How to Sell to Big Lots & Become a Big Lots Vendor

1. How do I get my products into Big Lots stores? 

To get your products into Big Lots stores, you will need to apply to become a Big Lots vendor. You can do this by visiting Big Lots’s website and completing an online vendor application. Or you can follow our Retail MBA (https://www.retailmba.com) Training System where we explain how the sales professionals actually sell into these types of retailers! 

If you went the traditional route, the application process typically involves submitting a product sample and accompanying product information sheet (PIS), which should include details on your product, pricing and availability information, and any other relevant information when they ask! 

Once you have submitted your application, a Big Lots buyer will review your submission and determine if your products are a good fit for the company. If your application is approved, you will be invited to become a Big Lots vendor and will be given access to the company’s systems and processes. Unfortunately, if you actually submit your product on their website, they don’t always respond. Or review your product appropriately as they ask you very generic questions about your brand and you don’t always get your products reviewed correctly. We try to rectify this through our Retail MBA Training System as we have time-tested proven methods to getting into these types of chain stores! No experience required! 

To increase your chances of success, it is important to thoroughly research the market and identify a product that meets a specific need or demand. It is also important to demonstrate that you are able to produce high-quality products that offer value to customers and that you have a reliable supply chain. 

Overall, getting your products into Big Lots stores requires a strong commitment to quality and customer service, as well as the ability to meet the company’s strict vendor requirements. With hard work and dedication, it is possible to build a successful partnership with Big Lots and grow your business. Plus you can make millions of dollars with one chain store order. We are here to help as a Retail consultancy if you need help with this! 

2. How do I contact Big Lots buyers? 

There are a few ways you can contact Big Lots buyers:

1. Use the “Contact Us” form on Big Lots’s website: You can visit Big Lots’s website and use the “Contact Us” form to send a message to the appropriate department. This is a good option if you are not sure which department or buyer to contact. This is also presented in the vendor section of their website. We highly recommend ignoring this route as buyers tend to overlook amazing products on their website through their vendor portal. Which is why the Founder of Retail MBA is the one who created our powerful Retail MBA Training System which unlocks how to approach, pitch and find the Big Lotsers for you to sell to. You can take a look at what we are up to at https://www.retailmba.com.
2. Do NOT Reach out through LinkedIn: Many Big Lots buyers have LinkedIn profiles, which you can use to connect with them directly. You can search for buyers by name or job title and send them a message through LinkedIn but do not reach out to them this way. Many people suggest this. Buyers despise it when you reach out to them in disrespectful ways. Linkedin is where they post their resumes. Not reviewing products! 
3. Attend industry trade shows and networking events: Big Lots buyers often attend industry trade shows and other events, where you can meet them in person and pitch your product. There are trade shows for every product category. For instance, housewares products can attend the International Housewares Show! Our Founder, Karen Waksman, has spoken at most of the top trade shows on how to sell to retail chains. These are great shows! Please check out our training on how to utilize trade shows appropriately. We explain what NOT to do when going to trade shows in our Retail MBA Training and Coaching Systems. 
4. Contact the buyer directly: If you know the name and contact information for a specific Big Lots buyer, you can try reaching out to them directly. You can do this by emailing or calling them, but never through sending them a direct message on LinkedIn. If you go this route, do not annoy buyers. Find out what words to use when contacting buyers to get them to actually review your products! Our systems all teach how to do this in a way that buyers love! We’ve taught well over 100,000 product companies how to pitch buyers with our systems listed on RetailMBA.com.

It is important to be respectful and professional when contacting Big Lots buyers, and to make sure you have a clear and compelling pitch for your product. It is also a good idea to do your research and tailor your pitch to the specific interests and needs of the buyer you are contacting.

