Big Lots moving from U.S. 70 up to Goody's on North Berkeley
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on October 10, 2010 1:50 AM
More space and more customers are why Big Lots is moving from its old store on U.S. 70 West to the old Goody's home on North Berkeley Boulevard.
The new location will open Oct. 20, but a grand opening will be held sometime in November. Big Lots originally opened in Goldsboro in March 1997 with its store on U.S. 70 West, according to Pam Goodman, Goldsboro store manager.
But the merchandise has outgrown the store, said Jerry Herring, project manager for the Goldsboro store and general manager of the Kinston store.
"We carry a lot of different merchandise," he said.
Some of the merchandise will be the same at the new store, but there will be a lot of new things since there will be more space.
More space also means adding about 10 more employees.
Big Lots is a chain of closeout stores. But that doesn't mean the merchandise is of any lesser quality than at other retailers, according to Herring.
"It's the same merchandise everybody else is carrying; we just get a better price on it," he said. "For example, the furniture we carry is the same as you'll find in the brand name furniture stores. But our prices are a couple hundred dollars cheaper, and sometimes even more than that.
"So the word 'closeout' might be misleading a little bit; 99 percent of it is brand name merchandise. We just buy it in bulk and get a great price on it. Then we pass that great price on to our customers."
Because of that, Big Lots shoppers can furnish an apartment or house to look like it came right out of a fancy magazine -- for much less.
"We have some very unique items," Herring said. "That's why a lot of customers shop with us. If you are a creative person, you can make your place look very expensive with items from Big Lots, but you don't put a lot of money into it."
In addition to household items, Big Lots also carries food, tools, automotive items, paper products, jewelry, electronics, clothing for everyone in the family and much more.
Herring said that the move is timely because with the planned U.S. 70 bypass, the little bit of traffic that currently exists will likely dry up even more.
And, Herring noted, most of Goldsboro's major retail business can be found around Berkeley Boulevard. Since customers are going there already, it will be easier for them to also stop at Big Lots to do a little shopping -- and it's closer to the town's population base.
"This will be a great location," Herring said. "The base being just down the road from the new store will play a big part as well.
"People are looking for a bargain these days and are trying to save money. That's why a lot of customers come to Big Lots, because they know they can save at our store."
And with several holidays approaching, Big Lots will be devoting a good bit of space to seasonal merchandise -- already more than just Halloween costumes and paper products, Herring said.
"Right now we are carrying harvest merchandise," he said. "And we have such a variety of harvest merchandise like wreaths and vases.
"We're also gearing up for Christmas. We will have a huge selection of holiday merchandise from Christmas paper to bows to wreaths, vases, candles and even trees. And customers can even get their toys for gifts here. There's nothing that we don't carry for Christmas."