Biggest changeFrom 2017 through 2021: • Our store base expanded from 268 stores to 431 stores, a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 12.6% and we entered nine new states; • Comparable store sales grew at an average rate of 1.0% per year; • Net sales increased from $1.077 billion to $1.753 billion, a CAGR of 13.0%; and • Net income increased from $127.6 million to $157.5 million. 1 Index Our competitive strengths We believe the following strengths differentiate us from our competitors and serve as the foundation for our current and future growth: “ Good Stuff Cheap”—Ever changing product assortment at drastically reduced prices .
Biggest changeOur competitive strengths We believe the following strengths differentiate us from our competitors and serve as the foundation for our current and future growth: “ Good Stuff Cheap”—Ever changing product assortment at drastically reduced prices .
Our product price tags allow customers to compare our competitor’s price against Ollie’s price to further highlight the savings they can realize by shopping at our stores. 4 Index Product mix Examples of our product offerings include: • Housewares: cooking utensils, dishes, appliances, plastic containers, cutlery, storage and garbage bags, detergents and cleaning supplies, cookware and glassware, fans and space heaters, candles, frames and giftware; • Bed and bath: household goods including bedding, towels, curtains and associated hardware; • Food: packaged food including coffee, bottled non-carbonated beverages, salty snacks, condiments, sauces, spices, dry pasta, canned goods, cereal and cookies; • Floor coverings: laminate flooring, commercial and residential carpeting, area rugs and floor mats; • Books and stationery: novels, children’s, how-to, business, cooking, inspirational and coffee table books, greeting cards and various office supplies and party goods; • Electronics: air conditioners, home electronics, cellular accessories and as seen on television; • Toys: dolls, action figures, puzzles, educational toys, board games and other related items; • Health and beauty aids: personal care, hair care, oral care, health and wellness, including PPE related to the COVID-19 pandemic, over-the-counter medicine, first aid, sun care, and personal grooming; and • Other: hardware, candy, clothing, sporting goods, pet products, luggage, automotive, seasonal, furniture, summer furniture and lawn & garden.
Our product price tags allow customers to compare our competitor’s price against Ollie’s price to further highlight the savings they can realize by shopping at our stores. 4 Index Product mix Examples of our product offerings include: • Housewares: cooking utensils, dishes, appliances, plastic containers, cutlery, storage and garbage bags, detergents and cleaning supplies, cookware and glassware, candles, hardware, frames, and giftware; • Bed and bath: household goods including bedding, towels, curtains, and associated hardware; • Food: packaged food including coffee, bottled non-carbonated beverages, salty snacks, candy, condiments, sauces, spices, dry pasta, canned goods, cereal, and cookies; • Floor coverings: laminate flooring, commercial and residential carpeting, area rugs, and floor mats; • Books and stationery: novels, children’s, how-to, business, cooking, inspirational and coffee table books, greeting cards and various office supplies, and party goods; • Electronics: home electronics, cellular accessories, and as seen on television; • Toys: dolls, action figures, puzzles, educational toys, board games, and other related items; • Health and beauty aids: personal care, hair care, oral care, health and wellness, over-the-counter medicine, first aid, sun care, and personal grooming; • Seasonal: summer furniture, air conditioners, fans and space heaters and lawn & garden; and • Other: clothing, sporting goods, pet products, luggage, and automotive.
Our treasure hunt shopping environment and slogan “when it’s gone, it’s gone” help to instill a “shop now” sense of urgency that encourages frequent customer visits. Highly experienced and disciplined merchant team . Our 22-member merchant team maintains strong, long-standing relationships with a diverse group of suppliers, allowing us to procure branded merchandise at compelling values for our customers.
Our treasure hunt shopping environment and slogan “when it’s gone, it’s gone” help to instill a “shop now” sense of urgency that encourages frequent customer visits. Highly experienced and disciplined merchant team . Our merchant team maintains strong, long-standing relationships with a diverse group of suppliers, allowing us to procure branded merchandise at compelling values for our customers.
