WIXLIB

WalmartOur Mission, In ActionInsideOn Location Page 14 Five to Know Page 16Spotlight Page 17 My Day Page 21INVESTING IN AMERICAN JOBSGot YouCoveredThese rugs are stylishand provide U.S. jobs.What:Mainstays Titan rugs andMohawk kitchen rugsManufactured by:Mohawk IndustriesWhere:Calhoun, Ga.New jobs created:about 125Famous for: their Americanheritage and being inbusiness since 1878“Mohawk was motivated by the concept of improvedservice, speed to market, and improved in-stocks, whichwould yield more sales and create more U.S. jobs. Themission was accomplished—the entire solid ‘Titan’program was converted to ‘The Great American Rug.’ ”Bruce Myers, buyer, rugs, doormats, décor pillows,and furniture covers, Home Office

Inside Walmart / On LocationHow You Can Do ItGo to walmartworld.com/Pickup to find more of thestrategies that Kaitlin Guineyand her team use to providetop service.14Walmartworld.com

PickupProsStore 1700 in Poway,Calif., makes speedand helpful servicethe priorities.Help Customers and Your Store!When customers can’t findan item in your store, letthem know they can order itat Walmart.com and have itshipped to the store for freefor pickup. The result: Yourstore gets the profit, andyour MyShare increases.“In general, speed is what we focuson most,” says Kaitlin Guiney, Site toStore department manager, whosearea is also responsible for StorePickup and layaway. That speed haspaid off—Store 1700’s Walmart.comservice area has scored high withcustomers in recent surveys. It alsosyncs with Walmart’s goal of gettingeach Store Pickup transaction downto five minutes or less.What makes for a smooth,speedy transaction at Store 1700?1. Checking customer ID first.Asking for identification beforegetting the package allowsthe associate to handle anypaperwork issues surroundingthe pickup first.2. Easier access to the counter.Moving the service area to thefront of the store has made iteasier for customers to find.And merchandise is now storeddirectly behind the counter.3. Streamlined communication.Associates make note ofsolutions to unusual challengesand share that informationamong all shifts.Plus, the team strives to make thecustomer’s experience a positive one.“I try to identify with our customers,”Kaitlin says. “I want to make sure theyleave our department feeling happy.”Walmartworld.com15

Inside Walmart / Five to KnowLearn moreabout thesestories and others atwalmartworld.com/News.Opportunity,Skills at Heartof AssociateLanguageProgramWalmart’s effortswill benefit1.5 million retailworkers who havelimited Englishlanguage sesWalmart Pay:A new missionfocuses onmaking Walmartthe best place forAfrican Americansto work and shop.Why It Matters for YouWalmart Pay will soon be availableto the 22 million customers who usethe Walmart app. Walmart Pay workswith any iOS or Android device, atany checkout lane, and with anymajor credit, debit, prepaid, orWalmart gift card. It’s available inselect stores now and will launchnationwide by the first half of 2016.Daniel Eckert, senior vicepresident, Walmart Services, HomeOffice, says Walmart Pay will makethings easier for front-end associates.“As soon as a cashier hits ‘total,’ andthe customer connects to WalmartPay, the process is complete. Thereare no receipts to be printed. All ofthat process is eliminated.”Even better: Associates whouse Walmart Pay can register theirassociate discount cards in the appso that discounts are automaticallyapplied to payments. Daniel adds,“You’ll never have to swipe yourdiscount card again.”PayI used Walmart Pay this morningat Store 3654. It worked perfectly!Customer comment on Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., President and CEODoug McMillon’s Instagram post announcing Walmart Pay.16Walmartworld.comShip toLockerProgramExpandsCustomers canship onlinepurchases tolockers and pickthem up at luteProgram raises 1 million forFisher HouseFoundation,which helpsveterans’ families.

