reference the draft and final results as a key part of their efforts to track responsible practise at Massmart.

      The SRI Index has evolved considerably since its inception in 2004. This year, the total number of constituents stands at 76 out of an assessed universe of over 100 companies. The incremental success of participants, especially in the face of increasingly demanding criteria, demonstrates deepened commitment to principles of sustainability and corporate South Africa’s increased comfort with the assessment criteria.