| Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation | |
| Trade Name: | Big 5 Sporting Goods |
| Type: | Public |
| Traded As: | NASDAQ: S&P 600 Component |
| Key People: | Steven G. Miller (CEO) |
| Revenue: | US$1.02 billion (FY 2016)[1] |
| Operating Income: | US$34.2M (FY 2011) |
| Net Income: | US$20.6M (FY 2011) |
| Assets: | US$392M (FY 2011)[2] |
| Equity: | US$151M (FY 2011) |
| Num Employees: | 9,500[3] |
| Founder: | Maury Liff |
| Location City: | El Segundo, California |
| Location Country: | United States |
| Locations: | 431[4] |
| Homepage: | big5sportinggoods.com |
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.[5] Steven G. Miller is the chairman, president, and CEO.
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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
In 2016, the company posted net sales of $1.02 billion with 432 stores in 11 States.[9]
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.[10]