Definitions of Variety Store.
•Variety store is a retail store that sells a wide assortment of low-priced, popular merchandise.
•Variety store is a retail store carrying a variety of items in the low and popular price ranges, targeted for the family market. Variety stores carry items such as apparel, women's accessories, gift items, and stationery.
•A retail establishment that offers a wide assortment of inexpensive and frequently purchased merchandise, including health and personal care items, candy, boxed or packaged food, and house wares.
Products found in a Variety Store
Variety store products include cooking supplies, small tools, personal hygiene supplies, kitchen supplies, organizational supplies, small office supplies, holiday decorations, electronics supplies, gardening supplies, home decor novelties, toys, pet supplies, out of print books, DVDs and VHS tapes, food products and automotive supplies.
Some items sold at a certain price point would cost that much anyway, whereas other items offer a substantially lower price than usual. There are three reasons a variety store is able to sell merchandise at such a low price:
•The product is a generic or private label, often specially manufactured for such stores, using cheaper ingredients and processes than products intended for the mass market.
•The product was manufactured cheaply for a foreign market but was then re-imported by an unauthorized distributor (grey market goods).
•The product is purchased from another retail store or distributor as discontinued and discounted merchandise. (Often items were manufactured to coincide with the promotion of a motion picture, television show or special event (e.g. Olympic games), and are past their prime price.)
Some stores carry mostly new merchandise, some mostly closeout merchandise bought from other stores below regular wholesale cost.
Depending upon the size, some variety stores may have a frozen food and drink section, and also one with fruits and vegetables. The Deal$, Dollar Tree, and 99 Cents Only Store chains in the U.S. are three such examples. Some stores may have a section of single price point items combined on the same premises with a section selling larger, relatively more expensive merchandise like CD players, lamps, and silverware. The flagship store of Jack's 99 and Jack's World in New York City is an example of such a store. Jack's 99 carries all types of items that retail for 99 cents, whereas Jack's World sells branded goods at discount prices.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Supermarket
A supermarket, also called a grocery store is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments. It is larger in size and has a wider selection than a traditional grocery store and it is smaller than a hypermarket or superstore.
The supermarket typically comprises meat, fresh produce, dairy, and baked goods departments along with shelf space reserved for canned and packaged goods as well as for various nonfood items such as household cleaners, pharmacy products, and pet supplies. Most supermarkets also sell a variety of other household products that are consumed regularly, such as alcohol (where permitted), household cleaning products ,medicine, clothes, and some sell a much wider range of nonfood products.
The traditional suburban supermarket occupies a large amount of floor space, usually on a single level, and is situated near a residential area in order to be convenient to consumers. Its basic appeal is the availability of a broad selection of goods under a single roof at relatively low prices. Other advantages include ease of parking and, frequently, the convenience of shopping hours that extend far into the evening or even 24 hours a day. Supermarkets usually make massive outlays of newspaper and other advertising and often present elaborate in-store displays of products. The stores often are part of a corporate chain that owns or controls (sometimes by franchise) other supermarkets located nearby
Typical Supermarket Merchandise
Larger supermarkets in North America and Western Europe typically sell a great number of items among many brands, sizes and varieties, including:
•Alcoholic beverages (as state/provincial and/or local laws allow)
•Baby foods and baby-care products such as disposable diapers
•Breads and bakery products (many stores may have a bakery on site that offers specialty and dessert items)
•Books, newspapers, and magazines, including supermarket tabloids
•Bulk dried foods such as legumes, flour, rice, etc. (typically available for self-service)
•Canned goods and dried cereals
•Car-care products (motor oil, cleaners, waxes)
•CDs, Audio cassettes, DVDs, and videos (including video rentals)
•Cigarettes and other tobacco products
•Clothing and footwear (typically a general, limited assortment)
•Confections and candies
•Cosmetics
•Dairy products and eggs
•Delicatessen foods (ready-to-eat)
•Diet foods
•Electrical products such as light bulbs, extension cords, etc.
•Feminine hygiene products
•Financial services and products such as mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts, wire transfers, etc. (typically offered in-store by a partnering bank or other financial institution)
•Flowers
•Frozen foods and crushed ice
•Fresh produce, fruits and vegetables
•Greeting cards
•Housecleaning products
•Housewares, crockery and cooking utensils, etc. (typically limited)
•Laundry products such as detergents, fabric softeners, etc.
