Tucked away on New Haven Avenue in Derby is a store with bargains that is clean and organized as any department store.
I recently walked into a Big Lots store for the first time and was quite impressed by how clean and organized it was and the friendly staff that work at the store.
The Derby store, the first I was in, is located at 600 New Haven Avenue.
According to the Big Lots Website, the store, one of 1,400 the chain has, is a surplus-type store that receives overstock, discontinued, and slightly damaged merchandise as well as cancelled orders, package changes, and test market products. In fact, Big Lots is America’s largest broad line closeout retailer with annual sales of $4 billion and is ranked among the Fortune 500 and has excellent relationships with more than 3,000 manufactures. Being a broad line retailer allows Big Lots to sell high quality, brand-name products on a variety of merchandise.
The Derby store, like many but not all Big Lot stores, sells ready-to-assembly furniture, mattresses, and a full furniture department including upholstery.
Like most stores, this store has an in-store ad, in store specials, and e-mail notice sign-up.
To get access to all merchandise in your favorite Big Lots store, you can join the Buzz Club. Shoppers can sign up for The Buzz Club and subsequently receive exclusive, frequent discounts only to Buzz Club members, be the first to find out what’s in the clearance aisle, get access to all merchandise on BigLots.com, see the ads first, special discounts of up to 20% off the already low closeout prices, get sneak peeks of new products and seasonal items before they are in the store, see the freshest closeouts in pantry food and health and beauty, and much more. By signing up, you can create an account with your e-mail address and set the profile to your favorite store, which is automatically defaulted to the store closest to you.
For teachers, you can click a box and receive information about teachers-only discounts, contests, and giveaways.
The Derby store is located in a former Service Merchandise Department Store which was subdivided into Big Lots and Staples Office Superstore. It is located near the Orange Derby Shopping Center which, according to Caldor Rainow, http://thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007_03_13_archive.html, sports a large sign stating “Orange Derby” in orange with a small orange hat and the small words “Shopping Center” in yellow.
The center was a booming retail area on Route 34 anchored by Big Kmart and one time had a Marshalls. The Kmart store never resembled most Kmart stores since it formerly was Jordan Marsh after it briefly was home to Zayres Department Store. The center had numerous small retailers such as Fashion Bug, GNC, Dollar Tree, a card shop, and small independently owned shops and eateries. The entire center is slated for demolition with K-Mart already gone from the landscape to be replaced by a Lowe’s Home Improvement Center. There are two nearby outparcel restaurants nearby, Burger King and Dunkin’ Donuts, which are expected to remain.
While some Big Lots stores are less organized and not kept as clean, such as the Wallingford, CT store, at 968 North Colony Road, they all have designated departments with changing merchandise.
The store even has a small appliance department with toaster ovens, toasters, vacuums, coffee makers, can openers, and grills.
The seasonal department offers a large variety of merchandise varying from Valentine’s Day, Easter, summer, Halloween, fall/harvest, and Christmas, along with lawn and garden merchandise like patio furniture, lawn tools, and hand tools.
Treats, toys, and food for birds, cats, and dogs can be found in the Pets Department.
The luggage department offers consumers duffle bags, uprights, and other luggage.
The kitchen department features bakeware, cookware, cutlery, dinnerware, and kitchen gadgets.
Mirrors, floral arrangements, clocks, candles, decorative dolls, rugs, and throws can be found in the home décor department.
Don’t forget to check out the domestics department where you will find comforters, bedding, bath rugs and accessories, towels, and window coverings.
The baby gear department provides all you will need for your baby while paper goods and chemicals can be found in the cleaning, paper, and storage department.
The electronics department has cameras, clock radios, DVD players, printers, stereos and much more while fashion basics has budget priced clothes for men and women.
The furniture collection department which features home office, home entertainment, bedroom furniture, recliners, sofa sets, Serta mattresses and frames, and much more is usually found in the rear of the store or on the side.
In general, most Big Lot store range from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet. Most Big Lot stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. while some stores have extended hours.
