Jason Clift tries to find another pallet to purchase at Parkersburg Liquidation on Tuesday. (Photo by Chad Adkins)

PARKERSBURG — Everyone knows that buying in bulk is an easy way to save money.

Parkersburg Liquidation at 703 Rayon Drive takes that idea and puts it on steroids. The business purchases pallets of returned and overstock items from national retailers, and then sells those pallets directly from its warehouse.

Brandy Rankin purchased the business a year into its existence from one of her husband’s former employers. She said she is thankful for the people that have supported her for the 15 months she has owned it.

“I am very blessed,” she said. “We call our customers our ‘Family of Buyers’.”

Rankin said her customers come for the pallets stuffed with a variety of name brand merchandise from retailers like Kohl’s, Walmart, Target and Bed Bath and Beyond. The loaded pallets are shrink wrapped so potential buyers can only see the items on the outside of the load, though.

Jason Clift of Caldwell began buying pallets from Parkersburg Liquidation just last week.

“It’s kind of like Christmas. You never know what you’re going to get,” he said.

He said his daughter was due with her first child in a month, so a pallet load of baby and infant goods he purchased went a long way.

“One of the pallets we just loaded into the back bedroom,” he said. “Instead of spending $1,500, I only spent $300.”

But the pallet for his new grandchild was only one of six he purchased on his initial trip to Parkersburg Liquidation. Clift said he sold the items on the remaining five pallets through the internet. He said things went so well, he was back at the warehouse to purchase more on Tuesday.

“People are getting the same thing at a lower price,” Clift said.

He said people want the name brand product, but can’t afford to pay full price at the retail stores. He said he cuts out the middle man and offers them a great deal, even if it may come with a damaged box.

“Everybody just throws away the box anyway,” he said.

But Rankin said because some of the items are returns, there is a chance for people to receive products that won’t work.

“There can be damaged items on the pallets,” she said.

Clift said he did receive some damaged items on his pallets, but felt it was because of his own negligence.

“I think it happened when I was strapping the pallets down,” he said.

Rankin said her business isn’t all about making money though. She said recently she donated a pallet with all proceeds going to a local family who had a member battling brain cancer.

“We want to be a part of the community, too,” she said.

Rankin said the hours her business is open varies with shipments they receive. She said people should visit Parkersburg Liquidation’s Facebook page to find out their hours of operation.

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Chad Adkins can be reached at cadkins@newsandsentinel.com.