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Table of Contents

Web

Technology

Location

Legal

Personnel Management

Risk Management

Insurance

Business Success Tips

Sample Documents

Checklists

Contributing Authors

	Steven D. Strauss Author of The Small Business Bible
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	Tom Severance Author of Business Start-Up Guide
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	Joe Kennedy Author of The Small Business Owner's Manual
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	Stephanie Chandler Author of The Business Startup Checklist & Planning Guide
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Retail Stores

Retail sales have evolved into a complex array of different, but sometimes overlapping, store types. Here is a list of various retail store types to consider in your marketing:

Department Stores buy merchandise at a discount, take a full markup, and offer a full range of shopper services. These include credit accounts, private shopping assistance, in-store restaurant, special orders, deliveries, and refunds. Examples are Nordstrom, Broadway, Saks.

Discounters buy at a discount, retail at lower markup than department stores, and do not offer shopper services. Examples are K-Mart, WalMart, Target.

Moderate Price Stores buy lower-priced goods at a discount, take standard retail markup, and may offer some shopper services. Examples are Mervyns, Miller’s Outpost.

Power Retailers buy in huge quantities, push vendors for big volume discounts, and sell merchandise at small markup to keep prices low. Examples are Home Depot, Circuit City, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward.

Warehouse Retailers buy in huge quantities from manufacturers that give these stores the best deal. Warehousers take minimal markup. They package merchandise to move rapidly in large volume. They offer no shopper services. Examples are PriceCostco, Pace, Sam’s Club.

Off-Pricers buy from manufacturers or vendors at the best discount available. They usually carry the same merchandise type as department stores, but the styles and colors may be past fashion prime and labels vary. They take a smaller markup and offer no special services. Examples are Ross Stores, Marshalls.

Clearance or Closeout Stores buy excess unsold inventory from manufacturers or from other retailers. Full service department stores may operate them to dispose of unsold merchandise. Examples are Pic ‘n’ Save, Nordstrom Rack, Filene’s Basement.

Factory Outlets carry surplus production, returns, discontinued merchandise and goods produced to meet orders later canceled. Manufacturers often operate them.