We expect to continue leveraging the data gathered from our proprietary database of Ollie’s Army members to better segment and target our marketing initiatives and increase shopping frequency. 10 Index Competition We compete with a diverse group of retailers, including discount, closeout, mass merchant, department, grocery, drug, convenience, hardware, variety, online and other specialty stores.
We expect to continue leveraging the data gathered from our proprietary database of Ollie’s Army members to better segment and target our marketing initiatives and increase shopping frequency. Competition We compete with a diverse group of retailers, including discount, closeout, mass merchant, department, grocery, drug, convenience, hardware, variety, online, and other specialty stores.
Our disciplined real estate strategy focuses on infilling existing geographies as well as expanding into contiguous markets in order to leverage our distribution infrastructure, field management team, store management, marketing investments and brand awareness. 8 Index We maintain a pipeline of real estate sites that have been approved by our real estate committee.
Our disciplined real estate strategy focuses on infilling existing geographies as well as expanding into contiguous markets in order to leverage our distribution infrastructure, field management team, store management, marketing investments and brand awareness. We maintain a pipeline of real estate sites that have been approved by our real estate committee.
We augment these opportunistic deals on brand name merchandise with directly-sourced unbranded products or those under our own private label brands and exclusively licensed recognizable brands and celebrity names. Brand name and closeout merchandise represented approximately 65% and non-closeout goods and private label products collectively represented approximately 35% of the retail value of our 2021 merchandise purchases.
We augment these opportunistic deals on brand name merchandise with directly-sourced unbranded products or those under our own private label brands and exclusively licensed recognizable brands and celebrity names. Brand name and closeout merchandise represented approximately 65% and non-closeout goods and private label products collectively represented approximately 35% of the retail value of our 2022 merchandise purchases.
Merchandise procurement and distribution Our disciplined buying strategy and strict adherence to purchasing margins support our merchandising strategy of buying cheap to sell cheap. Merchandising team Our 22-member merchant team maintains strong, long-standing relationships with a diverse group of suppliers, allowing us to procure branded merchandise at compelling values for our customers.
Merchandise procurement and distribution Our disciplined buying strategy and strict adherence to purchasing margins support our merchandising strategy of buying cheap to sell cheap. Merchandising team Our merchant team maintains strong, long-standing relationships with a diverse group of suppliers, allowing us to procure branded merchandise at compelling values for our customers.
Store team leaders and co-team leaders are also responsible for the hiring, training and development of associates. 9 Index We work tirelessly to hire talented people, to improve our ability to assess talent during the interview process and to regularly train those individuals at Ollie’s who are responsible for interviewing candidates.
Store team leaders and co-team leaders are also responsible for the hiring, training, and development of associates. We work tirelessly to hire talented people, to improve our ability to assess talent during the interview process and to regularly train those individuals at Ollie’s who are responsible for interviewing candidates.
This approach leverages our distribution infrastructure, field management team, store management, marketing investments and brand awareness. We expect our new store openings to be the primary driver of our continued, consistent growth in sales and profitability. Increase our offerings of great bargains.
This approach leverages our distribution infrastructure, field management team, store management, marketing investments and brand awareness. We expect our new store openings to be the primary driver of our continued, consistent growth in sales and profitability. 3 Index Increase our offerings of great bargains.
We also own registered trademarks for many of our private labels such as “Sarasota Breeze,” “Steelton Tools,” “American Way” and “Middleton Home,” among others. We routinely prosecute trademarks where appropriate, both for private label goods and to further identify our goods and services.
We also own registered trademarks for many of our private labels such as “Sarasota Breeze,” “Steelton Tools,” “American Way,” and “Middleton Home,” among others. We routinely prosecute trademarks where appropriate, both for private label goods and to further identify our goods and services.
We plan to further invest in our merchandising team in order to expand and enhance our sourcing relationships and product categories, which we expect will drive shopping frequency and increase customer spending. 3 Index Leverage and expand Ollie’s Army.
