Values galore: How Branson’s Big Bin Store turns overstock into treasure

For a unique shopping adventure and value, it’s hard to beat the combination offered by the Big Bin Store in the Falls Parkway Shopping Center off of State Highway 165 in Branson. Owners Christy Clark and Wayne Ingalsbe said their motto is “The best for less.” Recently, this writer interviewed Christy and Wayne in the store for the Branson Globe. The results of this interview are presented in question-and-answer format below. The questions were asked by Gary J. Groman, Independent Journalist, and answered by Christy and Wayne:

Big Bin Store owners Christy Clark and Wayne Ingalsbe (Photo by Gary J. Groman)

1.     What are the store’s days and hours of operation? The Big Bin Store is open seven days a week. From Monday through Wednesday, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The store closes early at 5 p.m. on Sundays and Thursdays.

2.     Where is the store located? At 3265 Falls Parkway, Suite M, in the Falls Parkway Shopping Center in Branson, Missouri.

3.     How long has this Branson location been open? The store has been open for 2.5 years.

4.     What business did you run before opening the Big Bin Store? We ran a resale store.

5.     What is the difference between a resale store and a bin store? A resale store deals primarily with used goods, such as used furniture. A bin store, on the other hand, deals with brand-new retail overstock and returned items.

6.     Why does the store close early at 5 p.m. on Thursdays? Closing early on Thursday gives us time to empty any leftover inventory from the bins, roll out fresh pallets and completely restock the bins for the upcoming week.

7.     Why is Friday the most expensive day to shop at the Big Bin? Every Thursday we clean out all the bins and restock them with fresh merchandise. Friday is the first day shoppers can access these restocked bins. The bins are at their absolute fullest, meaning shoppers have the highest chance of finding valuable, high-ticket items and the greatest choice of merchandise.

8.     How does the store’s unique pricing system work? We use a descending price model for our bins. Prices start at twelve dollars on Friday and step down daily until they reach just one dollar on the next Thursday before we restock Thursday night to start the week again.

9.     Where does the merchandise in the bins come from? We buy truckloads of inventory through wholesale brokers and contract holders.

10.   Can you give us an example of the major retail brands shoppers can expect to find in the store? While we mainly focus on Amazon overstock and returns, we also purchase loads from Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wayfair and Bass Pro. Semi-truck loads carry an original retail value of $ 250,000 to $ 300,000.

11.   What are “remnant pallets” and how much do they cost? On Thursday afternoons, we pack any unsold items left in the bins into giant boxes. These are sold as “remnant pallets” for fifty dollars each and can contain anything.

12.   How do you keep the bins organized when crowds are digging through them? Employees go through the bins every two hours to reorganize items, tidy up the displays, and place loose pieces back into their original boxes.

13.   Is it still possible to find a high-ticket item hidden in the bins? Yes. Lucky shoppers have pulled out laptops and even $200 Apple Watches from the bins.

14.   What is the single strangest or most unexpected item the owners have found? The owners have uncovered highly specialized items, including a suspension strut for a Bentley Continental GT, commercial night vision goggles, and a massive 180,000-pound breaking strength industrial tow strap meant for bulldozers.

15.   Do you offer merchandise at a substantial discount outside the bins? Absolutely. We offer a wide range of merchandise across categories, from electronics to housewares, at 40% to 90% off.

16.   Do you have a customer loyalty rewards program? Yes. Shoppers can sign up to become Big Bin Store reward members by registering their phone numbers. Customers earn one star for every dollar spent, and once they accumulate 100 stars, they receive $10 off their next purchase.