Big W is a popular chain of discount department stores in Australia, owned by Woolworths Limited. Known for great savings on everyday items, the chain is a retail giant, boasting the highest revenue of any retailer in Australia. Today, the chain has 182 stores on the mainland and often fosters healthy competition against Kmart and Target. Big W is popular nationwide, with the largest concentration of stores (63 locations!) in New South Wales alone.

Big W came of age in the 1960s, when Woolworths Supermarkets made the decision to expand and eventually replace the supermarket part of the brands. In the beginning, the original Woolworths variety stores carried a range of general, everyday housewares and other discount merchandise. As the grocery stores became more popular, the original variety store model died. Woolworths then went on to have their main stores sell groceries, and use their Big W stores for the sales of everything else.

Big W Catalogue The first Big W store, independent of other Woolworth’s operations, opened in 1976. The model gained popularity quickly, leading to another 13 stores opening within just two years.  The same stores are still open today, although Big W did go through a makeover in 2007, with new interior designs and complete with a new logo and slogan. The stores are now known as the go-to place to “Live big for less”, and  “Get it for less”- whatever it might be, from clothes to housewares and beyond.Big W is no longer just a hot spot to save on certain items. In recent years, with more Target and Kmart locations cropping up in Australia, as well as Costco, the stores have started to offer additional services. Locations in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory now offer on-site optometry clinics. In 2014, Big W launched its first Party Store, and soon after, a second Party store at the newly refurbished Macquarie Centre in North Ryde. More Party stores are planned throughout Australia in the next few years.

Saving Money With Big W Sales Promotions

Big W has several occasions every year that they use to promote sales events. The sales coincide with the competition’s, which makes it a great time of year for local shoppers. One of the biggest sales events Big W hosts is a toy sale, held in July, called the Giant Toy Spectacular. For this event, stores often post special hours, frequently staying open well into nightfall, and special sales during certain time windows. Thrifty parents love this sale because on top of the steep discounts, Big W also allows shoppers to put the items they buy on lay-by service without any money down. This allows them to make interest-free payments on large-ticket items such as video games and plan for the Xmas season, well ahead of the holiday season.

Saving Money with the Big W App

The Big W app is an essential tool for saving money, as well as time when shopping Big W.

The app is designed to help shoppers find the best savings possible by comparing prices at their favourite stores with current prices at Big W locations. The app is set up to let you compare prices on the go, no matter where you’re shopping, and it’s available for iPhone as well as Android users.

The Big W app is a simple concept that’s easy to use. Users scan the UPC label on a product, and Big W located the product and the price online in the Big W store. Users can then see what store location has the item in inventory, and use Click N’ Collect to purchase the item online and pick it up at the store.  Click N’ Collect allows users to wait until the ordered items have been hand-picked from the shelves and let users pick up the prepaid items once they’ve paid. The Big W app also is the first app in Australia that lets shoppers put more expensive items on lay-by, where they can make payments on items and pick them up when they’ve completely paid.

Big W’s app doesn’t have space for every item the stores stock, so the app focuses on sales and deals in the past three promotional catalogues. For other in-store deals, you’ll need to visit the physical location or pick up the phone to compare prices.

Saving Even More Money With Big W Price Matching

Big W’s app is more than just a tool for comparison-shopping; it’s also a way for loyal customers to get better deals at the Big W stores. If a price comparison reveals the competition is selling an item for less than Big W, shoppers can price match should equal competitor’s price in their in-stores. Big W stores guarantee that they have the lowest prices across Australia, so if you find an identical item advertised in a sales circular at a lower price at Costco’s or K-Mart, the storefront will price match that price on the spot. To get the savings, you will need to present the competitor’s current advertisement or have a member of the store’s staff pick up the phone to price match.

If you find an item cheaper elsewhere, not only will, Big W will match it, but they also offer free shipping on smaller items within metro areas. It’s important to note that Big W is unable to price match online retailers due to a number of factors, but if the online store has a physical storefront in Australia, Big W will match the prices.

Accumulating Qantas Points With Woolworth’s Rewards

If you shop at Big W or other stores managed by Woolworth’s, it’s worth it to sign up for a Woolworth’s Rewards loyalty card. You’ll accumulate Qantas points every time you shop at Woolworth’s grocery, Big W, BWS or Cellarmasters. The Qantas points can be exchanged for frequent flyer miles, used to order gifts such as gourmet food and wine, or treat yourself to gift cards or other items via the online Qantas Store.

As you accumulate points, you’ll also become eligible for promotions and be privy to special sales and other events for members only.