We plan to further invest in our merchandising team in order to expand and enhance our sourcing relationships and product categories, which we expect will drive shopping frequency and increase customer spending. Leverage and expand Ollie’s Army.
We believe that our consistent store performance, corporate infrastructure, including our distribution centers, and disciplined approach to site selection support the portability and predictability of our new unit growth strategy. Store-level management and training Our Vice President of Store Operations oversees all store activities. Our stores are grouped into four regions, divided generally along geographic lines.
We believe that our consistent store performance, corporate infrastructure, including our distribution centers, and disciplined approach to site selection support the portability and predictability of our new unit growth strategy. 8 Index Store-level management and training Our Vice President of Store Operations oversees all store activities. Our stores are grouped into five regions, divided generally along geographic lines.
We tailor our marketing mix and strategy for each market, deal or promotion. We primarily use the following forms of marketing and advertising: • Print and direct mail : During 2021, we distributed over 677 million highly recognizable flyers. Our flyers are distributed 22 times per year and serve as the foundation of our marketing strategy.
We tailor our marketing mix and strategy for each market, deal or promotion. We primarily use the following forms of marketing and advertising: • Print and direct mail : During 2022, we distributed over 700 million highly recognizable flyers. Our flyers are distributed 22 times per year and serve as the foundation of our marketing strategy.
We have grown to 431 stores in 29 states as of January 29, 2022. Our no-frills, “semi-lovely” warehouse style stores average approximately 33,000 square feet and generate consistently strong financial returns across all vintages, geographic regions, population densities, demographic groups, real estate formats and regardless of any co-tenant.
We have grown to 468 stores in 29 states as of January 28, 2023. Our no-frills, “semi-lovely” warehouse style stores average approximately 33,000 square feet and generate consistently strong financial returns across all vintages, geographic regions, population densities, demographic groups, real estate formats and regardless of any co-tenant.
We believe these strategies, coupled with a larger store base, will enable us to increase the amount of sales driven by loyal Ollie’s Army customers seeking the next great deal. Segments We operate in one reporting segment. See Note 11, “Segment Reporting,” to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We believe these strategies, coupled with a larger store base, will enable us to increase the amount of sales driven by loyal Ollie’s Army customers seeking the next great deal. Segments We operate in one reporting segment. See Note 12, “Segment Reporting and Entity-Wide Information,” to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our dedication to building strong relationships with suppliers is evidenced by a 17-year average relationship with our top 15 suppliers. As we continue to grow, we believe our increased scale will provide us with even greater access to brand name products since many major manufacturers seek a single buyer to acquire the entire deal.
Our dedication to building strong relationships with suppliers is evidenced by an average relationship of over 15-years with our top 15 suppliers. As we continue to grow, we believe our increased scale will provide us with even greater access to brand name products since many major manufacturers seek a single buyer to acquire the entire deal.
With our relatively low investment costs and strong new store opening performance, we target first-year annual new store sales of approximately $4.0 million. New stores opened from 2016 to 2020 have generated an average of $4.7 million in net sales in their first full year of operations and produced an average payback period of approximately two years.
With our relatively low investment costs and strong new store opening performance, we target first-year annual new store sales of approximately $4.0 million. New stores opened from 2017 to 2021 have generated an average of $4.6 million in net sales in their first full year of operations and produced an average payback period of approximately two years.
We employ four regional directors, who have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the stores in their region. Reporting to the regional directors are 45 district team leaders who each manage a group of stores in their markets.
We employ regional directors, who have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the stores in their region. Reporting to the regional directors are district team leaders and market team leaders who each manage a group of stores in their markets.
The following map shows the number of stores in each of the states in which we operated as of January 29, 2022: 7 Index Store design and layout All of our warehouse format stores incorporate the same philosophy: no-frills, bright, “semi-lovely” stores and a fun, treasure hunt shopping experience.
The following map shows the number of stores in each of the states in which we operated as of January 28, 2023: Store design and layout All of our warehouse format stores incorporate the same philosophy: no-frills, bright, “semi-lovely” stores and a fun, treasure hunt shopping experience.
