Retailing

Retailing: All activities involved in selling products or services to final customers for their personal use

Product Line

Specialty Stores: Narrow product line, deep assortment
Department Stores: Multiple product lines, each operated as a separate department, service-oriented
Convenience Stores: Small, self-service, 24/7, convenience items
Discount Stores: Standard merchandise, lower prices/higher volumes
Superstores: Very large, meets consumers’ total needs, food/non-food items
Category Killers: Specialty Superstores that carry a deep assortment in a particular category

Relative Pricing: Most retailers charge regular prices and offer normal-quality goods

Discount Stores: Standard products at lower prices, lower margins, and higher volume
Off-price retailers: Buys at less than regular wholesale prices and sells at less than retail
Factory Outlets: Owned and operated by the manufacturer, sells surplus, discontinued, irregular goods
Warehouse Clubs: Stores with a membership and larger/wholesale goods

Organizational Approach

Independent Retailer: Business owned by an individual (largest number of retailers)
Corporate Chains: Multiple outlets under common ownership - strongest in department stores, food stores, drug stores, restaurants. Size allows for buying power and efficiency
Retailer Cooperatives: Group of independent retailers with a central buying organization
Franchises: Chains with each store individually owned

Wholesalers