Exceeding expectations

Three weeks ago today doors opened on the new Neighborhood Market by Walmart in Pea Ridge. Attendance and purchases that day exceeded expectations.

“It’s good. Business is steady,” Scott McMillan, manager, said. “We’ve gotten lots of compliments.”

McMillan said the store has met and exceeded sales expectations set by the home office market analysis.

“There are still people who don’t know we’re open 24 hours a day,” he said.

With more than 100 employees, the store is “always hiring,” McMillan said.

The beauty of a Neighborhood Market, according to McMillan, is that “it’s a more pleasant shopping experience.

“The management team is more engaged with associates and the associates are more engaged with the customers,” he said, adding that he and his management team are available on the floor to speak to customers, to hear their requests, to check out if someone is waiting in line at a check out register.

Several customers have made requests and McMillan said he’s tried to meet those requests. “We’re doing the best we can to get what the customers request.”

An example was that the store added canning supplies. Another request was Frito Lay jalapeno crackers.

There’s an ice machine at the gas station, McMillan said, explaining that he requested that considering the needs of the community. He anticipates adding benches along the front wall of the store soon.

Meeting the customers’ needs is a primary goal for McMillan who praised his cart handlers saying that they volunteer to help people with their groceries often.

“We have a good mix from the community,” he said, explaining that there are teenage associates. “I started working when I was 16. I wanted to provide that opportunity for someone.”