- Big W
Infobox_Company
name = Big W
type = Subsidiary
company_slogan = "Live Big For Less"
foundation = 1970s
location_city =Bella Vista, New South Wales
location_country = AUS
key_people =Greg Foran , General Manager
industry =Retail
num_employees = 25,000
products = Leisure, apparel, consumables, homewares
revenue =
parent =Woolworths Limited
homepage = [http://www.bigw.com.au www.bigw.com.au]Big W is the second-largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 140 stores. It is a division of
Woolworths Limited , the largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned byWesfarmers .History
Woolworths Limited's original Woolworths variety stores carried a range of general merchandise. Later, the scope of these stores grew to include groceries, which then became their focus.
In the 1970s the company created two chains to separate these lines: Big W and Woolworths supermarkets. After successfully opening the first Big W store in
Tamworth, New South Wales in 1976, Woolworths continued to expand this service throughout Australia, and by 1989, the separation process was largely completed, although a few Woolworths Variety stores existed into the 1990s (such as the one inRundle Mall ,Adelaide ).Fact|date=August 2007Currently, Big W has over 140 stores with 25,000 employees and is growing rapidlyFact|date=May 2008. It plans to revamp more than half its stores and develop new stores.Fact|date=May 2008 Stores are planned for Warrnambool and
Chadstone, Victoria , Joondalup andArmadale, Western Australia and Robina and a second store forTownsville inQueensland .Fact|date=May 2008 In 2009 the development of the Hallett Cove, South Australia Big W, spanning 35,000sqm will be completed as part of the Hallett Cove Mall renovation. [ [http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=233 Sensational-Adelaide.com • View topic - #U/C: Hallett Cove Shopping Centre $40m ] ] Another store is planned for opening in 2011 as part of theCastle Towers redevelopment, which is awaiting approval.In 2006, Woolworths along with Big W rolled out new
Retalix point of sale systems running onIBM POS hardware with LCD touchscreens throughout all its stores. [cite web|title= Australia's Woolworths Meets Store Service Strategy with Retalix StoreLine|accessdate=2007-10-14|publisher=Internet Retailer|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/internet/marketing-conference/66458-australias-woolworths-meets-store-service-strategy-retalix-storeline.html]In October 2007, Woolworths announced a $1 billion makeover of Big W, including a new store format, logo and slogan. The first store with the new format is located in the
Rouse Hill Town Centre inNew South Wales , which first opened onMarch 6 ,2008 . [citation|publisher=Australian Financial Review|date=22 October 2007|title=Woolies plans to put big back in Big W|page=14] The new logo started appearing in advertisements, store dockets, and a redesigned Big W website onOctober 24 ,2007 . The former tagline "We sell for less" was replaced with "Live big for less". TheWestfield Geelong store opened on July 17, 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/07/18/16252_news.html
title=40,000 bargain hunters flock to the Geelong's new Westfield
work=Geelong Advertiser
author=Sophie Smith
date=July 18, 2008
publisher=www.geelongadvertiser.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-18]Westfield Doncaster is the latest Big W Store, which opened on August 7, 2008.Business
One of Big W's key strategies is "everyday low prices". [cite web|url=http://www.bigw.com.au/Pages/About2.asp| publisher=Big W|title=About Big W|accessdate=2007-10-14] Thus, Big W never has storewide percentage-off days as Kmart does. Nevertheless, Big W still has a weekly catalogue advertising these "everyday low prices", which generally runs from Thursday to Wednesday (coinciding with the period of Kmart's weekly catalogue).
Many of the techniques used by Big W in promotions are nearly identical to the US chain
Wal-Mart , such as the in store "smiley face" and the "price rollback".Fact|date=October 2007 Indeed, former Woolworths Chief Executive Officer and former Big W Managing Director,Roger Corbett , has a mentor relationship with a former President of Wal-Mart, and has been appointed to the board of the American retailer.Fact|date=May 2008tores
Most Big W stores are located in suburban and regional locations. However, in recent years three stores have been opened in central business districts, at
Macarthur Central inBrisbane (two levels), QV inMelbourne , and theCanberra Centre in City Centre,Canberra .ervices
Services such as lay-by, parcel pick-up, home delivery, photo processing and price checkpoints are typical of most Australian discount department stores. Woolworths' Ezy-Banking Services are also available, while in South Australia, Big W trialled the provision of optometry services and has since added these services to some Queensland stores.
Big W also pioneered the Australian introduction of self-serve checkouts. The systems involves customers scanning items individually and placing them in the bagging area to be weighed. Once the item has been weighed by the checkout, they may proceed with scanning the second item. [http://www.ncr.com/]
ales
Big W has several major sales annually, most coinciding with sales held by its rivals Kmart and Target.Fact|date=May 2008 The largest is the July toy sale, generally coinciding with toy sales by Kmart and Target. A further toy sale is held in late September/early October. The July toy sale is a key indicator to business and retail performance measurements for the new financial year.fact|date=June 2008
Big W has two annual "stocktake sales", coinciding with other retailers' post Christmas and mid-year sales. Big W also has special events to bring in seasonal clothing ranges and new homewares. The launch of Christmas trading in early to mid-November also sees special offers and store centered marketing.
References
External links
* [http://www.bigw.com.au Big W]
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