Ollie's Bargain Outlet

Sharon Garris

I needed help getting a couple carpets out of a bin. So I asked one of your employees for help. She very happily came to the rescue.I am sorry now that I didn't get her name bc she was AWSOME😁. Very friendly and very determined to get them out for me. If it helps to describe her she has colorful hair. Would lo e to see her get recognized for her efforts and friendly service.

Joshua Clink

Got a refurbished AC. Waited a few days before reviewing but have been very pleased with it! Much less expensive plus the cashier reminded me of a 15% off coupon they emailed out saving me even more money! Great inexpensive selection of Bibles too!

Ron Vargason

If you're not happy for any reason...you'll get your money back if you've held onto your receipt like a good doobie. Cool stuff & at a bargain!

Frank Santangelo

I've downgraded Ollie's. See image below of original post and other images with annotations for explanations. Thanks! Why won’t Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, LLC., give its 7000 employees a raise? In Ollie's 2Q Earnings Call (September 5, 2018), Ollie’s had stated that they would not give their employees a raise regardless of others doing the same notwithstanding the overwhelming savings on income tax. In 2017 Ollie's paid only $2.9 million in taxes! According to Ollie's SEC filing––“Income tax expense decreased to $2.9 million for 2017 from $36.5 million for 2016, a decrease of $33.6 million, or 92.1%. The decrease in income tax expense was primarily the result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017." Yet, EVP and COO, John Swygert stressed, “[Ollie’s] will only increase wages when we need to increase wages. We’re not going to increase wages just because others are doing so.” Clearly, Ollie’s pays little in income tax –– and continues to pay little –– and is cheap. Recently, “[w]ages and salaries, which account for about 70% of all employment costs, also rose 2.8% from a year earlier” (WSJ) and some corporations e.g., CVS, Target, and Nike have joined in seeing that their employees get more money––arguably, in part due to the TCJA 2017 and the tight employment market. Yet, according to the Ollie's CEOs, raises are not in the near forecast for its workers. Chairman, CEO, and President, Mark Butler, pays his part-time employees minimum wage and those folks average an enormous sixty-three percent of a store’s workforce. Comparing the higher end salary of a Store Team Leader, Mr. Butler’s annual total compensation is 7,226% higher according to 2016 figures. Mr. Butler would dominate the average annual wages of a floor supervisor (ten-fifteen departments) by a whopping 17,071%. Comparing a part-timer is unspeakable. Of course, it can be argued that Ollie's is in a class shared by some discount stores when we speak of “competitive wages” e.g., Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Big Lots and the like who are paying their employees minimum wage –– and like Ollie’s, most of their part-time labor force consists of “seasonal” workers. Arguably, a “competitive wage” is not necessarily a fair "living wage." However, unlike Ollie’s, those aforementioned corporations are not expanding their stores on “tightly managed expenses” vis-à-vis SG&A (operating) expenses e.g., to name a few, maintaining lower wages (and man-hours), and incentives. Arguably, to increase profitability, Ollie’s sought first to lower those expenses by, among other things, cutting employee salaries and incremental raises. In sum, those advancing or hired for department supervisors and those salaried positions (especially the two at store levels), do not have the luxury of what their predecessors were paid in 2016 and early 2017 as Ollie's has drastically cut those wages. Interestingly, Ollie’s operates the majority of its stores in states with no minimum wage; therefore, those part-timers begin at $7.25 per hour (following the federal minimum wage). In some states Ollie’s pays 8.25 and upwards per hour. Coincidently, Ollie’s has grown exponentially throughout the state of Florida since going public in July 2015 (relying on favorable demographics e.g., the elderly), and has a hefty number of stores in PA, its home state, paying its employees $8.25 and $7.25 per hour respectively. Ollie’s once enjoyed ranking on Forbes “America’s Best Employer” list standing at #44 in 2016 (“America’s Best Midsize Employers” category) and #246 in 2017 (America’s Best Employers) list out of five hundred businesses. Ollie’s does offer competitive health insurance and just improved their dental coverage (full-time). They do offer a 401k. And the twenty percent employee discount is appealing. Arguably, Mr. Butler’s overall position insofar as how he treats his workforce can be summed up in his own words, “My interest as a shareholder are aligned with each and every other shareholder.” And it can be said the the only thing a shareholder is interested in is the bottom line –– profit.