Promoting a neighborly spirit

TIMES photograph by Annette Beard Timm King, Jaron Hartman visit with manager Scott McMillan and Dustin King Monday. All three were sporting the Neighborhood Market colors of green and khaki.
TIMES photograph by Annette Beard Timm King, Jaron Hartman visit with manager Scott McMillan and Dustin King Monday. All three were sporting the Neighborhood Market colors of green and khaki.

For employees of the Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge, the day begins with a company meeting around a spirit stick in front of a board with photographs of family members. Written on the board is: "This is why I work safe."

Rewarding employees for being the most enthusiastic, the most productive, the safest, Scott McMillan, manager of the new Neighborhood Market by Walmart in Pea Ridge, said employees are reminded daily that customers are the focus for his staff.

Wednesday, July 16

7:30 a.m. Grand opening

8 a.m. Ribbon cutting

Neighborhood Market, Pea Ridge

240 Slack St.

For several weeks, all employees -- including McMillan, assistant managers, cashiers and sales associates -- have been working in the new 41,000-square-foot store building shelves and modulars, stocking the shelves, getting the store ready for the grand opening slated for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 16.

Shelves are built, many of them stocked. Refrigerated shelves are not yet stocked because, as McMillan said, items with a shorter shelf life will be stocked closer to the opening date.

With an eye toward excellence, McMillan walks through the aisles noting where a line of product is not straight. He said new employees have been excellent learners as they have learned how to set modulars and read bar codes. "I'm really proud of what they've achieved," he said. About 65 to 70 percent of the employees are new to Walmart.

"We had a very competitive job pool from which to pull," McMillan said. "We chose those who will serve our customers best."

"We strive for excellence," he said, echoing what he said is the Walmart motto.

Rows and rows of cereal boxes, canned vegetables, toiletry items sit neatly in line. Occasionally there is a gap that will be filled as more product arrives.

"Our shelves are designed to hold enough product until the next delivery," McMillan said, adding that there isn't much storage room in the back. He said items are replaced from the back, keeping products moving to avoid out-of-date items being sold.

"This looks awesome," Thelma Vanez, field project supervisor, said. "This has gone really smooth thanks to them."

The Neighborhood Market design is for customers who want to get in and out in 10 minutes, McMillan explained when asked about the difference in that and the supercenter design. It is at least 30 minutes in a supercenter, he said.

"It's more friendly," McMillan said, adding that it is more likely that a customer will encounter a sales associate in a Neighborhood Market than in the supercenter design. He stressed that sales associates are there for the customers and are cross trained, so they should be able to help a customer in any department. Cashiers and associates trained in neighboring stores. "We're a grocery store."

"We're 'detailing,'" he said, "like a shiny new Corvette -- everything has to be perfect."

"Our customers vote for us by spending their money with us. We want to meet their needs," McMillan said.

From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 12, there will be a community event in the parking lot to introduce employees to the public. There will be games and booths.

The fuel station will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are more limited hours to the pharmacy.

McMillan said money was provided to give to local organizations, including the Fire Department, the Police Department, the Ministerial Alliance, Bright Futures, the Parks Commission and the Arkansas Dragons.

General News on 07/09/2014