Ocean State Job Lot News: Buy-Give-Get backpacks. New work center. New store. Jobs.

Ocean State Job Lot to provide up to 35,000 backpacks for kids across the Northeast – Ocean State Job Lot Celebrates New Induction Workstation at Quonset Distribution Center – NEW Job Lot store to open in Warwick

Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier discount retail chain with 153 stores across the Northeast, announced the return of its “Buy-Give-Get” backpack program to help students in underserved communities and children of military families prepare for the upcoming school year. 

Through the promotion, any customer who buys a select backpack at OSJL for $20.00 and gives it back to the store as a donation to children in need, will get a $20 “Crazy Deal” Gift Card to be used for a future purchase. 35,000 backpacks are available to purchase as part of the program and will be distributed to students across the northeast in partnership with various support agencies across the region. 

“A big factor in how successful kids are in school is whether they have access to the right tools,” said David Sarlitto, Executive Director, Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. “We are thrilled to once again support tens of thousands of students by ensuring they have the supplies they need to start the school year off right.”

Since its inception seven years ago, the Buy-Give-Get Backpack program has supplied over 300,000 backpacks to students in need, including children of military families.

Recently, OSJL concluded its “Buy-Give-Get” program featuring children’s bikes. Through the generosity of its customers, the company was able to provide 1,800 bikes to children of military families across the Northeast with the help of partners such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, USA Veterans, and other veteran services. Later this year, OSJL will again offer its annual “Buy-Give-Get” program to provide warm winter coats to veterans in need.

___

NEW Store Coming to Warwick‘s familiar Christmas Tree Shop – and to Pembroke, MA

Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) has purchased the vacant Christmas Tree Shops located at 300 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI. They have also leased the former Christmas Tree Shops store in Pembroke, MA. Both new stores are scheduled to open in fall 2024. Warwick marks the 17^th OSJL location in the Ocean State and the third in the city. 

The new store will be the largest OSJL store in Warwick, offering customers 38,997 square feet of open and bright shopping space. Plaza co-tenants include Stop & Shop, Petco, Five Below, and Five Guys. Additional tenants are scheduled to open in the coming months.

“We are so pleased to announce the purchase of the Christmas Tree Shops’ Warwick location,” said John Conforti, Chief Financial Officer, Ocean State Job Lot. “We believe this new store will offer customers throughout the area with a convenient shopping location, situated on one of the largest retail routes in the state.”

Since 2019, OSJL has purchased several vacant Toys”R”Us locations in New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, and opened in several former Benny’s locations in Rhode Island, revitalizing each space and creating jobs in each community.

JOBS

OSJL will hire for various positions, including store leadership, supervisory, and full-time and part-time associates. The company offers competitive pay and benefits packages, including flexible hours; medical, vision, and dental insurance, if eligible; profit participation; service awards; paid time off; 401K; 30% store discount and more.    

___

New Ergonomically Better Work Station at Distribution Center

Ocean State Job Lot has unveiled a new induction workstation at its distribution center (DC) at Quonset Point in North Kingstown. The new system will be ergonomically better for associates working in the DC, and improves efficiency and safety while retaining jobs. It is the first of seven to be installed in the coming months.

Prior to the installation of the induction workstation, DC associates worked on one pallet at a time: one associate removed a box from the pallet, a second associate applied the label, and a third associate put the box on the conveyor. With the new system, one person will take all three steps, allowing for increased efficiency. Among the key benefits of the new system is a foot pedal that will pneumatically raise the pallet when the height of the boxes gets lower, resulting in less bending for the associates. 

“At Ocean State Job Lot, we are always looking for ways to improve our associates’ work experience,” said Greg Davis, Senior Director of Distribution Operations, Ocean State Job Lot. “This workstation not only accomplishes that but also expedites the flow of millions of products that pass through the distribution center, ensuring our stores are fully stocked with the products our customers want, all while improving health and safety standards for our associates.”

More than 550 associates hold part-time, full-time, and driving positions within the 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center. Ocean State Job Lot offers a competitive salary and benefits package including flexible hours; medical, vision, and dental insurance, if eligible; profit participation; service awards; paid time off; 401K; store discount, and more. 

About Ocean State Job Lot:

Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 153 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, approximately 5,600 employees, and annual sales exceeding $800 million. OSJL Shoppers find an ever-changing array of brand name, first-quality merchandise at closeout prices, including household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool, and beach supplies), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price. The company was named a four-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a four-time US Best Managed Company by Deloitte, a three-time winner of the Inspiring Workplaces in North America Award, and a Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces winner. *Ocean State Job Lot is not affiliated with Forbes®

About the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation:

The foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, supporting numerous causes, including feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, assisting veterans and military families, aiding animal rescue, caring for children, advancing healthcare, supporting the arts, and promoting learning. The Foundation’s operational, administrative, and overhead expenses are covered by Ocean State Job Lot, not the Foundation, ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised through the Foundation goes directly to helping those in need.

Ocean State Job Lot is headquartered in the Quonset Point Business Park at 375 Commerce Park Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852.  Phone: (401) 295-2672; Website: OceanStateJobLot.com.