Inside Walmart / SpotlightWalmart’s Private Brandsoffer a low-price/high-qualitycombination that customersfind irresistible, thanks to whathappens behind the scenes.almart has dozens of Private Brands, allof which offer high-quality alternativesto national-brand products. The brandsexist in almost every category in Walmart stores,from food to electronics, and they keep bringingcustomers back because they offer products thatcan’t be found anywhere else.How do we ensure quality and value? Lotsof testing—like what goes into the creation ofa Great Value item.Walmartworld.com17

Inside Walmart / SpotlightWhatCustomers Want“We are very proudof our Private Brands,and we want youto be just as excitedas we are.”Jack Pestello, senior vice presidentfor Walmart U.S. Private Brands, food,consumables, health and wellness,Home OfficeBefore starting a newproject, the productdevelopment team looksat research, examines themarketplace, and, mostimportantly, partnerswith buyers to determinecustomer needs. The goal:Create a product to meetor exceed customers’requirements.The RightSupplierOnce a need is identified,it kicks off a multistepprocess to create aproduct that’s highquality and affordable.After developingspecifications, the teamworks to identify asupplier that can createthe product to thosespecifications. This is whatlets Walmart offer highquality products at thebest prices. The team thenworks with the supplier toensure that specificationsare always followed andexpectations are met.

BeyondGreat ValueThe health andwellness andconsumablescategories alsoinclude thesePrivate Brands,among others.Food and Drink The Bakery Sam’s Choice Marketside Prima Della Walmart Deli Clear American Organic Marketside Organic GreatValueA PerfectRecipeAs the product isdeveloped, it’s testedat Walmart’s sensorylab (for more aboutthe sensory lab, seenext page). There, theproduct developmentteam gets feedbackabout what tasterslike and why. Theyshare that informationwith the supplier tomake recommendedchanges, helping torefine the item and getit just right.AddedImprovementsPrivate Brandssometimes featureimprovements tobetter meet customerneeds. For example,because healthy foodsare important to manycustomers, partiallyhydrogenated oils wereremoved from manyGreat Value items. Also,sodium was reduced inmany of these products.Pets Ol’ Roy Special Kitty Pure BalanceWhat YouCan DoFor associates, it’s allabout spreading theword. If you haven’ttried a Private Brandsproduct, do so—and you’ll be ableto help customersunderstand the benefits of products likeour Great Value items.Health and Hygiene Equate Assurance Parent’s Choice Spring Valley ReliOn Equate BeautyWalmartworld.com19

Inside Walmart / SpotlightAssociate-ApprovedA look at Private Brands taste testing at the Walmart sensory lab.Walmart’s TestingProcessWalmart’s Private Brands testingprocess is similar to whatnational brands do, althoughit’s usually faster. The details: Taste testers are usually associates. Participants do blind tastetests, comparing the PrivateBrands product and the nationalbrand equivalent. Tasters judge items on factorslike taste, aroma, texture, andoverall satisfaction, giving each ascore from 1 to 9 on the hedonicscale, a measure widely used bythe food industry for scoringfood acceptability. Roughly ninety percent of testersfeel that Great Value productsmeet or exceed national brands.Eva O’Neil, Private Brands sensory tester, serves items toNatalia Kubantseva, senior manager, product development,Private Brands, Home Office.Watch future issues formore insights aboutWalmart’s Private Brands.“When we test to findout what customers likeand why, the why is themost important part.”Joe Nartowicz, Private Brandschef and senior productdevelopment manager,Home Office“If testers prefer thenational brand, we goback to the drawingboard. If a productisn’t good, it won’thelp the customer.”Sophia Pai, senior director,Private Brands quality,Home Office20Walmartworld.com

Inside Walmart / My DayCar-SideServiceWalmart’s Grocery PickupCenter in Bentonville, Ark., iswhere customers can have preordered groceries brought outto their cars. Ellen Martinez,eCommerce market coach atthe Home Office, talks about thenew shopping experience.What’s your average day like?My day starts between 5 and 7 a.m. to makesure we have the best-quality product. Thecustomer doesn’t have the ability to compareapples or peppers, so I make sure thebest-quality produce is available. I trainthe associates on what to look for.What gets you excitedabout the job?Customers’ orders arecollected in these bluebins before being baggedfor customer pickup.The looks on the customers’ faces when you’rebringing the groceries to them. You’re able tohave that five to 10 minutes with customersto talk about their day.What’s the biggestchallenge you face?Being flexible enough to meet every need. Wehave to be intuitive because each customer’sshopping habits are different.What kind of customerdoes this format cater to?Definitely the bustling household. Theirtime is at a premium, so they come to us first.In situations where mom and dad work, that’sthe customer we want to be able to serve.What’s some of thecustomer feedback you get?It’s always positive. One person said it was thebest service ever. It was raining outside, andshe didn’t have to get out of the car. She said,“I’ll always shop here.”Walmartworld.com21

