Savannah Location Named Walmart’s “Store of the Year”
Monday, September 16th, 2024
Walmart #606 in Savannah recently received Walmart’s Division 1 “Store of the Year” award for 2024, presented each year by the corporate team in Bentonville, Arkansas. Located on US Highway 80 on Whitemarsh Island, the store was selected for the honor over 363 other Division 1 Walmart stores across the country.
Each year at Walmart’s Year-Beginning Meeting, senior leaders and store managers gather to recognize the retail giant’s top performing stores. Out of 4,700 stores in the U.S., only three are awarded “Store of the Year” status. The three classifications include Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Division 1 stores, which are slightly smaller than Supercenters and focus on general merchandise and a limited grocery section.
“Our associates and management are proud and grateful to be named Store of the Year,” said Jill Thrasher, store manager at Walmart Store #606. “Serving our community and the influx of tourists we see in the summer months is our top priority and our associates are the key to our success. We have been able to develop meaningful relationships with those who live here full-time and the vacationers, and the positive feedback they give inspires us to continue providing top-notch customer service.”
The Savannah location was bestowed the honor based on its high levels of customer satisfaction and associate engagement. A remarkable 22% of this store’s employees have been at the location for at least 20 years, while Thrasher has been with the company in various roles for over 40 years. Combining the three years she spent opening this store with the current seven-year run she has enjoyed as its manager, her decade in Savannah has been defined by service to both customers and the community.
“While some may rest on their laurels after receiving this type of recognition, I’ve seen the opposite from our team, as the associates have been inspired to work even harder to live up to the standard being ‘Store of the Year’ represents,” added Thrasher.
In addition to serving the communities of Savannah and Tybee Island and the area’s visitors, this Walmart demonstrates its passion for supporting charitable causes and local organizations through community service and impactful donations, including partnering with Children's Miracle Network and Feeding America for annual in-store campaigns. The store has made numerous in-kind donations to Savannah-area schools and libraries. With the support of Walmart, many of the associates volunteer with local breast cancer awareness organizations and are active in their community through church groups.
