History

Wal-Mart opened in Charleston in February of 1984. The store has been remodeled several times throughout the years to better serve the customers. They are scheduled to remodel the store again in 1999. Wal-Mart's employees are from the city of Charleston and surrounding communities.

Nature of Business

Retail sales

 

Qualities & Skills Needed for Employment

1. Honesty & Integrity

2. A pleasant personality

3. A desire to do well

4. A sense of urgency

 

Impact of Changing Technologies

Most merchandise is now ordered as it is scanned out at the registers. Hand-held computers give us information on sales, cost, when an item can be found (at what other store) and sales history. They can order items, make flags, place an item on sale - lots of uses! Wal-Mart's timeclock is linked with the computer and makes payroll easier. Merchandise reaches them quicker because many of their vendors have access to rate of sales for their items.

 

Vision for 2020

Wal-Mart is looking for stores of the future to be even more automated- some will have checkout stations where the customer scans his or her own items and swipes his credit/debit card. More Internet sales with home delivery. A big plus for customers! And of course, LOTS of new items for the cusyomers!

 

Wal-Mart

510 W. Lincoln

Charleston, IL 61920

345-1222

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Special thanks to Mrs. Carol Raeber, Manager, for supplying information to assist us with this project.

Team members:Carrie Neese, Kelly Best, & Andrew Schniers

Return to Charleston, IL: A 2020 Vision