•Lottery tickets (where operational and legal)
•Luggage items (typically limited)
•Meats, fish and seafood’s (some stores may offer live fish and seafood items from aquarium tanks)
•Medicines and first aid items (primarily over-the-counter drugs, although many supermarkets also have an on-site pharmacy)
•Nonalcoholic beverages such as soft drinks, juices, bottled water, etc. (some stores may have a juice bar that prepares ready-to-drink freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, etc.)
•Personal hygiene and grooming products
•Pet foods and products
•Seasonal items and decorations
•Snack foods
•Soft drinks
•Tea and Coffee (some stores may have a commercial-style grinder, typically available for self-service, and/or a staffed coffee bar that prepares ready-to-drink coffee and tea beverages)
•Toys and novelties
In some countries, the range of supermarket merchandise is more strictly focused on food products, although the range of goods for sale is expanding in many locations as typical store sizes continue to increase globally
The supermarket typically comprises meat, fresh produce, dairy, and baked goods departments along with shelf space reserved for canned and packaged goods as well as for various nonfood items such as household cleaners, pharmacy products, and pet supplies. Most supermarkets also sell a variety of other household products that are consumed regularly, such as alcohol (where permitted), household cleaning products ,medicine, clothes, and some sell a much wider range of nonfood products.
The traditional suburban supermarket occupies a large amount of floor space, usually on a single level, and is situated near a residential area in order to be convenient to consumers. Its basic appeal is the availability of a broad selection of goods under a single roof at relatively low prices. Other advantages include ease of parking and, frequently, the convenience of shopping hours that extend far into the evening or even 24 hours a day. Supermarkets usually make massive outlays of newspaper and other advertising and often present elaborate in-store displays of products. The stores often are part of a corporate chain that owns or controls (sometimes by franchise) other supermarkets located nearby
Typical Supermarket Merchandise
Larger supermarkets in North America and Western Europe typically sell a great number of items among many brands, sizes and varieties, including:
•Alcoholic beverages (as state/provincial and/or local laws allow)
•Baby foods and baby-care products such as disposable diapers
•Breads and bakery products (many stores may have a bakery on site that offers specialty and dessert items)
•Books, newspapers, and magazines, including supermarket tabloids
•Bulk dried foods such as legumes, flour, rice, etc. (typically available for self-service)
•Canned goods and dried cereals
•Car-care products (motor oil, cleaners, waxes)
•CDs, Audio cassettes, DVDs, and videos (including video rentals)
•Cigarettes and other tobacco products
•Clothing and footwear (typically a general, limited assortment)
•Confections and candies
•Cosmetics
•Dairy products and eggs
•Delicatessen foods (ready-to-eat)
•Diet foods
•Electrical products such as light bulbs, extension cords, etc.
•Feminine hygiene products
•Financial services and products such as mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts, wire transfers, etc. (typically offered in-store by a partnering bank or other financial institution)
•Flowers
•Frozen foods and crushed ice
•Fresh produce, fruits and vegetables
•Greeting cards
•Housecleaning products
•Housewares, crockery and cooking utensils, etc. (typically limited)
•Laundry products such as detergents, fabric softeners, etc.
•Lottery tickets (where operational and legal)
•Luggage items (typically limited)
•Meats, fish and seafood’s (some stores may offer live fish and seafood items from aquarium tanks)
•Medicines and first aid items (primarily over-the-counter drugs, although many supermarkets also have an on-site pharmacy)
•Nonalcoholic beverages such as soft drinks, juices, bottled water, etc. (some stores may have a juice bar that prepares ready-to-drink freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, etc.)
•Personal hygiene and grooming products
•Pet foods and products
•Seasonal items and decorations
•Snack foods
•Soft drinks
•Tea and Coffee (some stores may have a commercial-style grinder, typically available for self-service, and/or a staffed coffee bar that prepares ready-to-drink coffee and tea beverages)
•Toys and novelties
In some countries, the range of supermarket merchandise is more strictly focused on food products, although the range of goods for sale is expanding in many locations as typical store sizes continue to increase globally
Convenience Store
Convenience stores are small-sized stores that offer a limited range of grocery and other items that people are likely to need or want as a matter of convenience. Most convenience stores are located on busy street corners or in gas stations. Both travelers and locals use convenience stores.
