By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — On a recent Thursday inside the city’s newest discount store, customers hunting through the bins were rewarded with finds such as an OKP robotic vacuum cleaner, Sowtech coffee maker and other electronics for just $10.
Thursdays are a big deal at The Value Bin, 280 N. Phelps Ave., which is between Culver’s and Valli Produce along East State Street. That’s the first day the store opens after its weekly restocking, and customers often arrive before the doors unlock at 9 a.m. in hopes of landing big savings on electronics, home products, decor, toys and other merchandise.
“On the $10 day we do have a line because people are rushing to get the great items, because they are the highest-quality merchandise,” said Amer Ahmed, the store’s manager. “We fill up the bins with great items and people start scavenging through and finding what they need.”
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The locally owned, family-run business is part of a growing retail trend of bin stores that buy overstock, liquidation and unopened or unused returns by the truckload and sell them at firesale prices.
If $10 seems too steep, come back the next day when everything in the bins is $8. By Saturday that drops to $6, followed by $4 on Sunday, $2 on Monday and then $1 on Tuesday. The store closes on Wednesday to restock.
Amer Ahmed said most of the merchandise comes from Amazon or other companies that are liquidating inventory. Some of the recent inventory has included wireless computer keyboards, Comfee hand blenders, skateboards and household items like vases and soap dispensers.
“The items are brand new or they could be returns, but we bring high-quality products into the store,” Amer Ahmed said.
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Expansion plans
The Value Bin opened on Feb. 16, and owner Samer Ahmed, Amer’s father, said expansion plans are already in the works. He wants to bring a similar business model to space next door, but it would focus on clothing. He said he hasn’t seen the bin concept for clothing anywhere in the country, and he’s eager to bring it to Rockford.
He said The Value Bin Clothing would allow customers to shop for name-brand clothing at prices as low as $7.99.
An opening date for that expansion isn’t set yet, but Samer Ahmed said he hopes to debut the store in roughly a month.
Fast facts | The Value Bin
Where: 280 N. Phelps Ave., Rockford
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday; closed Wednesdays for restocking
Phone: 779-500-9588
Follow on the web: facebook.com/valuebin; instagram.com/valuebinrockford; twitter.com/valuebinstore
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.