Big Lots!: Deep Dive

November 21, 2022

Big Lots, Inc., a community retailer with more than 1,400 Big Lots stores across 47 states, is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Overall Rank: Challenger

‍Research & Discovery: Leader

‍Online Ordering: Challenger

‍Fulfillment: Challenger

‍Service: Leader

Big Lots, Inc., a community retailer with more than 1,400 Big Lots stores across 47 states, is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Number of stores: 1440
Number of states: 47

The net sales of the company decreased by 0.8% or $48.6 million
Comparable sales for the e-commerce businesses and stores open for a minimum of 15 months declined by $152.2 million, or 2.5%
Gross margin dollars fell by $100.4 million, while the gross margin rate fell by 130 basis points to 39.0% of net sales
Operating profit of the company for the year 2021 decreased by $616.7 million to $239.8 million
Company’s return on invested capital decreased from 48.4% to 14.9%

2021

In 2021, the company launched new payment types on its website: Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, and “Pay in 4”
In 2021, the company increased the total score count by 23 stores
Big Lots implemented a space planning tool for improving its merchandising analytics and insights
Added 18 more stores with ship-from-store capabilities to the e-commerce distribution network
This year, the company heavily invested in e-commerce analytics tools for improving testing capability and customer insights

2020

The company launched the curbside pickup feature supplementing the BOPIS (Buy Online Pickup In Store) program
This company partnered with Instacart and PICKUP to enable same-day delivery
In 2020, the company increased the total score count by 4 stores
Added 600 bps to the customer satisfaction score, which is based on survey data, bringing it to about 81%
The company expanded the gift card offerings to its e-commerce platform and third-party gift card sellers
By putting in place ship-from-store capabilities in 47 of its stores, the company increased the distribution network for e-commerce sales

‍2019

The company planned to integrate in-store and e-commerce platform experiences by buy-online, pick-up in-store solution launch
Big Lots! launched its BOPIS program across the nation which has doubled the SKUs online
Under share repurchase program in 2019, the company acquired 1.3 million of its outstanding common shares for $50.0 million

2018

Under share repurchase program in 2018, the company acquired 2.4 million of its outstanding common shares for $100.0 million
In 2019, the BIG Rewards Program of the company had 17 million+ members

2017

The company launched BIG Rewards program, a loyalty program for incentivizing loyal customers and for creating new membership by highlighting new and specific features
This year, the company launched a new in-store shopping experience with its ‘Store of the Future’ concept
Under share repurchase program in 2017, the company acquired 3.1 million of its outstanding common shares for $150.0 million

2016