ABILENE, Kan., Sept. 25, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Duckwall-ALCO Stores (Nasdaq:DUCK) has announced that a new ALCO store opening September 27 in Louisburg, Kan. will sport a fresh color scheme as well as environmentally friendly initiatives. It will be the first of 14 new stores set to open this fall that will incorporate the Company's new prototype features.
The Louisburg store -- located just south of rapidly growing Overland Park, Kan. -- carries a color scheme of subtle tans and browns, plus black fixtures instead of the traditional chrome and metal. Generating a fresh look and contemporary feel, the store's new signage will also carry the tan and brown colors. Long gone from new stores is the Company's trademark purple.
The roof, ceiling and walls used to build the new stores are made of nearly 100 percent recyclable steel. Each new store's walls will be assembled in large pre-insulated panels designed to conserve energy, creating a higher R-value than any of the Company's previous stores. (R-value is a term predominantly used in the building industry to rate the insulative properties of construction materials...the higher the R-value, the better the insulation.)
Rather than installing carpeted or tile floors, the new stores will have polished concrete -- far more eco-friendly and much more cost effective. And T5 fluorescent lights are replacing traditional lights. Not only is T5 lighting less expensive than traditional fluorescent lighting, the energy saved by the new lights will pay for the fixtures in less than two years.
"We are very excited about the fresh look of our new stores, but we are even more excited about implementing so many environmentally friendly initiatives as we build them," said Bruce Dale, Duckwall-ALCO President and CEO. "Not only are our new stores a bit less expensive to build, they are considerably less expensive to operate. Plus each completed building will be nearly 100 percent recyclable."
Dale added that the Company is also trying to incorporate smaller eco-friendly initiatives at the local level that can make a positive difference for the environment. "We have just become part of a national program called Call2Recycle(tm), which allows customers and community residents to drop off batteries and cell phones that are no longer rechargeable and are harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly. We believe it's the right thing to do for the communities surrounding our local stores."
Dale concluded, "We are confident our customers will enjoy the enhanced shopping experience our new stores will offer, plus our updated building materials are better for the environment and more cost effective to incorporate."
About Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc.
Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. is a regional retailer that specializes in meeting the needs of smaller, underserved communities throughout the central United States. The Company offers an exceptional selection of fashionable merchandise, quality products and recognized brand names at reasonable prices. Our specialty is delivering those products with the friendly, personal service our customers have come to expect. With 252 stores across 21 states, we are proud to have continually provided excellent products at good value prices to our customers for 106 years. To learn more about Duckwall-ALCO Stores, Inc. visit our website at www.ALCOstores.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as referenced in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("the Act"). Any forward-looking statements are made by the Company in good faith, pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Act. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and projections regarding economic conditions, retail industry environments and Company performance. Factors, which could significantly change results, include but are not limited to: sales performance, expense levels, competitive activity, interest rates, changes in the Company's financial condition and factors affecting the retail category in general. Additional information regarding these and other factors may be included in the Company's quarterly 10-Q filings and other public documents, copies of which are available from the Company on request.