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Steve Fishman is chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Big Lots, Inc., a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues of almost $4.5 billion. As the nation�s largest broadline closeout retailer, Big Lots offers consumers a wide range of bargain-priced merchandise, including brand-name closeouts, seasonal products, consumables, and furniture.
Fishman joined Big Lots in July 2005. He oversees a retail enterprise with over 1,400 stores and more than 38,000 associates across the United States. A 30-year veteran of the retail industry, Fishman provides the strategic direction for Big Lots� long-term growth, which includes building the company�s buying organization, increasing brand recognition, and maximizing earnings potential.
His extensive retail experience, financial expertise, and merchandising skills positioned him for his new post. Most recently he served as CEO/president and chief restructuring officer of Rhodes Furniture, leading the national retailer through a successful reorganization to improve operating performance.
Prior to Rhodes, Fishman was the chairman and CEO of Frank�s Nursery & Crafts, a lawn and garden specialty retailer, where he was recruited to accomplish similar repositioning objectives. Under his leadership, Frank�s dramatically improved profitability, emerged from bankruptcy, and completed a public offering in less than a year.
From 1993 to 1999, Fishman served as chairman and chief executive officer of Pamida, formerly a publicly held general merchandise discount retailer. During his tenure, Pamida developed a strategy to compete in an increasingly challenging retail environment, grew sales and profit, and delivered significant returns for shareholders. In 1999, Pamida was acquired by ShopKo Stores.
Fishman�s experience also includes senior executive merchandising positions with Federated Department Stores and May Company. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Columbia College. | 