Find out more about the Retail stores

Retailing can be defined as the process of selling goods or services through outlets that cater to the needs and wants of the customers. It is often characterized by a cycle of demand and supply. The demand is created by targeting groups and serving to the needs of the target groups. In the modern times, the retailing has taken to be done online. A customer can place an order online and pay for it electronically while the product is sent vie post or courier. These retail outlets may be located on streets or in malls. Shopping typically refers to the act of buying products. While to some it may be a necessity, there are some who treat it as a recreational activity. A marketplace is a place where the exchange of goods and capital takes place. While these retail outlets may differ drastically from being small family run shops to high end retail chains. Replacing the old street shop system is the concept of shopping malls. These malls include a number of shops so to provide the variety of products at one place.

The types of products available in the market are the following:-

# Food products - they essentially require cold storage facilities.

# Hard goods or durable goods - electronics, automobiles and their parts

# Soft goods- clothing, fabric, medicines, footwear

# Arts- stationary, bookstores, handicrafts

# Services- odd jobs like repairing. Sacramento Handyman is a prime example.

There are a number of stores and these types of retail stores are the following. Department Stores are generally larger in size and often sell soft and hard goods. They contain a variety of goods and offer good customer service experience. Discount stores offer a number of product and services. They may sell clothes and other soft goods. Warehouse stores often keep high quantity goods and charge a fee for becoming a member. Variety store often offer low quality goods with little to no selection. Specialty stores have special products and are particular about them. They may sell toys, clothing, footwear etc. They have more variety in their products and are a high end kind of a shop. They differ from department stores and supermarkets in the context that these retail shops carry more variety in their products.

Boutiques are special stores for beauty departments. Concept stores are small in size and provide only one brand per store. A general store provides the customer with basic commodities. A convenience store may offer less variety but they offer speedy check out. These stores are ideal for emergencies and immediate purposes. A supermarket is a self-service store that mainly deals with grocery and the food items. A shopping mall is laced with a number of different shops that deal in a particular brand. Service stores are the store that allows one to hire labor for odd jobs eg. The Sacramento Handyman. All in all, there are diffident types of retail stores in the market each with their own purposes. The boom in the retail services are a win win situation for both the customers as well as the shop owner. While the retail owners are making huge profits, the customers are being spoiled for choice.
 
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