Travelers stopping for gas or for washroom facilities often appreciate the convenience of having food, drinks, reading material and maps available without having to go to a supermarket. Convenience stores are usually open even when supermarkets are closed and usually allow for quicker shopping and service. To compensate for the convenience they offer, the prices are often higher at convenience stores than they are at supermarkets.
Locals are likely to go to a convenience store when their regular supermarket is closed and they need to replace an item such as milk, toilet paper or bread that they run out of in the home. However, many locals also go to convenience stores regularly to buy lottery tickets, magazines and candy. Students often buy cold drinks and snack foods from convenience stores.
Many convenience stores have microwaves for heating up prepared sandwiches, soups, and hot dogs they sell. Some also have coffee and breakfast sandwich specials for morning commuters. A newspaper is sometimes included in these offers. Convenience stores often carry at least some ready-to-go bakery items such as muffins and doughnuts.
Convenience stores are often organized into a few short aisles of candy, chips, and toiletries in the center and glass cases of drinks and frozen foods against the side and back walls. Drink and coffee machines and prepared foods are often together in another area and there may or may not be a deli. The front counters may hold containers of candy and beef jerky. Magazines and newspapers may be available at the front counter and/or at a magazine rack in the store.
There are at least 75 different convenience store chains in North America, 15 in Europe and 30 in Asia. In Taiwan, convenience stores are often used regularly by residents for banking services and bill payments. Convenience stores, like fast food restaurants, are popular not only for the convenience, but also because they tend to focus on getting customers in and out quickly.
Types of Convenience Stores
Various types exist, for example: liquor stores (off-licences–offies), mini-markets (mini-marts) or party stores. Typically junk food (candy, ice-cream, soft drinks), lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines are sold. Unless the outlet is a liquor store, the range of alcohol beverages is likely to be limited (i.e. beer and wine) or non-existent. Most stores carry cigarettes and other tobacco products. Varying degrees of food and grocery supplies are usually available, from household products, to prepackaged foods like sandwiches and frozen burritos. Automobile-related items such as motor oil, maps and car kits may be sold. Often toiletries and other hygiene products are stocked, as well as feminine hygiene and contraception. Some of these stores also offer money orders and wire transfer services. Convenience stores that are near fishing destinations may carry live bait, such as night crawlers or crickets.
The most common type of foods offered in convenience stores are breakfast sandwiches and other breakfast food. Throughout Europe convenience stores now sell fresh French bread (or similar). A process of freezing part-baked bread allows easy shipment (often from France) and baking in-store. Some stores have a delicatessen counter, offering custom-made sandwiches and baguettes. Others have racks offering fresh delivered or baked doughnuts from local doughnut shops. Some stores have a self-service microwave oven for heating purchased food. In Hong Kong, convenience stores even provide lunch and dinner.
In the US, some fast food chains offer a counter in convenience stores. Instead of cooking food in the store, these counters offer a limited menu of items delivered several times a day from a local branch of the restaurant. Convenience stores may be combined with other services, such as a train station ticket counter, post office counter or a petrol pumps. In Asian countries, like Japan or Taiwan, convenience stores are more common because of the higher population density. They are found with gas and train stations, but also can be stand-alone stores. Here, items like soft drinks or snacks are sold. Hot dogs, sausages, hard boiled tea eggs, and fish cake can be found in stores. Delicatessens are absent, instead pre-made sandwiches can be bought. Non-food products like magazines are also sold, but at a lesser extent.
Convenience Store differences from Supermarkets
Although larger, newer convenience stores have quite a broad range of items, the selection is still limited compared to supermarkets, and in many stores only 1 or 2 choices are available. Prices in a convenience store are typically, but not always, higher than at a supermarket, mass merchandise store, or auto supply store (with the exception of the goods such as milk, soda and fuel in which convenience stores traditionally do high volume and sometimes use as loss leaders).
In the US, the stores are sometimes the only stores and services near an interstate highway exit where drivers can buy any kind of food or drink for miles. Most of the profit margin from these stores comes from beer, liquor, and cigarettes. Although those three categories themselves usually yield lower margins per item, the amount of sales in these categories generally makes up for it. Profits per item are much higher on deli items (bags of ice, chicken, etc), but sales are generally lower. In some countries most convenience stores have longer shopping hours, some being open 24 hours.
