Ecommerce
The sale of goods from digital locations such as a website or app.Third Party Seller
Sellers on ecommerce platforms that they do not own. This can include the sales of new, used, refurbished and collectible items.Bricks & Clicks
Bricks and clicks is the combination of a physical shop and ecommerce. For example, a collectable shop that also offers its inventory online.Specialty Shop
A retailer that offers niche products such as a snowboarding shop.Brand Shop
A shop that sells a single brand.Department Store
A store that offers different types of goods in "departments." These often carry luxury, premium and specialty items.Flagship
A flagship is a location that is meant to be the premiere example of a retailer or brand. Flagships are commonly used to test products and hold media events such as product launches.Showroom
A posh location designed to show off a product. Showrooms may or may not actually sell the product.Supermarket
A large shop that offers fresh food.Convenience Stores
Small shops that carry a variety of fast moving consumer goods. In some countries, these are extremely optimized with low prices and an impressive variety of popular items including fresh food. In other countries, these are relatively high priced and only offer basic dry goods with a long shelf life.Mom & Pop
Unique family owned shops. These typically rely on location, niche products or customer relationships to compete with far larger retailers.Box-Box Store
Large format stores that may offer a great variety of goods such that they represent a one-stop-shop. Also known as a supercenter, superstore, megastore or hypermarket.Category Killer
A category killer is a big-box store that dominates a product category in a particular nation or region. For example, a chain of large sports stores that have a high market share in a particular country.Discount
Shops that have lower prices than competitors, often because they have achieved economies of scale. Discount stores may also sell refurbished goods.Off-Price
Shops that sell low price brand merchandise such as excess inventory that didn't sell well. These shops may also sell items with small defects that failed quality control.Variety Store
A store that sells a variety of a very low priced items. This includes dollar shops and similar stores that sell a wide range of items at a single price point.Used Goods
The sale of second-hand goods. These may appeal to the reuse ethic whereby used goods are viewed as having lower environmental impact.Luxury
The sale of premium items at a premium price. This requires that supply is limited and demand is created through extensive promotion of a brand.Outlet
A brand shop or luxury shop that offers a lower price for consumers who are willing to visit an inconvenient location. This may be a means of achieving price discrimination whereby price insensitive consumers visit your more convenient, up-to-date, posh and full service shops but pay more. In some cases, outlets sell off-price items such as excess inventory.Store-in-Store
A shop located inside another shop that it doesn't own. This is a common arrangement for luxury brands with shops inside a department store.Street Vendors
Sales from an outdoor shop on land that you do not own and aren't leasing. Typically requires a license from a city.Pop-up
Shops that are temporary. These can be street vendors or shops that rent a location for a short period of time. For example, a vendor at an event such as a concert or conference.Vending
Small automated shops.Gift Shop
A store at a tourist destination or hotel. These often specialize in souvenirs and may charge high prices due to a lack of competition.Captive Market
Shops at locations where customers can't leave a location for a period of time such as the departure area of an airport. Such shops appear to engage in price-fixing at some airports whereby prices are significantly higher than local retailers in the same city.Markets
A market an area for wholesale trade between producers and businesses. These are sometimes open to consumers. For example, a fish market that mostly sells to restaurants and supermarkets that also sells to local consumers.Farmers Market
A market intended to allow food producers to reach consumers directly without a middleman.Wholesale Club
Sales to consumers in bulk from locations that are essentially warehouses. In some cases, these charge membership fees.Subscription Boxes
Ecommerce sales based on a subscription. For example, a service that sends people samples of different organic coffee each month.Direct Response
Broadcasting a message such as a television commercial or catalog and waiting for consumers to call you or visit your ecommerce site.Personal Selling
Selling person-to-person. For example, an individual who buys and sells used boats to people they know.Services
Some service businesses are considered retail where they open up shops in convenient locations. For example, dry cleaners are considered retail.Restaurants
Restaurants with table service are part of the hospitality industry. Take-out restaurants are often considered retail.Sales & Service
A shop that both sells and services a product. For example, a shop that sells furnaces that also offers installation, maintenance and repair.Dealership
An authorized seller that performs sales on behalf of a manufacturer.Co-operative
A shop owned collectively by customers. For example, a shop that sells obscure mountain climbing gear that is owned by customers who buy memberships.Home Improvement
Large shops that primarily sell goods for home renovations, small construction projects and gardening.DIY
Shops that sell items for diy enthusiasts. For example, an arts & crafts supply store designed to support the creative pursuits of people in urban areas.Concept Shop
A shop based on a concept as opposed to product categories. For example, a shop in Tokyo that sells different products created by British artists and craftspeople.Boutique
A shop that centers around a style. For example, a clothing shop that sells normcore fashions.| Overview: Retail Industry | ||
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Definition | A sector of the economy that sells finished goods to consumers. | |
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