In 2021, Ollie’s Army members accounted for over 79% of net sales and spent approximately 40% more per shopping trip, on average, than non-members.
In 2022, Ollie’s Army members accounted for over 80% of net sales and spent approximately 40% more per shopping trip, on average, than non-members.
Our recent store growth is summarized in the following table: 2021 2020 2019 Stores open at beginning of year 388 345 303 Stores opened 46 46 42 Stores closed (3 ) (4 ) - Stores re-opened - 1 - Stores open at end of year 431 388 345 We utilize a rigorous site selection and real estate approval process in order to leverage our infrastructure, marketing investments and brand awareness.
Our recent store growth is summarized in the following table: 2022 2021 2020 Stores open at beginning of year 431 388 345 Stores opened 40 46 47 Stores closed (3 ) (3 ) (4 ) Stores open at end of year 468 431 388 We utilize a rigorous site selection and real estate approval process in order to leverage our infrastructure, marketing investments and brand awareness.
Workplace Health and Safety Maintaining a safe and secure work environment is very important to us and we conduct our business in an environmentally sound manner based on customer needs and local requirements.
Workplace Health and Safety Maintaining a safe and secure work environment is very important to us and we conduct our business in an environmentally sound manner based on customer needs and local requirements. To further promote a safe work environment, we have established safety training programs.
Our existing systems are scalable to support future growth. 11 Index Government regulation We are subject to state and federal laws including labor and employment laws, including minimum wage requirements and wage and hour laws, laws governing advertising, privacy laws, safety regulations, environmental laws and regulations, and other laws, including consumer protection regulations that regulate retailers and/or govern product standards, the promotion and sale of merchandise and the operation of stores and warehouse facilities.
Government regulation We are subject to state and federal laws including labor and employment laws, including minimum wage requirements and wage and hour laws, laws governing advertising, privacy laws, safety regulations, environmental laws and regulations, and other laws, including consumer protection regulations that regulate retailers and/or govern product standards, the promotion and sale of merchandise and the operation of stores and warehouse facilities.
New stores opened from 2016 to 2020 have generated an average of $4.7 million in net sales in their first 12 months of operations and produced an average payback period of approximately two years.
New stores opened from 2017 to 2021 have generated an average of $4.6 million in net sales in their first 12 months of operations and produced an average payback period of approximately two years.
We also devote substantial resources to training our new managers through our Team Leader Training Program. This program operates at 44 designated training stores located across our footprint. It provides an in-depth review of our operations, including merchandising, policies and procedures, asset protection and safety, and human resources.
We also devote substantial resources to training our new managers through our Team Leader Training Program. This program operates at designated training stores located across our footprint. It provides an in-depth review of our operations, including merchandising, policies and procedures, asset protection and safety, and human resources. Part-time associates receive structured training as part of their onboarding.
We continuously assess ways to maximize productivity and efficiency, as well as evaluate opportunities to further enhance our existing systems.
We continuously assess ways to maximize productivity and efficiency, as well as evaluate opportunities to further enhance our existing systems. Our existing systems are scalable to support future growth.
We have been doing business with our top 15 suppliers for an average of 17 years, and no supplier accounted for more than 5% of our purchases during 2021. Our well-established relationships with our suppliers, together with our scale, buying power, financial credibility and responsiveness, often make Ollie’s the first call for available deals.
We have been doing business with our top 15 suppliers for an average of over 15 years. Our well-established relationships with our suppliers, together with our scale, buying power, financial credibility and responsiveness, often make Ollie’s the first call for available deals.
In addition, we provide our eligible team members the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a Company-sponsored match. We also share in the cost of health insurance provided to eligible team members, and team members receive a discount on merchandise purchased from the Company. We additionally provide our team members with paid time off.
We also share in the cost of health insurance provided to eligible team members, and team members receive a discount on merchandise purchased from the Company. We additionally provide our team members with paid time off.
