Walmart Announces "Pay with Cash" for Online Purchases

April 26, 2012 – Walmart (NYSE: WMT) today announced the launch of its “Pay with Cash” offering for online orders at Walmart.com in the United States. Now, customers can shop a broader selection of items online -- hundreds of thousands more items beyond its stores -- at Walmart.com and pay for them with cash at all Walmart stores in the U.S. and also in Neighborhood Markets. Walmart is the first major retailer to offer online purchases without the need for banking services or a credit, debit or prepaid card. “Pay with Cash” will help millions who rely on cash transactions, as well as those who are wary of using credit cards online, to shop Walmart’s affordable and expanded online merchandise.
According to the FDIC, one in four U.S. households fall into the unbanked and underbanked categories where they don’t have a bank account or credit card or have limited banking options, and often rely on cash as a form of payment for purchases.* However, many of them are online, with 81 percent of the unbanked and 63 percent of the underbanked having Internet access.**
At Walmart stores, the majority of transactions are paid for in cash or cash equivalent, including debit cards, and approximately 15 percent of transactions are paid in the form of credit. The retailer is seeing more demand for cash as a payment option online, and the new “Pay with Cash” program provides that additional convenience. In a recent survey, Walmart found that more than two thirds of those identified as “underbanked” were likely to use cash as a form of online payment if the option were available. Using “Pay with Cash,” customers purchase items at Walmart.com, pay for them in stores within a 48-hour period, and then have the items shipped to their home or local Walmart store.
“Many of our customers shop paycheck to paycheck and are looking for more ways to purchase items online but don’t have the means to a credit, debit or prepaid card,” said Joel Anderson, president and CEO of Walmart.com. “Our new ‘Pay with Cash’ offering is designed just for them. It makes it easier for our customers to shop the way they want, where they have access to a broader product selection at Walmart.com coupled with the convenience of payment and shipping as they want.”

Pay with Cash: How it Works

• Customers go to Walmart.com from any Internet-connected device to select an item and place an order.
• During checkout, the customer selects the “cash” option and their shipping preference. Customer immediately receives an order number on the order confirmation page and an email receipt with their order number. The item is reserved in the system.
• The customer has 48-hours to take the printed order form to any cash register of any Walmart store or Neighborhood Market.
• Once cash payment is completed in the store and received, shipping then occurs via Site to Store or to their preferred address.

Walmart, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Inter-American Development Bank Partner to Change the Lives of Women and Youth

CARTAGENA, Colombia, April 13, 2012 – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Walmart announced today an initiative that will empower up to 55,000 women in Latin America and the Caribbean to build businesses and take control of their futures. In addition, Walmart will work with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to provide job training and help with job placement for nearly 1 million young people in these regions, at least half of whom will be young women.

“These partnerships will not only change the lives of the women we’ll reach, but also improve the lives of their families and their entire communities,” said Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke, who joined Secretary Clinton at the Sixth Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia today. “When we launched our Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative last year, we committed to helping women around the world live better. By working with leaders like Secretary Clinton, we’re bringing that mission to life.”

Walmart’s $12 million commitment to Secretary Clinton’s International Fund for Women and Girls, the IDB and other NGOs.

The New Employment Opportunities (NEO) Initiative

Walmart will translate and provide its Walmart Brazil Social Retail School curriculum to the IDB’s NEO Initiative. The retailer also committed to continuing its partnership in Brazil with governments and NGOs for the next five years, graduating thousands of new students. Combined, this support is valued at more than $10 million.
The IDB expects its NEO Initiative to empower roughly 1 million young people to take control of their futures over the next 10 years. At least half of those served will be young women.

“As a founding member of our NEO initiative, Walmart is demonstrating a visionary commitment to training youth in our region for 21st century jobs and promoting greater gender balance,’’ said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno. “We are proud to have Walmart as a partner and hope their example will serve as an inspiration to other companies to join the NEO Initiative.”
Today’s announcement supports key goals under Walmart’s Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, launched in September 2011.

Walmart Announces Top 10 Finalists in Popular "Get on the Shelf" Contest More than One Million Votes Cast for Over 4,000 Entries

April 5, 2012 – Walmart (NYSE: WMT) today announced that 10 finalists have been selected after the first round of public voting for its Get on the Shelf contest. Over 4,000 inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the country submitted products into the contest and more than one million votes were cast in a tight race where the American public voted for items they would like to see carried by Walmart. Products, ranging from household to fashion and green items, are now one step closer to getting on the shelf at Walmart. The three winning products will have the opportunity to be sold on Walmart.com and the Grand Prize winner will get the chance to be carried in select U.S. Walmart stores after the final round of voting is completed at the end of the month.
Here are the 10 finalists listed in alphabetical order:

