What is Closeout (sale)?

A closeout or clearance sale is a discount sale of inventory either by retail or wholesale. It may be that a product is not selling well, or that the retailer is closing because of relocation, a fire , over-ordering, or especially because of bankruptcy. In the latter case, it is usually known as a going-out-of-business sale or liquidation sale, and is part of the process of liquidation. A hail sale is a closeout at a car dealership after hail damage.

A store that is closing will often advertise to customers their last chance to buy. However, often closures are from companies that can't sell their inventory, inventors whose ideas were not marketable, or businesses needing fast incoming cashflow to pay debts such as payroll or rent.

A closeout store is a retailer specializing in buying closeout items wholesale from others and selling them at low prices. Big Lots is a well-known closeout retail chain in the United States, but other stores such as TJ Maxx, Ross Dress For Less, Marshalls, and Value City are also common, specializing more in clothing and housewares.