Part-time associates receive structured training as part of their onboarding throughout their first five scheduled shifts. For additional information on store-level management training and initiatives by the Company, see the discussion of Human Capital below. Marketing and advertising Our marketing and advertising campaigns feature colorful caricatures and witty sayings in order to make our customers laugh.
For additional information on store-level management training and initiatives by the Company, see the discussion of Human Capital below. Marketing and advertising Our marketing and advertising campaigns feature colorful caricatures and witty sayings in order to make our customers laugh.
Our best customers are members of our Ollie’s Army customer loyalty program, which stands at 12.6 million members as of January 29, 2022. For 2021, over 79% of our sales were from Ollie’s Army members, and we grew our base of loyal members by 8.5% in 2021.
Our best customers are members of our Ollie’s Army customer loyalty program, which stands at 13.2 million members as of January 28, 2023. For 2022, over 80% of our sales were from Ollie’s Army members, and we grew our base of loyal members by 4.8% in 2022.
Seasonality Our business is seasonal in nature and demand is generally the highest in our fourth fiscal quarter due to the holiday sales season. To prepare for the holiday sales season, we must order and keep in stock more merchandise than we carry during other times of the year and generally engage in additional marketing efforts.
To prepare for the holiday sales season, we must order and keep in stock more merchandise than we carry during other times of the year and generally engage in additional marketing efforts.
As we grow, we believe our increased scale has provided and will continue to provide us with even greater access to brand name products as many large manufacturers favor large buyers capable of acquiring an entire deal. Our merchant team augments these deals with directly sourced products, including Ollie’s own private label brands and other products exclusive to Ollie’s.
As we grow, we believe our increased scale has provided and will continue to provide us with even greater access to brand name products as many large manufacturers favor large buyers capable of acquiring an entire deal.
This starts with the opportunity to do challenging work and learn on the job and is supplemented by programs and continuous learning that help our team build skills to advance. We encourage a promote-from-within environment when internal resources permit. We also provide internal leadership development programs designed to prepare our high-potential team members for greater responsibility.
Associate Training and Development Programs We offer a compelling work environment with meaningful growth and career-development opportunities. This starts with the opportunity to do challenging work and learn on the job and is supplemented by programs and continuous learning that help our team build skills to advance. We encourage a promote-from-within environment when internal resources permit.
We believe the store layout and merchandising strategy help to encourage a “shop now” sense of urgency and increase frequency of customer visits as customers never know what they might come across in our stores.
We believe that by disarming our customers by getting them to giggle a bit, they are able to look at and trust our products for what they are—extremely great bargains. 7 Index We believe the store layout and merchandising strategy help to encourage a “shop now” sense of urgency and increase frequency of customer visits as customers never know what they might come across in our stores.
Item 1. Business. Our company Ollie’s is a highly differentiated and fast-growing, extreme value retailer of brand name merchandise at drastically reduced prices. Known for our assortment of “Good Stuff Cheap,” we offer customers a broad selection of brand name products, including housewares, bed and bath, food, floor coverings, health and beauty aids, books and stationery, toys and electronics.
Known for our assortment of products offered as “Good Stuff Cheap,” we offer customers a broad selection of brand name products, including housewares, bed and bath, food, floor coverings, health and beauty aids, books and stationery, toys and electronics.
Our ability to select the most attractive opportunistic purchases from a growing number of available deals enables us to provide a wide assortment of goods to our customers at great bargain prices. 6 Index We source from over 1,100 suppliers, and no supplier accounted for more than 5% of our purchases during 2021.
Each opportunity is unique, and our merchants negotiate directly with the supplier to lock in a particular deal. Our ability to select the most attractive opportunistic purchases from a growing number of available deals enables us to provide a wide assortment of goods to our customers at great bargain prices. We source from over 1,100 suppliers.
In 2021, over 45% of our current district team leaders were internally promoted to their position. Company-wide, over 65% of our field positions were filled by internal promotions. We believe our training and development programs help create a positive work environment and result in stores that operate at a high level.
Company-wide, over 60% of our field positions were filled by internal promotions. We believe our training and development programs help create a positive work environment and result in stores that operate at a high level. Compensation and Benefits We are committed to providing market-competitive compensation for all positions.
