Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation is a sporting goods retailer headquartered in El Segundo, California with 434 stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Steven G. Miller is the chairman, president, and CEO.

History

Big 5 was founded in September 1955 by Maurie I. Liff, Harry A. Liff and Robert W. Miller. The name Big 5 is derived from the first five Army surplus stores that were opened in California. Sportswest and Sportsland were acquired in May 1988 from Pay 'n Save subsequently. In 1990, the company was fined $125,000 for selling discounted brand-name shoes that were actually poorly manufactured by those brands to be distributed only in Big 5 stores. For example, some New Balance models sold in Big 5 stores used a cardboard heel cup instead of a plastic heel cup. The investigation started when long-distance runner Gary Tuttle reported the oddly poor quality of the name-brand shoes he had purchased at Big 5 stores. In 1997, Robert W. Miller and his son Steven G. Miller bought Big 5 back from Leonard Green & Partners, owners since 1992, by acquiring a majority take. By then, the company was making 400 millions in revenue with 202 stores in 9 states. In 2016, the company posted net sales of $1.02 billion with 432 stores in 11 States.

Description

Big 5 stores are smaller than big-box competitors, with an average size of 11,000 square feet, giving it an access to smaller malls and towns. The store sell name-brand products and Big 5 products. Big 5 stores sell firearms, but face ever-stricter local regulations regarding the secure sale of firearms.