Travelers stopping for gas or for washroom facilities often appreciate the convenience of having food, drinks, reading material and maps available without having to go to a supermarket. Convenience stores are usually open even when supermarkets are closed and usually allow for quicker shopping and service. To compensate for the convenience they offer, the prices are often higher at convenience stores than they are at supermarkets.
Locals are likely to go to a convenience store when their regular supermarket is closed and they need to replace an item such as milk, toilet paper or bread that they run out of in the home. However, many locals also go to convenience stores regularly to buy lottery tickets, magazines and candy. Students often buy cold drinks and snack foods from convenience stores.
Many convenience stores have microwaves for heating up prepared sandwiches, soups, and hot dogs they sell. Some also have coffee and breakfast sandwich specials for morning commuters. A newspaper is sometimes included in these offers. Convenience stores often carry at least some ready-to-go bakery items such as muffins and doughnuts.
Convenience stores are often organized into a few short aisles of candy, chips, and toiletries in the center and glass cases of drinks and frozen foods against the side and back walls. Drink and coffee machines and prepared foods are often together in another area and there may or may not be a deli. The front counters may hold containers of candy and beef jerky. Magazines and newspapers may be available at the front counter and/or at a magazine rack in the store.
There are at least 75 different convenience store chains in North America, 15 in Europe and 30 in Asia. In Taiwan, convenience stores are often used regularly by residents for banking services and bill payments. Convenience stores, like fast food restaurants, are popular not only for the convenience, but also because they tend to focus on getting customers in and out quickly.
Types of Convenience Stores
Various types exist, for example: liquor stores (off-licences–offies), mini-markets (mini-marts) or party stores. Typically junk food (candy, ice-cream, soft drinks), lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines are sold. Unless the outlet is a liquor store, the range of alcohol beverages is likely to be limited (i.e. beer and wine) or non-existent. Most stores carry cigarettes and other tobacco products. Varying degrees of food and grocery supplies are usually available, from household products, to prepackaged foods like sandwiches and frozen burritos. Automobile-related items such as motor oil, maps and car kits may be sold. Often toiletries and other hygiene products are stocked, as well as feminine hygiene and contraception. Some of these stores also offer money orders and wire transfer services. Convenience stores that are near fishing destinations may carry live bait, such as night crawlers or crickets.
The most common type of foods offered in convenience stores are breakfast sandwiches and other breakfast food. Throughout Europe convenience stores now sell fresh French bread (or similar). A process of freezing part-baked bread allows easy shipment (often from France) and baking in-store. Some stores have a delicatessen counter, offering custom-made sandwiches and baguettes. Others have racks offering fresh delivered or baked doughnuts from local doughnut shops. Some stores have a self-service microwave oven for heating purchased food. In Hong Kong, convenience stores even provide lunch and dinner.
In the US, some fast food chains offer a counter in convenience stores. Instead of cooking food in the store, these counters offer a limited menu of items delivered several times a day from a local branch of the restaurant. Convenience stores may be combined with other services, such as a train station ticket counter, post office counter or a petrol pumps. In Asian countries, like Japan or Taiwan, convenience stores are more common because of the higher population density. They are found with gas and train stations, but also can be stand-alone stores. Here, items like soft drinks or snacks are sold. Hot dogs, sausages, hard boiled tea eggs, and fish cake can be found in stores. Delicatessens are absent, instead pre-made sandwiches can be bought. Non-food products like magazines are also sold, but at a lesser extent.
Convenience Store differences from Supermarkets
Although larger, newer convenience stores have quite a broad range of items, the selection is still limited compared to supermarkets, and in many stores only 1 or 2 choices are available. Prices in a convenience store are typically, but not always, higher than at a supermarket, mass merchandise store, or auto supply store (with the exception of the goods such as milk, soda and fuel in which convenience stores traditionally do high volume and sometimes use as loss leaders).
In the US, the stores are sometimes the only stores and services near an interstate highway exit where drivers can buy any kind of food or drink for miles. Most of the profit margin from these stores comes from beer, liquor, and cigarettes. Although those three categories themselves usually yield lower margins per item, the amount of sales in these categories generally makes up for it. Profits per item are much higher on deli items (bags of ice, chicken, etc), but sales are generally lower. In some countries most convenience stores have longer shopping hours, some being open 24 hours.
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