Sam's Club(R) Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Nationwide Open House

BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sam's Club will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a weekend long open house to appreciate members and associates beginning Friday, April 18 at 9:45 a.m. (in each time zone) when members and guest shoppers can a get first glimpse of special anniversary merchandise at exceptional values.

As part of the three day celebration, Sam's Club is waiving the 10 percent service charge typically applied to all non-member purchases and guests are also welcome to purchase fuel at all Sam's Club stations at the discounted member rate. In honor of the Silver Anniversary, Sam's Club has stocked up on special products at exceptional values including digital cameras, high definition TV's, lawn mowers as well as luxury pillows. In addition, everyday items, choice meats and produce will be featured.

In a recent survey of 2,500 Sam's Club Business Members, more than 70 percent report saving enough in just one month on their purchases to pay their annual membership fee.

The first Sam's Club opened in Midwest City, Oklahoma April 7, 1983. At the dedication, Sam Walton shared with the new associates and guests, "when one of our experiments works, watch out." Sam's Club began as a wholesale club to help small business owners save on everyday items they needed to run their operations. Through the years, the format evolved to include families and an assorted merchandise mix from fresh meats and produce to high end electronics, pharmacy as well as tire and battery centers.

Kathy Cronemiller from the Oklahoma City area became a member the very first day Sam's Club opened its doors. To this day, she still shops the Midwest City Club #8241. "I cannot tell you the amount of difference the Sam's Club price has made for me and my businesses over the last few years," said Cronemiller. "The prices have been so much cheaper than what I could have gotten from a grocery store. One thing I've always liked about Sam's more than anything else is the group of people that are the associates who work here -- and the managers."

Members and guests will find exciting items in club during the Anniversary Open House at significant values including the following:

    Nikon CoolPix digital camera for $219.87
    Phillips High Definition 42" LCD for $1198.00
    Serta Pillow sets for $9.88
    HP Photosmart 4250 $59.62
    Charmin 36 pack for $17.47
    Pantene Pro-V Shampoo 2 pack for $7.64.
    Pork Tenderloin $2.88/lb.

Greg Johnston, Executive Vice President of Operations at Sam's Club started with Wal-Mart in 1982. When reflecting on the past, Johnston said, "While much has changed since the beginning, we are still a membership warehouse club and we recognize our foundation is the small business owner. You can still buy a hotdog and coke for $1.50. We still sell quality items at low prices. We are still committed to giving back to our local communities, and our culture is as strong today as it was when Sam Walton began this company."

About Sam's Club

    Sam's Club is a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., NYSE: WMT. The first
Sam's Club opened its doors in Midwest City, Oklahoma in 1983. Today, Sam's
Club serves more than 47 million U.S. members with locations nationwide, and
in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Sam's Club offers
exceptional values on merchandise and services for business owners and
consumers. Online merchandise and club information is available at
samsclub.com.

                              Sam's Club History

                                     1983
                  First Sam's Club Opens Midwest City, Okla.

                                     1984
                        More than two million Members

                                     1988
                     104 clubs and seven million Members

                                     1991
                First international club opens in Mexico City

                                     1993
               From Maine to California 419 clubs in 47 states

                                     1993
                   Sam's Club acquires PACE Warehouse Clubs

                                     1997
                   First gas station opens Wichita, Kansas

                                     1998
                     Member's Mark private label launches

                                     1998
                   First Pharmacy opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma

                                     2000
         Samsclub.com launches and Click n' Pull rolls out soon after

                                     2003
                        20th Anniversary and 522 clubs

                                     2005
                    Doug McMillon named President and CEO

                                     2006
                   First hometown club opens in Bentonville

                                     2007
               Sam's Club Fayetteville Model for Sustainability


    SAM'S CLUB CORPORATE FACTS

    -- There are 593 Sam's Club locations in the U.S.
    -- 431 Sam's Club Fuel Stations
    -- Total club square footage is approx. 136,000 square feet per location
       Sam's Club and its members gave more than $32 million to charities,
       civic and educational programs in 2007
    -- More than 70 percent of Sam's Club hourly associates are promoted into
       management positions and pursue careers with the company
    -- International locations:
         Puerto Rico - 9
         Mexico - 70
         Canada - 6
         Brazil - 15
         China - 3