Beyonce surprises fans at Walmart

Some Walmart shoppers got more than they bargained for when Beyoncé turned up for a surprise visit.

The superstar stopped by a Tewksbury, Mass., Walmart on Friday night, where she greeted fans and did a little holiday shopping. In her cart? A copy of her new self-titled album and a baby doll for Blue Ivy.

Queen Bey even got on the store's loudspeaker and offered to pay the first $50 of every customer's holiday shopping.

"It's Beyoncé! And I stopped by the store today because my record has arrived," she said. "I want to give everyone a gift. For everyone in the store right now, the first $50 of your holiday gifts are on me. Merry, merry Christmas from Beyoncé!"

The store handed out a total of 750 $50 gift cards enclosed within envelopes that read, "Happy Holidays from Beyoncé."

Bringing Holiday Hope to New Hope

New Hope is an organization that serves children who have one or both parents in prison. In the state with the highest percentage of women in prison, their mission is to break the cycle of generational incarceration, one child at a time. The children in this program range from 5 – 18. Walmart brought the holidays to these children. We surprised each of the 200 children with gifts from their personal Christmas wish list, clothing essentials, coats and groceries.  We also surprised the organization with supplies to assist with program activities - including various art supplies, sporting equipment and camping supplies. In addition, New Hope received 25 tablets and computers to help students with their homework as previously, volunteers of the program were lending their personal computers.

Stay healthy this season

Protect yourself and your family with flushots provided by Walmart Immunization Centers powered by Summit Health. These immunizations are administered by Walmart pharmacists or Summit Health nurses in thousands of Walmart stores.

In addition to flu immunizations, Walmart pharmacists also offer up to 10 other immunizations in select Walmart locations. To learn more about the immunizations offered by your local Walmart pharmacist, use the immunization locator tool to find the store nearest you.

Influenza (flu) is a serious and contagious disease caused by influenza virus that can lead to hospitalization and in some occasions, death. Flu symptoms usually last for a few days and can include fever, sore throat, chills, fatigue, cough, headache and muscle or body aches.

Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications if they get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).

You may be able to pass the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick.

The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

Walmart Ready To Open First Stores in Washington D.C

Walmart will open its first two stores in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.
The new stores will provide access to a full grocery selection, fresh produce, bakery, delicatessen, organic food items, full-service pharmacy and $4 prescription program, as well as a broad assortment of general merchandise including apparel and electronics.
The company is hiring approximately 300 associates for each store. Walmart provides a benefits program to eligible full- and part-time associates. For example, it provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including health-care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers eligible associates matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

Walmart Turns Up Holiday Heat

Holiday shoppers don’t have to wait until Black Friday to start shopping for deals at Walmart. At 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, Walmart will kick off a pre-Black Friday savings event in stores and online, lowering the prices on popular toys and electronics, to match select Black Friday offers from Target, Toys R’ Us and Best Buy one week early.
Beginning today, the retailer also extends its Christmas Ad Match* to Walmart.com customers. Customers who purchase an item on Walmart.com, and find a lower price in a local brick and mortar competitor. The same policy is in place for customers at Walmart stores for items purchased Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, excluding Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

“Black Friday is our Super Bowl and we plan to win,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S. “With six fewer days from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the retail environment is more competitive than ever. Every opportunity to get a great deal – whether this weekend, on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday weekend – matters for our customers. When it comes to price, we’re going to deliver for them.”

On Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and any of their shopping trips, customers can take advantage of the everyday ad match policy* available at Walmart stores. If a customer spots a lower price on an advertised item, and comes into a Walmart store during the same day and time that the competitor’s ad is valid, Walmart will match the price at the register.

Walmart’s official Black Friday events will take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 29. The retailer will offer 21 one-hour guarantee items, “Manager Specials” and more hot deals than ever on the season’s top gifts. Starting early on Thanksgiving morning, customers can shop on Walmart.com for some of the Black Friday deals that will also be available in stores. Customers can also take advantage of hundreds of online specials on Thanksgiving and Black Friday while supplies last.  

Walmart Announces Plans for Black Friday 2013

Walmart unveiled its largest Black Friday plans to date, including seven times the number of one-hour guaranteed items compared to last year, “Manager Specials” and even more hot deals on the season’s top gifts. The retailer will hold Black Friday events at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving and 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 29.

“Black Friday is our day – our Super Bowl – and we’re ready to prove once again that no one does it better than Walmart,” said Bill Simon, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “We’re excited to give our customers an incredible Black Friday with shopping hours that will allow them to take advantage of great prices on Thanksgiving night and all weekend long.”

Compared to last year, Walmart will offer 65 percent more inventory on televisions and double the number of tablets—some of the most popular Black Friday items. The retailer not only has more products, but lower prices too. For example, this year a 32” LED TV will be available at Walmart for $98. Last Black Friday, a 32” LED TV sold for $148 at Walmart.

“Delivering for our customers wouldn’t be possible without our associates. They are a critical component of our success throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season,” added Simon. “We appreciate each associate and the time they are dedicating to serve the families who shop our stores. As we have in the past, we’ll be recognizing their hard work with additional pay and free meals during their shifts. This year, as a special thanks, associates who work on Thanksgiving Day will receive a 25 percent discount on an entire purchase this holiday season.”

Details on Walmart’s Black Friday events include:

One-Hour Guarantee – It’s Back and Better!
In 2012, Walmart introduced the industry’s first One-Hour Guarantee, a Black Friday event that guaranteed customers select items during a one-hour period. Due to an overwhelmingly positive response from customers, the retailer is bringing it back and expanding from the three items offered last year to 21 One-Hour Guarantee items this year.

Customers who are in the designated lines at Walmart between 6 and 7 p.m. or 8 and 9 p.m. local time on Thursday, Nov. 28 can purchase top gifts at special low prices with confidence that they’ll receive the item either that night or before Christmas.

New Grocery Option Opening in La Mirada

La Mirada shoppers will have a new, convenient option for their grocery shopping needs when the new Walmart Neighborhood Market opens on Wednesday, Nov. 6, following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The new store will provide local customers with a new, convenient option for their grocery shopping needs, including fresh produce and pharmacy services.

“We are looking forward to the grand opening of the Walmart Neighborhood Market,” said Steve De Ruse, Mayor, City of La Mirada. “Walmart has made a major investment in our community and is helping to modernize a shopping center that had underperformed due to vacancies for a number of years. The new jobs and expanded shopping opportunities are welcome additions to La Mirada.”

The 35,000 square-foot Neighborhood Market is located at 14865 Telegraph Road and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

“The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome a Walmart Neighborhood Market to our community,” said Dustin L Dahl, President of the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce and La Mirada resident. “This business will bring an added value to La Mirada and will offer an opportunity for job growth, thereby, strengthening our local economy. The new Walmart Neighborhood Market will hire about 65 and will bring viable tax revenue to our city so we can enhance our public services.”

While other Southern California Walmart Neighborhood Markets have brought business back to vacant storefronts, this is the first newly-constructed Walmart grocery store in Southern California. Other area Walmart Neighborhood Markets include La Palma, Stanton, Anaheim, La Puente, Downey, Bell Gardens, Hawthorne, Torrance, downtown Los Angeles and others.

The Walmart Neighborhood Market format offers quick and convenient shopping, with a full grocery department, including organic and natural selections. The store features prepared food options, fresh-baked breads, self-serve deli and a bakery.

The pharmacy offers a full range of products and services. Pharmacy team members can answer product and prescription questions and customers can ask about health and wellness solutions.