Leslie Massey
Big W is an Australian retail giant that has been a trusted brand for Australian households for over 50 years. With more than 160 stores across Australia, Big W provides a wide range of quality general merchandise products at low prices, including clothing, shoes, homeware, electronics, and toys. The company, developed by Woolworths Limited, opened its first store in 1964 on the outskirts of Newcastle, New South Wales. Big W is known for its commitment to sustainability and community initiatives, such as its partnership with the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of opening the first store | 1964 |
| Location of the first store | Outskirts of Newcastle in New South Wales |
| Number of stores across Australia | More than 160 |
| Total number of stores | 176 |
| Type of products | Women's, men's and children's clothing and shoes, homewares, electronics, pet food, cleaning items, party goods, toys and books |
| Optometry services | Yes, in selected stores in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory |
| Online marketplace | Yes, Big W Market |
| Self-checkouts | Yes, introduced in 2003 |
| Charitable donations | Yes, donated to Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (PCHF) |
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What You'll Learn
History of Big W Australia
Big W, a division of Woolworths Group Limited, is Australia's first discount department store chain. The first Big W store opened in 1964 on the outskirts of Newcastle, New South Wales, in the Jesmond Shopping Centre, which was the first shopping centre Woolworths developed. The original Big W stores were department stores, similar to Myer and Grace Bros, and reflected Woolworths’ foundation in the general merchandise/variety business.
In 1970, the Big W name was dropped, and the stores were converted into what were then known as Woolworths Family Centres, which offered a large range of general merchandise and a supermarket food range. These stores were eventually converted into supermarkets in the 1980s. The Big W name was brought back in 1976 with the opening of a new store in Tamworth, which was the first Big W discount department store.
Since 1976, Big W stores have featured garden centres, similar to those of Kmart and Target. These facilities continued to be added to stores across the portfolio throughout the 1980s and early 2000s, until they started only being added to select stores in the mid-2000s. In the late 2010s, they were retired completely, with Big W citing poor sales on live plants.
Big W was the second company in Australia to use self-checkouts, which were introduced in 2003 on a trial basis in two major stores in Sydney. In 2007, Big W began trialling optometry services in South Australia, and these services were later added to selected stores in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. In 2014, Big W launched its first party store at Rouse Hill Town Centre in New South Wales.
Today, Big W operates over 160 stores across Australia, employing over 18,000 staff throughout Australia, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. The company has been a trusted backstop of Australian households for over 50 years, providing a broad range of quality general merchandise products at low prices.
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Big W's product range
Big W is an Australian chain of discount department stores, which was founded in regional New South Wales in 1964. The company is a division of the Woolworths Group and operated 179 stores as of 2024, with around 18,000 employees.
Big W stocks a broad range of general merchandise products, including clothing, health and beauty, manchester, kitchenware, toys, pet items, office items, books, televisions, gaming consoles, video games, some furniture items, snack food, and small electrical household appliances. These products are available both online and in retail stores.
In addition to its core product range, Big W has also offered various other services and features over the years. The stores featured garden centres from 1976 until the late 2010s, when they were phased out due to poor sales on live plants. Big W was also an early adopter of self-checkouts in Australia, introducing them on a trial basis in 2003 before expanding their use in 2005.
The company has also shown a commitment to sustainability and community care. They aim to build a better tomorrow through more sustainable packaging and waste reduction initiatives. Furthermore, Big W has held various sales and promotions, including baby sales and online-only expanded ranges across categories like LEGO, men's clothing, technology, toys, and exercise and fitness.
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Big W's sustainability efforts
Big W, a popular retail chain in Australia, has made several sustainability commitments and is taking steps to build a better tomorrow. The company has expressed its dedication to protecting the planet for current and future generations, and this is reflected in its sustainability goals.
Big W has partnered with Good360 to donate unused new goods to families in need, reducing waste sent to landfills. Additionally, they have introduced in-store emission reduction initiatives to minimise their environmental impact. Big W is also encouraging regenerative agricultural practices through its partnerships.
In terms of packaging, Big W is committed to using more sustainable materials for its own brand. The company has also set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its direct operations and supply chain. However, there is currently no evidence that this target is being met. Big W uses some lower-impact materials, including recycled content, which has influenced its "Planet" rating.
Despite these efforts, Big W has received a "Not Good Enough" sustainability rating from Good On You. This rating takes into account various factors, including the company's environmental policies, carbon emissions, wastewater management, and product circularity. The rating indicates that Big W is not taking sufficient action to protect biodiversity and reduce hazardous chemicals in its manufacturing processes. Additionally, there is a lack of evidence regarding the support for diversity and inclusion in its supply chain, and no assurance that workers are paid living wages.
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Big W's partnerships
Big W has successfully partnered with popular brands like Minecraft, Doyoueven, Dymocks, and celebrity stylist Donny Galella for product launches, collaborations, and collections. These partnerships have allowed Big W to tap into the existing customer base of these renowned brands, attracting a wider customer base and driving sales growth.
Big W has also demonstrated its commitment to the community through initiatives like the annual Bunnyville fundraiser, which has raised significant funds for various hospital and research partners, including the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (PCHF). The company supported PCHF in creating a world-class interactive nature space, Waalbiirniny Waabiny Boodja, which provides a beneficial environment for children and families undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Additionally, Big W has an affiliate program that offers a seamless experience and instant approval. Individuals and businesses can quickly gain access to promote Big W's offerings and earn commissions. The program provides a payout rate of 5-10%, allowing participants to monetize their platforms while earning a percentage of the resulting sales.
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Big W's stores
Big W is a popular Australian department store that has been operating for over 50 years. The company was developed by Woolworths Limited to provide Australian shoppers with a wide range of general merchandise products in a one-stop shop. Big W's name reflects the complementary relationship it has with Woolworths Supermarkets, with the "W" standing for Woolworths.
The first Big W store opened on the outskirts of Newcastle in New South Wales in 1964, and today there are more than 160 stores across Australia, with over 22,000 employees. The stores offer a variety of products, including clothing, shoes, homewares, electronics, pet food, cleaning items, party goods, toys, and books. Big W is known for its low prices and has become a trusted brand for Australian families.
Big W has been at the forefront of innovation in Australian retail, becoming the second company in Australia to introduce self-checkouts in 2003. They also launched the first party store in 2014 and have since opened a second location. In 2022, Big W opened its first small-format store in Town Hall, Sydney, and launched Big W Market, an online marketplace for third-party businesses.
Big W has also demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. The company has supported the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (PCHF) in creating an interactive nature space for children and families undergoing treatment. Additionally, Big W stores in Western Australia raised over $100,000 during the Christmas period, with the company providing an additional $158,000 towards play equipment donations.
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Frequently asked questions
BIG W is Australia's first discount department store, with 183 stores across Australia today. It is a division of Woolworths Limited.
BIG W sells clothing, books, baby products, kids' products, and home products.
BIG W employs about 20,000 workers across Australia and Asia.
