Shoppers at the Winlock Liquidation Warehouse are likely to see new items on the shelves every time they visit.
According to owners Nicholas and Amy Delin, the surprise, coupled with discounts of up to 70% of retail, is what makes their store different.
“It’s almost like a Christmas adventure every day because you’re opening a new package,” Nicholas Delin said Thursday.
Open for roughly a month, the store features a constantly changing supply of inventory, which Delin described as “just a little bit of everything.”
Liquidation stores like the Winlock Liquidation Warehouse purchase items that either don’t sell, are returned or are damaged at discounted rates, then pass those savings on to customers.
The Delins also own and operate the SLC Liquidation Warehouse located in Raymond, which opened in 2018.
According to the Delins, there’s a “huge demand” for the low prices that their store can offer. On Thursday, for example, a large display of Easter candy was marked 50% off.
“Everybody wants a bargain,” Delin said. “Everyone wants to save some money.”
When walking down the aisles, shoppers with a keen eye are likely to notice products past their expiration date.
In addition to buying inventory with damaged packaging, the Delins will also purchase items that are either near or past their expiration date. The food, though, remains safe to eat unless it shows obvious signs of spoilage, they said.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, food “should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident. Spoiled foods will develop an off-odor, flavor, or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten.”
If spoiled food is purchased from the store, the Delins offer returns and exchanges.
Sitting in his office, Nicholas showed an example of the process he uses to buy inventory. An email from Bayer advertised gummies and other over-the-counter products for sale through an online auction. The gummies, valued at around $10,000, could be had for just $2,000.
After receiving an offer, the Delins then decide if the product could sell and whether to place a bid.
“It’s not what you want, it’s what the customer wants,” Nicholas said.
The Winlock Liquidation Warehouse is located at 307 NW Kerron St. and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sundays, the store is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pointing to boxes of inventory waiting to be stocked, Nicholas said the items move fast.
“You could get those sodas in the store today, and tomorrow we might not have them,” he said. “It’s that quick.”
Follow the business on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/winlockliquidation.
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