3. What are Big Lots’s vendor requirements? 

Big Lots has a number of vendor requirements that must be met in order to do business with the company. These requirements can vary depending on the type of products you are selling and the market in which you operate. Some of the key requirements include:

1. High-quality products: Big Lots is committed to offering its customers high-quality products at affordable prices. As a vendor, you will need to demonstrate that you are able to produce products that meet the company’s standards for quality.
2. Safety and compliance: Big Lots has strict requirements for the safety and compliance of the products it sells. This includes requirements for materials, labeling, packaging, and other aspects of product design.
3. Reliable supply chain: Big Lots relies on a global network of suppliers to meet the needs of its customers. As a vendor, you will need to demonstrate that you have a reliable supply chain that is able to meet the company’s demand for products. Handmade goods would not make sense to sell to Big Lots buyers – they buy in volume!
4. Competitive pricing: Big Lots is known for offering its customers epic prices, and as a vendor, you will need to be able to offer competitive pricing in order to do business with the company.
5. Strong customer service: Big Lots values strong customer service and expects its vendors to provide timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries and complaints.
6. There is a list of requirements they require listed on their vendor portal. Check out their vendor website and you will find out insurance requirements and more! 

Overall, becoming a Big Lots vendor requires a strong commitment to quality and customer service, as well as the ability to meet the company’s strict vendor requirements. With hard work and dedication, it is possible to build a successful partnership with Big Lots and grow your business.

4. How do I prepare a Big Lots product submission? 

To prepare a Big Lots product submission, you will need to create a product sample and accompanying product information sheet. The product sample should be a physical representation of your product, while the product sell sheet should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, and Big Lots market. Do not randomly send samples to them. Buyers need to request these samples! Otherwise you will usually never get a review process from buyers. 

Here are some steps you can follow to prepare a Big Lots product submission:

1. Research the market: Before you start preparing your product submission, it is important to research the market to ensure that your product meets a specific need or demand. You should also research Big Lots’s product offerings and make sure your product is a good fit for the company.
2. Create a product sample: Your product sample should be a physical representation of your product that demonstrates its features and benefits. You should consider creating prototypes or samples in multiple sizes, colors, or variations to give Big Lots buyers a better understanding of your product.
3. Create a product information sheet (PIS): Your PIS should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, Big Lots market, pricing, and availability. You should also include any relevant images or graphics that will help buyers to understand your product. We explain EXACTLY how to create the best sell sheets for buyers in our powerful Retail MBA Training System listed on RetailMBA.com. 
4. Review and edit your submission: Once you have created your product sample and sell sheet, it is important to review and edit your submission to ensure that it is accurate and complete. You should also double-check that you have included all relevant information and that your submission meets Big Lots’s guidelines.
5. We teach you exactly what words to use and how to get buyers to buy in a fraction of the time and cost. Be sure to check out our free webinars listed on RetailMBA.com. We explain all of this in detail! 

Overall, preparing a Big Lots product submission requires careful planning and attention to detail. By following these steps and ensuring that your submission is accurate and complete, you can increase your chances of success and get your products on Big Lots’s shelves. These are just a few random examples of how to prepare a product submission. Our core Retail MBA Training System takes 10 hours to explain what actually will happen to you if you sell to a retail chain. Why? One chain store order can mean 10’s of millions of dollars to your bottom line. The more you know, the better you will succeed. 

5. What are Big Lots’s private label requirements? 

To prepare a Big Lots product submission, you will need to create a product sample and accompanying product information sheet. The product sample should be a physical representation of your product, while the sell sheet should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, and Big Lots market. Again, our Core Retail MBA Training System explains how to create a powerful sell sheet and how to contact the private label buyer and submit your product as would the sales professionals! 

Here are some first steps you can follow to prepare a Big Lots product submission:

1. Research the market: Before you start preparing your product submission, it is important to research the market to ensure that your product meets a specific need or demand. You should also research Big Lots’s product offerings and make sure your product is a good fit for the company.
2. Create a product sample: Your product sample should be a physical representation of your product that demonstrates its features and benefits. You should consider creating prototypes or samples in multiple sizes, colors, or variations to give Big Lots buyers a better understanding of your product.
3. Create a product information sheet: Your sell sheet should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, Big Lots market, pricing, and availability. You should also include any relevant images or graphics that will help buyers to understand your product.
4. Review and edit your submission: Once you have created your product sample and sell sheet, it is important to review and edit your submission to ensure that it is accurate and complete. You should also double-check that you have included all relevant information and that your submission meets Big Lots’s guidelines.
5. 6. Branding and packaging: Big Lots’s private label products must be clearly branded and properly packaged to ensure that they stand out on the shelf and are easy for customers to identify. 

