Wal-Mart Facts

• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., serves more than 138 million customers weekly in 50 states, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, China, Korea, Germany, and United Kingdom.
• Sales for fiscal year ending Feb. 31, 2003, were $244.5 billion, a 12.3 percent increase over the previous year.
• Total company associates number more than 1.3 million worldwide, including 300,000 international employees.
• International sales for fiscal year 2002 to 2003, were $40.7 billion, a 15 percent increase over the previous year.
• Wal-Mart International boasts 1,301 total units, including stores in Mexico (608), Puerto Rico (52), Canada (213), Argentina (11), Brazil (23), China (27), Korea (15), Germany (92), and the United Kingdom (260).
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., announced the continuation of its aggressive unit growth (for the fiscal year beginning Feb. 1, 2003) to include approximately 45 to 55 new discount stores, 200 to 210 new Supercenters, 20 to 25 new Neighborhood Markets, and 40 to 45 domestic SAM'S CLUB clubs. Wal-Mart International plans to open 120 to 130 units in existing markets. The announced units include two restaurant formats, specialty apparel retail stores, and supermarkets in Mexico.
• The planned square footage growth for the coming year represents approximately 48 million square feet of new retail space, and represents more than an eight percent increase over the fiscal 2003 total.

Leased Locations

In addition to its corporate-run Vision Centers, Wal-Mart, Inc., has approximately 381 domestic and 37 Mexico locations leased to and run by National Vision, Inc. About 25 percent are in Supercenters and the rest are in the traditional Wal-Mart discount stores. "It is a very similar operation to ours in that they have doctors for vision screenings as well as the sales side of the business for frames, etc.," says Karen A. Burk, Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

According to National Vision, Inc., its leased Vision Centers were launched 12 years ago and today offer "complete eyeglasses starting at $40, including single vision SureValue lenses. Eyeglass frames range from classic, good quality styles to designer names including CoverGirl, Halston and NBA."

The leased centers feature a mix slightly different from the corporate departments. "We carry a different frame and lens selection, but not entirely," says Reade Fahs, president and chief operating officer of National Vision, Inc. "The pricing is similar but not exactly the same either. We watch each other and see what works in these areas. Everybody wins--especially the consumer."

One-hour service is also available for a $10 charge.

National Vision, Inc., also operates optical centers in other retail outlets, including 58 in Fred Meyer stores and 23 on military bases throughout the United States.

Wal-Mart Timeline

1962: Company founded with opening of first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Ark.1967: Wal-Mart's 24 stores total $12.6 million in sales.

1970: Wal-Mart opens first distribution center and home office in Bentonville, Ark.

Wal-Mart stock first traded over the counter as publicly held company.

There are 38 stores now in operation with sales at $44.2 million. Total number of associates is 1,500.

1971: First 100 percent stock-split in May. Market price: $47.

1972: Wal-Mart approved and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

1977: Wal-Mart makes first acquisition, 16 Mohr-Value stores in Michigan and Illinois.

1978: Hutcheson Shoe Company acquired; Wal-Mart pharmacy, auto service center, and jewelry divisions introduced.

1979: Wal-Mart is the first company to reach $1 billion in sales in such a short period of time: $1.248 billion.

1983: First SAM'S CLUB opened in April in Midwest City, Okla.

1983: People Greeter implemented at all stores.

First one-hour photo lab opened in Tulsa, Okla.

1983: For eighth year straight Forbes Magazine ranks Wal-Mart number one among general retailers.

1984: Sam Walton does the hula at high noon on Wall Street, making good on promise to associates after company achieves pre-tax profit of 8 percent in 1983.

1987: Wal-Mart's 25th anniversary: 1,198 stores with sales of $15.9 billion and 200,000 associates.

Wal-Mart Satellite Network (largest private satellite communication system in the U.S.) completed, linking all operating units of company and General Office with two-way voice, data, and one-way video communication.

1988: First Supercenter opened in Washington, Mo.

Ninety percent of Wal-Mart stores have bar-code scanning capabilities.

1990: Wal-Mart becomes nation's number one retailer.

1990: Wal-Mart Visitor's Center opens on the site of founder Sam Walton's original Walton's 5-10 store.

1991: "Sam's American Choice" brand products introduced.

