Sam's Club® Stands with Americans to Support Local Small Businesses during National Small Business Week

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sam's Club celebrates the American entrepreneur throughout the month of May by working for local small businesses as part of the "Step Up for Small Business" program, donating up to $200,000 to organizations supporting entrepreneurs and offering additional values for business owners in honor of National Small Business Week, May 16-20. Betty Marshall, Sam's Club vice president of the Southeast region, lead the initiative today by working at Thompson Brothers BBQ in Atlanta and announced the company will make donations to local organizations based on the number of business members its managers visit nationwide between May 9 and May 20. There are an estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America and more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, according to the National Small Business Association.

"Small businesses are the pulse of our nation, and we are proud to show them our support this year during National Small Business Week to demonstrate our commitment to their success in 2011," said Brian Cornell, CEO of Sam's Club. "We recognize that small business owners are faced with many challenges these days. We salute those who are doing business everyday and strive to help them grow their business."

Step up For Small Business Grants

Sam's Club has been a long-standing supporter of small businesses and is encouraging its managers nationwide to demonstrate their dedication to learning about their business members' operations by donating time to local member businesses. Approximately 2,000 Sam's Club home office executives and club managers will participate in the "Step Up for Small Business" program and visit and work at more than 2,000 local small businesses throughout the country. For every business a Sam's Club manager visits, Sam's Club will provide grant money to nonprofit organizations supporting small businesses, up to a total of $200,000 may be contributed.

"I had the chance to work alongside Thompson Brothers BBQ, and now I'm encouraging Sam's Club managers nationwide to do the same thing in their local communities," said Marshall. "Together, we can make a huge impact on the economy and give small business owners the support they so desperately need."

Added Values

The retailer, a co-sponsor of National Small Business Week, is offering a series of pro-small business values aimed to help owners in America achieve success and lower their costs. A special, limited-time membership offer, $10 for 10-weeks, is available May 14 for small business owners.

Sam's Club is also lowering the cost of doing business by offering new, lower prices on some of the most frequently purchased items by small business owners.

Instant Savings include:

• HP OfficeJet 6500A Plus, $99.87 after $20 instant savings
• QuickBooks Pro2011, $99.73 after $75 instant savings
• HP black or color ink, each with $10 instant savings

Join the Conversation

To highlight savvy local business operators across the country, the Sam's Club Facebook page will also feature a "tipping jar" in support of National Small Business Week, May 16 to May 20, for fans to submit their own tips for making small businesses successful. Random winners will be selected daily for entering a tip in the jar. Prizes include Advantage Plus and Business Plus memberships, each a $100 value.

Sam's Club provides simple solutions for small business owners to save money. For more information on Sam's Club commitment to small business owners, visit SamsClub.com/smallbusiness.

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 30 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made Simple(SM), visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam's Club on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE Sam’s Club