Overall, preparing a Big Lots product submission requires careful planning and attention to detail. Why? One order can make you millions of dollars! 

When working with the private label buyer, they will instruct you on how to package using their branding! All of this is explained in our training systems listed on RetailMBA.com

6. How does Big Lots source products? 

Big Lots sources products from a wide range of vendors, both domestic and international. The company has a team of buyers and sourcing professionals who are responsible for identifying and evaluating potential vendors and products.

To source products, Big Lots uses a variety of methods, including:

1. Online vendor application: Big Lots has an online vendor application process that allows potential vendors to submit product samples and information sheets for review. This is a good option for small and medium-sized businesses that are interested in selling their products in Big Lots stores.We suggest not going through this route as you could get lost in the process. Find out more by checking out one of our Retail MBA Training systems listed on RetailMBA.com.
2. Trade shows and industry events: Big Lots buyers often attend trade shows and other industry events to discover new products and meet with potential vendors.
3. Direct contact: Big Lots buyers may also reach out to potential vendors directly, either through online channels or by attending industry events and networking with other professionals.
4. Partnering with manufacturers: Big Lots may also work directly with manufacturers to develop private label products or to secure exclusive distribution rights for certain products.

Overall, Big Lots uses a variety of methods to source products, including online applications, trade shows, direct contact, and partnerships with manufacturers. The company is always looking for high-quality products that offer value to customers and that meet the company’s strict vendor requirements.

7. What is Big Lots’s return policy for vendors? 

Big Lots’s return policy for vendors varies depending on the product and the circumstances of the return. In general, the company has a “no return” policy for many types of products, but may make exceptions in cases where there are quality issues or other problems with the product.

If a customer returns a product to Big Lots that was manufactured or supplied by a vendor, the vendor may be responsible for accepting the return and providing a refund or replacement product. In these cases, the vendor should work with Big Lots to resolve the issue and ensure that the customer is satisfied.

If a vendor is unable to accept a return or provide a refund or replacement product, Big Lots may choose to dispose of the product or return it to the vendor at the vendor’s expense.

Overall, it is important for vendors to have a clear understanding of Big Lots’s return policy and to work closely with the company to resolve any issues that may arise. By providing high-quality products and excellent customer service, vendors can minimize the risk of returns and build strong, long-lasting partnerships with Big Lots. 

We explain how to avoid chargebacks and fees with Big Lots! All listed on our training and coaching systems listed on RetailMBA.com.

8. How do I become a Big Lots preferred vendor?

To become a Big Lots preferred vendor, you will need to meet the company’s vendor requirements and demonstrate that you are able to produce high-quality products that offer value to customers. You will also need to have a reliable supply chain and be able to offer competitive pricing.

To apply to become a Big Lots vendor, you can visit the company’s website and complete an online vendor application. The application process typically involves submitting a product sample and accompanying product information sheet, which should include details on your product, pricing and availability information, and any other relevant information. Or follow our amazing systems that explain what to do! 

Once you have submitted your application, a Big Lots buyer will review your submission and determine if your products are a good fit for the company. If your application is approved, you will be invited to become a Big Lots vendor and will be given access to the company’s systems and processes.

To become a preferred vendor, you will need to consistently meet the company’s expectations and demonstrate a track record of producing high-quality products. This may involve meeting certain performance metrics, such as on-time delivery, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction.

Overall, becoming a Big Lots preferred vendor requires a strong commitment to quality and customer service, as well as the ability to meet the company’s strict vendor requirements. With hard work and dedication, it is possible to build a successful partnership with Big Lots and grow your business.