New Sam's Club® to Debut in Hendersonville

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Tennessee's fastest growing communities continues its retail rise when the newly relocated Sam's Club opens Wednesday, March 21 at 8 a.m. in the heart of Hendersonville. The new club, located at 301 Indian Lake Blvd., adjacent to the Streets of Indian Lake retail development, was designed specifically with the local member in mind.

"The layout of our new club is very shopper-friendly and a perfect location for members who enjoy city life or have more of a rural lifestyle," said club manager Jeff Godbey. "Our members from Sumner and northern Davidson counties will immediately notice the fresh, bright atmosphere in the club. We are very excited to open and showcase our expanded selection of merchandise and new amenities that enhance the value of membership."

The Indian Lake Sam's Club measures approximately 137,000 square feet. Opening just in time for spring, the array of everyday needs, fresh produce, quality meats, and home meal solutions along with exciting items like hybrid grills and coolers, will prepare the community for a perfect day at Old Hickory Lake or a springtime backyard barbecue. Bargain hunters, moms-on-the-go, business owners, gourmet cooks, the sophisticated shopper and sports fans will discover value and quality from Sam's Club with every visit.

"Hendersonville is known as a great place to live, work and play," said Godbey. "Our new club will allow our members to explore thousands of quality items at an extraordinary value. We make savings simple, bottom line, while still offering the highest of quality in every item we offer." 

"Besides the obvious job opportunities and sales tax revenue, the decision by Sam's Club to select Hendersonville as the location for this new club reaffirms our message that our city is a great place for business," said Scott Foster, the city's mayor.

Members can experience Savings Made Simple® at Sam's Club Hendersonville when doors open March 21, immediately following an 8 a.m. grand opening ceremony.

Sam's Club Part of Unprecedented Retail Growth

Foster said Hendersonville and the local Sam's Club established a very strong relationship throughout the development process. He expects Sam's Club to be the catalyst for accelerated retail growth.

"Seven years ago we developed a strategy to assist those looking for a business-friendly place to call home," said Foster. "It takes time to build relationships and trust with people who are making decisions to commit millions of dollars in construction costs for their new buildings. In the end it's a matter of making sure that needs and opportunities are properly matched, and then helping the business prospect see their potential for success in Hendersonville."

New Sam's Club an Extraordinary Value for Discerning Shoppers, Business Owners

Fresh flowers with a 7-day guarantee, best-selling books, tires, and sporting equipment are in large supply for members of all ages, while office supplies, vending machine snacks and paper goods prepare small business members for success. Additional benefits for small business owners include early shopping hours, personal shopping through Click 'n' Pull®, truck load savings, and access to quality items most often used by foodservice businesses, restaurant owners and caterers.

New Fuel Station and Hearing Center Offer Added Convenience

Sumner County residents and those passing through the "City by the Lake" will enjoy the added convenience of a Sam's Club fuel station, the first for The Streets at Indian Lake area. The station will have 12 pumps, including diesel.

The new club also debuts a Sam's Club Hearing Center, offering premium technology in hearing aid and personal listening devices alongside the care of a certified audiologist.

Other health and wellness benefits include the Sam's Club pharmacy, open to members and the public, featuring $4 and $10 generic prescriptions and savings on branded prescriptions. Sam's Club also offers an optical department and free monthly health screenings to help members take charge of their health through preventive measures.

Club to Employ 200 Associates

The Hendersonville club plans to employ approximately 200 associates, including 30 new positions created by the relocation.

"I take great pride in our associates and the work they have done to prepare this club for its grand opening," said Godbey. "Their hard work is appreciated and they have a beautiful, brand new facility to show off. They are anxious to continue their reputation of providing stellar customer service to our members from Sumner and Davidson counties."

Godbey started his career with Sam's Club in June 1998, as a manager-in-training in Louisville, Ky. After working in Indianapolis and Cincinnati, he was promoted to his first manager position in a Chicago-area club in 2002. He spent several years managing clubs in the tri-city area of Lexington, Ky., Louisville, Ky., and Cincinnati before re-locating to the Nashville market in 2011. He is originally from Danville, Ky.

Sam's Club Community and Environmental Commitments

Sam's Club has a longstanding commitment to give back to the communities it serves, and the new Hendersonville club is no different. Associates from the local club have selected several local organizations to receive a total of $10,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation. Those recipients include: Sumner County Family YMCA, Humane Society of Sumner County, HomeSafe, Friends of Rock Castle, Children are People (CAP), Hendersonville Chamber Foundation, Homebound Meals, Rotary Club of Hendersonville, Vietnam Veterans of Nashville Foundation, and the Shackle Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

The newly relocated Sam's Club will also help fight hunger in the area by making regular product donations to the Davidson County Tennessee Food Banks. As part of a nationwide collaboration between Sam's Club and Feeding America, Sam's Club donated more than 13 million pounds of food to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief charity. The Hendersonville club will also provide financial support to the Sumner County Food Bank.

Sam's Club also prides itself in being good stewards of the environment. The new Sumner County club was constructed with a variety of environmentally-friendly materials and energy-efficient fixtures. For instance, numerous daylight-harvesting skylights reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting throughout the club, including in the cooler and freezer box doors and jewelry counter, operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

Added Savings with eValues

A membership benefit program called eValues for Sam's Club Plus members ($100 per year membership) provides customized savings on hundreds of items throughout the club, including fresh foods, health and beauty products, and office supplies. With no coupons to clip and no rebate forms to complete and mail, Sam's Club Plus members receive personalized offers tailored to them.  To keep savings simple, eValues discounts are automatically taken at the register with a simple swipe of a membership card. Sam's Club estimates Plus members save more than $300 per year with eValues.

From March 21-25, Sam's Club welcomes all members to try eValues savings on a variety of products.

Grand Opening Event

The grand opening ceremony will take place at 8 a.m., March 21. Numerous local dignitaries, including Hendersonville Mayor Scott Foster, Sumner County Executive Anthony Holt, and Brenda Payne, president and chief executive officer of the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, will be in attendance, along with 200 Sam's Club associates.

Richard Gaia, minister of education at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, will give the invocation at the grand opening ceremony, and local artist Suzanne Young will perform the national anthem. Club manager Jeff Godbey will join executives and members of the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce to cut the ribbon to signify the club's opening.

Memberships

Sam's Club Membership is an investment that more than pays for itself. Whether buying for a household or a business, a Sam's Club Membership offers exclusive savings on merchandise and outstanding member benefits. With access to eValues, early shopping hours Plus membership offers even more with our premium service options. Advantage memberships for families and individuals start at $40 annually, Plus memberships are $100,  Business members pay $35 annually and Business Plus members pay $100. Special savings for college students and military families are also available. Visit SamsClub.com/Membership for a full menu of services or to renew your membership today.

About Sam's Club

Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading Membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million Members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Members save an average of 34 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made Simple®, visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam's Club on Twitter, Facebook and on mobile and iPad® apps. 

SOURCE Sam's Club