Type: Public
On the web: http://www.biglots.com
Employees: 35,600
Employee growth: 0.0%

Big Lots believes that a product's shelf life depends solely on which shelf it's on. The company is the nation's #1 broadline closeout retailer, with more than 1,400 Big Lots stores (down from a high of 1,500 in 2005) in 48 US states and about 90 in Canada. (More than one-third of its stores are located in California, Florida, Ohio, and Texas.) It sells a variety of brand-name products that have been overproduced, returned, discontinued, or result from liquidations, typically at 20%-40% below discounters' prices, as well as private-label items and furniture. Its wholesale division sells its discounted merchandise to a variety of retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and other wholesalers.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending January, 2011:
Sales: $4,952.2M
One year growth: 4.8%
Net income: $222.5M
Income growth: 11.1%

Officers:
Chairman, President, and CEO: Steven S. (Steve) Fishman
EVP Administration: John C. Martin
EVP and CFO; President, Canada: Joe R. Cooper

Competitors:
Dollar General
Target Corporation
Wal-Mart

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