Photo: Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ocean State Job Lot started in 1977, when Marc Perlman and his brothers Alan and Marty opened a store in North Kingstown selling closeout and surplus goods. The idea was simple: buy overstock, discontinued products and odd lots from manufacturers and other retailers, and sell them at low prices.
How the model works
Because the stock depends on what deals are available, the shelves change constantly. One week brings outdoor furniture, the next a load of pantry items, fishing gear or craft supplies. Regular shoppers come in often to see what is new, and the stores also carry a steady base of groceries, cleaning supplies and household goods.
Growth
The chain grew across Rhode Island and then into Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with well over 100 stores. It has stayed family owned, and its headquarters and main distribution operations are still in North Kingstown.
A local employer
The company is one of the larger private employers in Washington County. Its charitable foundation donates food and goods to food banks and other groups across the region, often using surplus product.
For many Rhode Islanders, “the Job Lot” is a regular stop, and the brand’s roots in North Kingstown are part of its identity.
Add South County Independent as a preferred source on Google (opens in a new tab)
.jpg){kind=link}