Last updated on June 16th, 2017 at 03:33 pm
Big Lots is planning a store that will mark the retailer’s first “store of the future” at the site of a former Giant Eagle grocery store in Columbus, Ohio, at 1451 W. Fifth Avenue. Among the categories the store will emphasize are grocery-type items like food, household cleaners and pet products.
Columbus Business First reports that the 37,000-s.f. store “wants to put a spotlight on its best-selling merchandise. Furniture is the biggest department in the 1,434-unit chain, accounting for more than $1 billion of its $5.2 billion in annual sales but, by the company’s own admission, some customers may not realize that.”
“People are still surprised we sell furniture,” Big Lots VP of Investor Relations Andy Regrut said, according to the news outlet. “We’re not getting full credit from Jennifer.” (Jennifer is the company’s name for its core customer).
As Business First reports, “Big Lots stores vary in size, shape and layout so some shops could have the furniture department toward the back and out of the customer’s direct line of sight.”
Some Big Lot markets, like the West Coast and Texas, don’t have furniture in stores.
“Furniture will get a prominent place at the front of the store, which will be designed with a ‘low-to-high’ profile so customers can see straight to the back of the store and sight lines aren’t blocked by shelving,” Business First says of the new Columbus store. “Seasonal, food, items like household cleaners and pet products, and soft home goods like rugs and sheets will be other areas of emphasis in the design.”
Best of Luck.
As a long-time shopper and current employee with over 30 years in retail and over 50 percent in mgt., from my research BigLots is making a huge mistake. Their foundation was built being a closeout store now they want to change the concept. Prices are increasing, offerings in various depts., ie, food, electronics, hardware, no books, limited movies, etc. have been reduced. These are the products that brought people in week after week for formerly low prices and to see what is new. Now they want to be a furniture store selling low to mediocre quality furniture in hopes the shopper will possibly grab some other items while there. Customer complaints about prices and lack of consumables qnd other items has and will continue to cause a decline in sales. How much furniture does a family need? Sears was the father of catalog ordering; they stopped, Amazon was born and Walmart has joined in as a top competitor. They should learn from retailers like Sears and Penneys, etc, stick to and build from your foundation if you want to be around the next decade.