Big Lots and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet are both American retail chains that specialize in selling closeout merchandise and overstocked items at deeply discounted prices. Big Lots operates more than 1,400 stores across 47 states, while Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has over 250 stores in 22 states.
Despite their similarities, Big Lots and Ollie’s are two separate companies.
Big Lots was founded in 1967 as a single store in Columbus, Ohio. The company went public in 1979 and began to rapidly expand its store base throughout the 1980s.
In 2003, Big Lots acquired Liquidation World, a Canadian closeout retailer. Big Lots now has its corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio and reported $5.4 billion in sales for 2018.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet was founded in 1982 by Morton Bernstein as a single store in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The company has remained privately held and has steadily grown to its current size through a combination of new store openings and acquisitions.
In 2015, Ollie’s acquired the assets of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc., which added over 100 stores to its portfolio. Ollie’s now has its corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and reported $2 billion in sales for 2018.
Conclusion: No, Big Lots and Ollie’s are not the same company. Although they are both American retail chains that sell closeout merchandise and overstocked items at deeply discounted prices, they are two separate companies with different histories and ownership structures.