Three Stories, One Important LessonWe’re BetterTogetherThese associates each have a uniquelyWalmart take on what it means to be ateam—and they show how strongconnections can improve your career,your store, your community, and your life.Rianne Dixon, seniorproject specialist,Information SystemsDivision, Home Office22Walmartworld.com

We’re aStrongerTeamRianne Dixon workswith technology thatmakes Walmart abetter, more efficientcompany. She started hercareer as an intern andtoday passes on what shelearned as a way to helptrain the team that will leadWalmart in the future.Every summer, Rianneprovides one-on-one mentorship to a small groupof interns. And the lessonsshe shares are valuable forassociates even outside theHome Office.First: “Always make surethat the quality of your workis top priority.”Second: “Speak up foryourself. Respectfully, ofcourse,” she says. “It’s OK toask questions and makesure that expectations areknown on both sides.”Third: “Create genuinerelationships with people.”This has benefited Rianneherself as some of herformer interns have startedcareers at Walmart. “I knowwhat their skills are, so I canturn to them for help,” sheexplains. “Success is all aboutbuilding relationships.”Walmartworld.com23

We’re aCloserCommunityWalmart programsempower associates tochange customers’ lives.As the pharmacymanager for Store1684 in Everett, Pa.,Joshua Weber oftenprovides advice and answersquestions customers have abouttheir prescriptions. “When I’mconnecting with patientsone-on-one, I feel like I can reallymake a difference,” he says.During the America’s BiggestHealth Fair event at Store 1684,that one-on-one interaction mayhave saved one customer’s life.That early October event was aflurry of activity. Booths offeredvitamins and provided immunizations, but the focal points werethe free blood pressure andglucose readings. “These servicesmatter in our rural communitybecause we don’t have a lot ofprimary care doctors,” Joshua says.During the day, Joshua talkedwith customers about high bloodpressure or high glucose. But onewoman’s blood pressure wasalarming. “I knew she needed togo to the emergency room,” hesays. “When I did hospitalrotations, her kind of readingsmeant immediate IVs andintervention. Every moment shedelayed increased the risk ofheart attack or stroke.”Fortunately, she went. She wastreated and is now fine. “I was sorelieved,” he says. “It makes me feellike my job makes a difference.”24Walmartworld.comJoshua Weber,pharmacy manager,Store 1684, Everett, Pa.

Free Health ScreeningsAt the October 2015 America’sBiggest Health Fair (story at left),Walmart broke seven companyrecords, including most immunizations and screeningsgiven in one day.WalmartMakesHealthEasierHow our companymakes health careand healthy livingmore affordableand accessible.No AppointmentNeeded!Customers can walk inwithout an appointmentfor immunizations at morethan 4,500 Walmart stores.It’s a service that works: In2015, Walmart pharmacistsadministered more than1 million doses of flu vaccine.Convenient,Affordable, HighQuality HealthCare ClinicsWalmart Care Clinicsprovide primary carehealth services in18 stores in Georgia, SouthCarolina, and Texas. Theclinics, staffed by nationallycertified nurse practitioners, provide diagnosis andtreatment of chronic andacute illnesses, as well aspreventive services andreferrals to specialists.More AffordableDiabetesManagementDiabetes care products arevital to the roughly 30 million Americans living withthe disease, and the savingsat Walmart can be dramatic. Example: Walmart’sown ReliOn brand insulincosts 24.88; other brandsmay be 144 or more.Walmartworld.com25

Justen Traweek (left),vice president, eCommerce Operationsand Fulfillment,and David Alvarado,HR director,eCommerce andSpecialty Logistics,visit DC 5300 inFort Worth, Texas.We’re SharperLeadersThese associates have built rewardingcareers together—and they’re helpingothers do the same.26Walmartworld.com