As we strive to retain and engage talent at all levels of our business, our Human Resources department also reviews our retention and turnover rates and administers our talent and training programs and review process to support the development of our talent pipeline.
As we strive to retain and engage talent at all levels of our business, our Human Resources department also reviews our retention and turnover rates and administers our talent and training programs and review process to support the development of our talent pipeline. 11 Index Associates As of January 28, 2023, we employed over 10,700 associates, approximately 4,900 of whom were full-time and approximately 5,800 of whom were part-time.
Technology Our management information systems provide a full range of business process assistance and timely information to support our merchandising team and strategy, management of multiple distribution centers, stores and operations, and financial reporting.
We attempt to obtain registration of our trademarks and other intellectual property as practical and pursue infringement of those marks when appropriate. 10 Index Technology Our management information systems provide a full range of business process assistance and timely information to support our merchandising team and strategy, management of multiple distribution centers, stores and operations, and financial reporting.
Compensation and Benefits We are committed to providing market-competitive compensation for all positions. Eligible team members participate in one of our various bonus incentive programs, which provide the opportunity to receive additional compensation based upon store and/or Company performance.
Eligible team members participate in one of our various bonus incentive programs, which provide the opportunity to receive additional compensation based upon store and/or Company performance. In addition, we provide our eligible team members the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a Company-sponsored match.
Available Information Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act are available free of charge on our website, www.ollies.us, as soon as reasonably practicable after the electronic filing of such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Because we offer a broad selection of merchandise at extreme values, we believe we are generally less impacted than other retailers by economic cycles, which correspond with declines in general consumer spending habits and we believe we still benefit from periods of increased consumer spending. 12 Index Available Information Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act are available free of charge on our website, www.ollies.us, as soon as reasonably practicable after the electronic filing of such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
We believe our compelling value proposition and the unique nature of our merchandise offerings have fostered our customer appeal across a variety of demographics and socioeconomic profiles.
Brand name and closeout merchandise represented approximately 65% and non-closeout goods and private label products collectively represented approximately 35% of the retail value of our 2022 merchandise purchases. We believe our compelling value proposition and the unique nature of our merchandise offerings have fostered our customer appeal across a variety of demographics and socioeconomic profiles.
We also own several domain names, including www.ollies.us, www.ollies.com, www.olliesbargainoutlet.com, www.olliesarmy.com, www.ollies.cheap, www.sarasotabreeze.com and www.olliesmail.com, and unregistered copyrights in our website content. We attempt to obtain registration of our trademarks and other intellectual property as practical and pursue infringement of those marks when appropriate.
We also own several domain names, including www.ollies.us, www.ollies.com, www.olliesbargainoutlet.com, www.olliesarmy.com, www.ollies.cheap, www.sarasotabreeze.com and www.olliesmail.com , and unregistered copyrights in our website content.
Our Ollie’s Leadership Institute (“OLI”) is a program that is used to equip field associates with the ability to advance their career. Each OLI participant receives an individual development plan, designed to prepare them for their next level position. Reflecting our belief in our “home grown” talent, OLI is our preferred source for new supervisors and team leaders.
Each OLI participant receives an individual development plan, designed to prepare them for their next level position. Reflecting our belief in our “home grown” talent, OLI is our preferred source for new supervisors and team leaders. In 2022, over 45% of our current district team leaders were internally promoted to their position.
Our focus is to provide huge savings to our customers primarily through brand name products across a broad range of merchandise. Our experienced merchant team purchases deeply discounted, branded or closeout merchandise primarily from manufacturers, retailers, distributors and brokers. This merchandise includes overstocks, discontinued merchandise, package changes, cancelled orders, excess inventory and buybacks from retailers and major manufacturers.
Our experienced merchant team purchases deeply discounted, branded or closeout merchandise primarily from manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and brokers. This merchandise includes overstocks, discontinued merchandise, package changes, cancelled orders, excess inventory and buybacks from retailers, and major manufacturers. 5 Index Non-closeout goods/private label Non-closeout and private label products collectively represented approximately 35% of the retail value of our 2022 merchandise purchases.
