Big Lots Inc. is a chain of department stores that focuses on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based out of Columbus, Ohio. The company currently operates over 1400 stores in 46 states.

A typical store sells a wide variety of merchandise, including toys, furniture, clothing, housewares, and small electronics. Most of the items sold in these stores are purchased as they become available. What's in the store one day may not be there the next, and the store may not get further shipments of the items. Most of the merchandise in the stores is closeouts and overstocks. However there are some items in the stores, such as foodstuffs that are replenished on a continual basis.

In many cases, Big Lots uses an existing building such as a grocery or department store that had either moved or ceased operations.

The Big Lots chain traces its history back to 1967 when the Consolidated Stores Corporation was formed in Ohio by Sol Shenk. In 1982, the company opened its first closeout store, which they called Odd Lots. The company purchased a toy liquidation store chain, as well as KB Toys. In 1985 the first Big Lots store was introduced.

By 2000, Consolidated Stores Corporation sold the KB Toys line off. A year later the company decided to focus mainly on the Big Lots chain, and changed its name to Big Lots, Inc. By 2002, the company had completed its nationwide conversion to the single national Big Lots brand. In recent times the company has expanded its presence by opening a number of new stores.

External links

• http://www.biglots.com/