Big Lots, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a broadline closeout retailer in the United States and Canada. The company offers products under various merchandising categories, such as consumables, including food, health and beauty, plastics, paper, chemical, and pet departments; furniture category comprising upholstery, mattresses, ready-to-assemble, and case goods departments; home category that consists of domestics, stationery, and home decorative departments; and seasonal category, which includes the lawn and garden, Christmas, summer, and other holiday departments. It also provides merchandise under the play n' wear category that comprise electronics, toys, jewelry, infant accessories, and apparel departments; and hardlines and other category, including appliances, tools, paint, and home maintenance departments. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 1,451 BIG LOTS stores in the 48 contiguous United States, and 82 LIQUIDATION WORLD and LW stores in Canada. The company also offers its products on wholesale basis. Big Lots, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

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