Our business model has resulted in positive financial performance during strong and weak economic cycles. We have successfully opened stores in nine new states since 2017, highlighting the portability of our new store model.
Our highly flexible real estate approach has proven successful across all vintages, geographic regions, population densities, demographic groups, real estate formats and regardless of any co-tenant. Our business model has resulted in positive financial performance during strong and weak economic cycles. We have successfully opened stores in six new states since 2018, highlighting the portability of our new store model.
Over 35% of our workforce has self-identified as having a racial or ethnic minority background. None of our associates belong to a union or are party to any collective bargaining or similar agreement. 12 Index Associate Training and Development Programs We offer a compelling work environment with meaningful growth and career-development opportunities.
As of January 28, 2023, approximately 60% of our workforce is self-identified female and approximately 40% is self-identified male. Over 38% of our workforce has self-identified as having a racial or ethnic minority background. None of our associates belong to a union or are party to any collective bargaining or similar agreement.
In order to minimize the amount of time our retail stores devote to inventory management, our merchandise is seeded with price tickets and labeled with a bar code for shipping. Our stores generally receive shipments from our distribution centers one to two times a week, depending on the season and specific store size and sales volume.
In order to minimize the amount of time our retail stores devote to inventory management, our merchandise is seeded with price tickets and labeled with a bar code for shipping. 6 Index On October 17, 2022, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire a parcel of land in Princeton, Illinois for the construction of our fourth distribution center.
Our current team of district managers and store managers have an average tenure of approximately six and four years, respectively. We believe internal promotions, coupled with the hiring of individuals with previous retail experience, will provide the management structure necessary to support our long-term strategic growth initiatives.
We believe internal promotions, coupled with the hiring of individuals with previous retail experience, will provide the management structure necessary to support our long-term strategic growth initiatives. Our Ollie’s Leadership Institute (“OLI”) is a program that is used to equip field associates with the ability to advance their career.
We also utilize targeted email marketing to highlight our latest brand name offerings and drive traffic to our stores. In addition, we invest in digital marketing where we target both our current and prospective customers. We have entered into an agreement with Valassis Communications, Inc. (“Valassis”) for marketing services.
We also utilize targeted email marketing to highlight our latest brand name offerings and drive traffic to our stores.
Brand name and closeout merchandise represented approximately 65% and non-closeout goods and private label products collectively represented approximately 35% of the retail value of our 2021 merchandise purchases.
Brand name and closeout merchandise Brand name and closeout merchandise represented approximately 65% of the retail value of our 2022 merchandise purchases. Our focus is to provide huge savings to our customers primarily through brand name products across a broad range of merchandise.
Associates As of January 29, 2022, we employed over 9,900 associates, approximately 4,700 of whom were full-time and approximately 5,200 of whom were part-time. Of our total associate base, approximately 180 were based at our store support center, approximately 800 were employed at our distribution centers, and the remaining were store and field associates.
Of our total associate base, approximately 900 were based at our store support center and distribution centers, and the remaining were store and field associates. The number of associates in a fiscal year fluctuates depending on the business needs at different times of the year.
Our stores As of January 29, 2022, we operated 431 stores, averaging approximately 33,000 square feet, across 29 contiguous states in the eastern half of the United States. Our highly flexible real estate approach has proven successful across all vintages, geographic regions, population densities, demographic groups, real estate formats and regardless of any co-tenant.
With the expansion of our York, PA distribution center and the addition of our fourth distribution center, we believe our distribution capabilities will support over 700 stores. Our stores As of January 28, 2023, we operated 468 stores, averaging approximately 33,000 square feet, across 29 contiguous states in the eastern half of the United States.
Our business model has produced consistently strong growth and financial performance.
Our merchant team augments these deals with directly sourced products, including Ollie’s own private label brands and other products exclusive to Ollie’s. 1 Index Our business model has produced consistently strong growth and financial performance.