• Bios Clinical Acne System is an acne system that uses topical probiotics to treat adolescent and adult acne.
• Humankind Water gives 100 percent of its net profits to provide clean drinking water for some of the one billion people in this world dying without it.
• Mr. Spritz Mysterious Shirts are entertaining t-shirts containing hidden images that appear when the garment gets wet and disappear when dry.
• Plate Topper transforms dinner plates into airtight food storage containers to save meals, leftovers and snacks. They are dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe and 100 percent BPA-free.
• Sola-Bag Forever Carry Refrigerator is a lunch bag that stays cold forever by generating energy from solar power and indoor lighting.
• Soleeze Spring Loaded Insoles are spring-loaded insoles and shock absorbers that fit into any shoe or boot and last for years.
• SnapIt Eyeglass Repair Kit is an easy way to fix your sunglasses or eyeglasses in 30 seconds.
• SUSIE Magazine is a bimonthly Christian print magazine and online sisterhood for teen girls promoting healthy relationships, good role models and positive self-image.
• Veterans Farm Datil Pepper Salt is a datil-infused kosher salt created at a Veterans Farm, where disabled combat veterans are taught farm skills to help them overcome physical and mental barriers and get jobs.
• We the People Bracelet features silver sterling beads with ingrained detailed descriptions of the Amendments to the Bill of Rights.

“The top 10 finalists represent the smart and inspirational products that Walmart customers want to see on the shelf online and in their local stores,” said Chris Bolte, vice president of @WalmartLabs. “We have been inspired by the creativity and passion of the contestants as they promote their products through traditional media, social marketing and personal networks. We look forward to the next round of voting where the winners will be decided by the American public.”

Walmart Takes Angry Birds Space to New Heights with the First Retail and Gaming Integration

the Angry Birds are in their final descent to your local Walmart! Angry Birds Space, the newest version of the world’s most-downloaded mobile game from Rovio Entertainment, will touch down in app stores tomorrow, March 22, and only Walmart customers will be able to access “Golden Eggsteroid” clues that unlock four bonus levels in the game. For the first time, Walmart has joined forces with a leader in mobile entertainment to provide its customers with an integrated online and in-store gaming experience.

The remaining clues will be embedded in select limited-edition Angry Birds merchandise available in Walmart stores, including apparel, plush toys, mobile phones, snacks and more. This first-of-its-kind retail gaming experience launches on Facebook today and catapults into more than 3,000 Walmart U.S. stores on March 25.
“Walmart is bringing fun back to the shopping experience, with interactive merchandise that brings the best of digital gaming together with in-store retail,” said Seong Ohm, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for entertainment, Walmart U.S. “By partnering with Rovio, we’re able to give millions of avid bird slingers bonus content by coming into our stores and shopping our broad assortment of Angry Birds Space merchandise. This is just one of many exciting partnerships Walmart is forging to give our customers access to exclusive content.”
Customers can search through Angry Birds Space-themed items – including apparel, mobile phones, plush toys, snacks and more – for hidden game clues that unlock four “golden eggsteroid” bonus levels. The golden eggsteroids may be hidden on pricetags, snack boxes and even on an actual t-shirt design. Examples include:

• Angry Birds™ Space Fruit Snacks - $2.18
• Angry Birds™ Space Limited Edition Space Tee - $6.97
• Angry Birds™ Space 8” Plush Birds - $14.97

“We wanted to give our fans a unique retail extension to Angry Birds Space that rewards them for their eagle eyes,” said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer and Mighty Eagle of Rovio Entertainment. “Only Walmart can deliver the reach across America for this type of program and we wish our fans luck as they seek out our hidden clues.”
Additionally, T-Mobile is offering a special Angry Birds promotion in Walmart stores. With the purchase of any T-Mobile Android smartphone, such as the Samsung Exhibit II 4G, paired with a great value plan, such as the T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 Unlimited Web & Text plan, Walmart customers will gain access to an Angry Birds Space portal in the T-Mobile Mall where they can download the new game and find a hint to unlock a hidden golden eggsteroid level. Customers will also be given access to extras like downloadable Angry Birds wallpaper and Angry Birds animated shorts.

Walmart Takes Angry Birds Space to New Heights with the First Retail and Gaming Integration

