Big Lots Shifts Focus to Furniture

Discount retail chain Big Lots Inc. (Columbus, Ohio) credits favorable sales in a tough retail climate to its furniture offerings.

The retailer recently reported its 12th consecutive quarter of flat or positive comparable store sales, according to Columbus Business First, with rising sales of its mattresses, dressers and kitchen islands.

“We’re still at the beginning of the beginning,” said CEO David Campisi. “Many [consumers] don’t know that we sell furniture.” Big Lots has hired a marketing agency to focus messaging on furniture offerings, as well as a firm to design its “store of the future.”