Justen Traweek and David Alvaradofirst started working together in theearly 1990s as hourly associates onthe shipping dock at DistributionCenter (DC) 6016 in New Braunfels, Texas.Twenty-six years later, they’re still friends;they’re still at Walmart; and they’re stillworking together, now as leaders in theeCommerce initiative in the Dallasdivisional office.(with his encouragement, I switched to HRmanager). Then, back in Texas again, Justenwas vice president of the Texas Division, andI was HR manager of the Texas Division. Now,he’s vice president of eCommerce Operationsand Fulfillment, and I’m HR director ofeCommerce and Specialty Logistics. Wework out of the same office again, full circle.JUSTEN: I have a tendencyto notice only the thingsthat need to be improvedin a situation; David alwayspicks up on what is mostpositive. David is an encourager, but he’s also verydirect and honest. Wehave great balance.3TeamBuildingTipsJusten and Davidshare how tomaximize yoursuccess as a team.“The companyis friendly;it’s inclusive;it promotesDAVID: I’m a peopleethicalperson. Through the years,DAVID: A distribution centeris a fairly intimidating envibehavior; and even when I was strictly inoperations, I saw the best inronment; your trainer teachesyou how to survive in it—it rewards hard people. People have peaksand valleys. And if I can helphe shows you the ropes,answers your questions, and work. It struck people move through thevalleys, they’ll get to theputs you at ease. Justen waspeaks—and the businessreally passionate about thata chordwill benefit from that, too.role; he wanted to make sureI was successful.with me.”Build relationshipswith people who seethings differentlythan you do.“[We] have similar values,but we see things entirelydifferently,” says Justen.“It makes our working relationship more successful.Plus, it makes our friendship more interesting.”JUSTEN: The values of thecompany align with my own—the companyis friendly; it’s inclusive; it promotes ethicalbehavior; and it rewards hard work. It strucka chord with me.Stay open to differentpeople and places.“That’s what growingpersonally and professionally is all about,” saysJusten. “At Walmart, youcan make that happen. Ifyou have a choice, alwaysopt for growth.”JUSTEN: I started withWalmart in June of 1990 assummer help, loading trailers on the shipping dock atDC 6016. I met David whenhe transferred from Sam’sClub six or eight monthslater. I was his trainer.DAVID: We’ve overlapped five times in ourcareers: In Texas, Justen was my trainer, and Iwas an hourly associate. In Florida, he was anarea manager, and I was an hourly supervisor.Then in Apple Valley, Calif., he was generalmanager, and I was operations managerJUSTEN: I like that hetrusts our personal andprofessional relationship enough to tell mewhen he thinks I’m wrong, which he does!DAVID: At the end of the day, challenginghim is my responsibility. The challenge willonly make a good idea stronger. And I’m apace guy—I think about the timing andpace of change and how it’s going to affectassociates. I like to look at things from everyangle. That’s how I support him—and thecompany, too.Speak up.“Always show leadershipcourage,” urges David. “Bewilling to challenge thoseyou work with to broadentheir perspectives.”

For you.By you.About you.We AreFavoriteWalmart MomentsKyle: “Getting to go toShareholders’ in 2015.”Brian: “Whenever there’s abig event at the store andeverybody, managers toassociates, comes togetherto make it a success.”

WalmartVALUES IN ACTIONStriving for Excellence: Work as a teamby helping each other and asking for help.Brotherly LoveLike many sets of twins, Brian Meyerhofer,deli department manager at Store 3891 inWaukegan, Ill., and Kyle Meyerhofer havealways been close. Growing up, they had thesame friends, did activities together, and evendeveloped a word-guessing game that wouldconvince people they had a psychic connection.“We spend an abnormally large amount oftime together,” laughs Brian, and now that timeincludes work as well: Kyle works at Store 3891,too, as manager of the bakery department, whichis right next to Brian’s department.Getting to work together is ideal for the twins,who both applied to Walmart while in highschool. “Working with Brian is the best part of myjob,” says Kyle. “There was a short period when wewere at different stores, and it wasn’t the same.”Customers and other associates sometimesmistake one brother for the other. “It happensoften, especially with us working in neighboringdepartments,” Kyle says.Their close bond helps in serving theircustomers. “The teamwork is natural,” says Brian.Kyle adds, “I can tell when he’s overwhelmedor needs help without his asking. Also, there’ssome friendly competition. When I see him tryinghis best, it really motivates me to do better.”

Anniversaries4040Lindel StephensJoan BrownStore ManagerStore 168, Owasso, Okla.Invoicing AssociateStore 904, Foley, Ala.Hire date: Feb. 1, 1976Stores worked in: 8Positions held: 6Hire date: Feb. 4, 1976Stores worked in: 7Positions held: 6Lindel’s Walma

buyer, soft kitchen/ children’s tableware, Home Office Home These cheerful kitchen and bath Aproducts can help lift your mood. dding new kitchen or bath accessories serves two purposes—they are both practical and pretty. “The next step is finding a color or a print that matches your décor,