International market entered for first time with the opening of a unit in Mexico City.

1992: President George Bush presents Sam Walton with the Medal of Freedom.

Sam Walton dies April 5.

1992: S. Robson Walton named chairman of the board April 7.

Wal-Mart enters Puerto Rico.

1993: First billion-dollar sales week in December.

1994: A prototype store designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible opens in Lawrence, Kans.

1995: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has 1,995 Wal-Mart stores, 239 Supercenters, 433 SAM'S CLUBS and 276 International stores with sales at $93.6 billion and 675,000 associates.

1996: Wal-Mart enters China through a joint-venture agreement.

1997: Wal-Mart becomes the number one employer in the United States with 680,000 associates, as well as an additional 115,000 international associates.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. serves more than 90 million customers a week worldwide.

1998: Wal-Mart introduces Neighborhood Market concept with three stores in Arkansas.

Wal-Mart exceeds $100 million in annual charitable contributions, with donations totaling $102 million. And, the company has its first $100 billion sales year, with sales totaling $105 billion.

1999: Wal-Mart has 1,140,000 associates, making the company the largest private employer in the world.

Wal-Mart ranked number one Corporate Citizen in America in the 1999 Cone/Roper Report, an annual national survey on philanthropy and corporate citizenship.

2000: Wal-Mart is ranked fifth by FORTUNE magazine in its list of Global Most Admired All-Stars.

2001: Wal-Mart named by FORTUNE Magazine as the third most admired company in America.

2002: Wal-Mart named by FORTUNE magazine as the most admired company in America. 2002 Wal-Mart ranked number one on the FORTUNE 500 listing.
Wal-Mart has the biggest single day sales in history: $1.43 billion on the day after Thanksgiving.

Top: A contact lens fitting room. Center and bottom: Wal-Mart's dispensaries are open and airy with men's, kids', women's, and specialty products displayed primarily on frame boards

Eyecare and more...At Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart, Inc.'s Vision Centers have recently signed on to promote Check Yearly. See Clearly. (CYSC), the vision community's campaign to better educate Americans about the importance of regular eye exams. The participation of Wal-Mart, the nation's third-largest optical retailer, is expected to have a profound effect on the campaign. "With more than 1,500 locations," says William C. Thomas, Vision Council of America (VCA) executive vice president and chief executive officer, "they can educate millions of people about the importance of regular eye exams for every member of the family."

The promotion will include children's CYSC brochures, printed decals, and posters, plus the distribution of three million insert cards that will be placed in the case of every pair of eyewear and contact lenses sold. "The insert talks about the importance of regular eyecare," says Thomas.

CORPORATE CONSCIENCE

• Every facility Wal-Mart builds today from the ground up includes a skylight/dimming system. As daylight increases, skylights allow Wal-Mart to dim the lights, or even turn them off, thereby reducing the demand for electricity during peak hours.
  Nationwide, there are nearly 600 Wal-Mart Supercenters, SAM'S CLUBS and Neighborhood Markets with this system, resulting in an annual savings of about 250 million kwh a year, enough to power approximately 23,000 homes.
  No other big box or national retailer has a similar daylighting system. Other stores may turn off some lights, but only Wal-Mart automatically dims all of the lights as the daylight contribution increases.
• Wal-Mart is one of the leading supporters of education in the United States. Last year, Wal-Mart invested more than $12.2 million in education. In addition, since 1979, Wal-Mart has contributed more than $91 million in scholarship support.
• Last year, Wal-Mart contributed $196 million--or $3.8 million every week--to the communities it serves through local grants and programs.
• More than 15.5 million pounds of plastic and more than 3 billion pounds of cardboard were collected from communities through Wal-Mart's recycling programs in 2001. Customers also can recycle blue shopping bags and rechargeable batteries at any store.
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is the leading private employer of emerging groups in the United States. More than 160,000 African American associates and more than 105,000 Hispanic associates work for Wal-Mart Stores, SAM'S CLUBS, and Wal-Mart's logistics facilities nationwide.
• Wal-Mart is recognized as one of the leading employers of disabled people in the nation. In the 2002 annual poll by Careers for the Disabled magazine, Wal-Mart was named 1st among all U.S. companies in providing opportunities and a positive working environment for people with disabilities