March 21, 2012 – America, the Angry Birds are in their final descent to your local Walmart! Angry Birds Space, the newest version of the world’s most-downloaded mobile game from Rovio Entertainment, will touch down in app stores tomorrow, March 22, and only Walmart customers will be able to access “Golden Eggsteroid” clues that unlock four bonus levels in the game. For the first time, Walmart has joined forces with a leader in mobile entertainment to provide its customers with an integrated online and in-store gaming experience.
The remaining clues will be embedded in select limited-edition Angry Birds merchandise available in Walmart stores, including apparel, plush toys, mobile phones, snacks and more. This first-of-its-kind retail gaming experience launches on Facebook today and catapults into more than 3,000 Walmart U.S. stores on March 25.
“Walmart is bringing fun back to the shopping experience, with interactive merchandise that brings the best of digital gaming together with in-store retail,” said Seong Ohm, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for entertainment, Walmart U.S. “By partnering with Rovio, we’re able to give millions of avid bird slingers bonus content by coming into our stores and shopping our broad assortment of Angry Birds Space merchandise. This is just one of many exciting partnerships Walmart is forging to give our customers access to exclusive content.”
Customers can search through Angry Birds Space-themed items – including apparel, mobile phones, plush toys, snacks and more – for hidden game clues that unlock four “golden eggsteroid” bonus levels. The golden eggsteroids may be hidden on pricetags, snack boxes and even on an actual t-shirt design. Examples include:

• Angry Birds™ Space Fruit Snacks - $2.18
• Angry Birds™ Space Limited Edition Space Tee - $6.97
• Angry Birds™ Space 8” Plush Birds - $14.97

“We wanted to give our fans a unique retail extension to Angry Birds Space that rewards them for their eagle eyes,” said Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer and Mighty Eagle of Rovio Entertainment. “Only Walmart can deliver the reach across America for this type of program and we wish our fans luck as they seek out our hidden clues.”
Additionally, T-Mobile is offering a special Angry Birds promotion in Walmart stores. With the purchase of any T-Mobile Android smartphone, such as the Samsung Exhibit II 4G, paired with a great value plan, such as the T-Mobile Monthly4G $30 Unlimited Web & Text plan, Walmart customers will gain access to an Angry Birds Space portal in the T-Mobile Mall where they can download the new game and find a hint to unlock a hidden golden eggsteroid level. Customers will also be given access to extras like downloadable Angry Birds wallpaper and Angry Birds animated shorts.

Riverview Welcomes New Walmart Neighborhood Market

A new Walmart Neighborhood Market will open in Riverview on March 28, with a 57,756-square-foot store designed to offer quick access to low-cost groceries, prescriptions and household products. The new store, located at 10863 Bloomingdale Ave., will open at 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 28, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Fresh Foods and Familiar Brands

Designed as a convenient family shopping center, the Walmart Neighborhood Market will provide the local community another destination for groceries at the Walmart value price. The store will carry a full line of groceries, including fresh produce, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, and organic items. For those on the go, the deli offers hot rotisserie chicken, and a wide variety of meats, cheeses and freshly prepared foods. Customers can pick up cakes and freshly-made bread in the bakery.
“With our smaller format, our store is perfect for those on the go. Whether they’re stocking up or need to pick up just a few items, our customers will be able to find what they need quickly and easily,” said store manager Ronald Freitas. “Our customers will be able to find familiar brands and local products at great values, right in their own neighborhood.”
Shoppers will also appreciate the convenience of the store's pharmacy with a full selection of health-related products and a health and beauty area. Additional areas include electronics, stationery, paper goods, housewares and domestics, pet products and hardware items. Customers can also print their own digital photos at the store. The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Store Provides 90 Local Jobs

The Walmart Neighborhood Market plans to employ approximately 90 associates. Approximately 20 associates have transferred to the new store from existing Walmart locations, about half of whom have worked for the company for more than 10 years.
“Walmart provides job opportunities and career choices for everyone from seniors looking for supplemental income to young people wanting to gain work experience,” Freitas said. He joined the company in 1998 as an assistant manager at a store in Sarasota.

Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates $8,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented throughout the year.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., March 28

Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 28, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Riverview High School Choir will perform the national anthem and the Riverview High School ROTC will be presenting the colors. Freitas and store associates will cut the ribbon to the new store.

Walmart Brings Affordability, Accessibility to Pee Dee NASCAR Fans

DARLINGTON, S.C., March 15, 2012 – NASCAR fans in the Pee Dee can save on tickets to the upcoming Southern 500 on May 12 with the Walmart Family Track Pack. The $99 package gives families four race tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and one program – a total savings of more than $100.

“We are making races affordable and accessible for fans,” said Rand Waddoups, Senior Director, Entertainment Properties and Brands, Walmart. “The Walmart Family Track Pack is a great value that gives local fans a way to take their whole family to the track together.”

“An independent study shows the direct economic impact from race weekend exceeds $70 million,” said Holly Beaumier, director of the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Race fans fill Darlington and Florence stores, restaurants and hotels each year on Mother’s Day weekend, thrilled to experience the Southern 500 at the ‘Track Too Tough to Tame.’”

In addition to the race ticket package, Walmart’s Race Time 2012 program gives fans authentic NASCAR merchandise and unique fan events at stores.

Beginning May 9, select Walmart stores in the Pee Dee will host NASCAR fan events featuring real stock racing car displays and racing simulator machines – perfect to safely get behind the wheel and feel the power of NASCAR.