In the article we will talk about what are the formats of stores, and how they differ. In addition, you will learn what the specifics of Russian retail outlets consists of.
Current state of retail
Retail trade is becoming increasingly important. It combines the processes of production, distribution and consumption, forming a single complex. Trade today has undergone significant structural changes. The number of markets organized spontaneously decreased significantly. Retail chains have become larger, and competition between them has intensified. Currently, retail turnover is formed mainly by commercial organizations, as well as individual entrepreneurs who operate in the framework of stationary networks.
Shops in the face of increased competition offer all new products and services. To date, the state of the market is characterized by the presence of strict structuring. In addition, new store formats are appearing. Trade development is characterized by significant changes in service forms and sales methods. In this regard, the "Soviet" classifications no longer reflect its current state.
Classification criteria
Retail enterprises are more appropriate to divide not only by type and type, but also by format. The classification criteria in this case are as follows:
- range;
- area;
- price;
- form of trade service;
- atmosphere;
- location;
- target group of consumers;
- promotion.
The main formats of stores selling food
In Russia today there are 5 main formats of stores that specialize in food :
- convenience store;
- discounter;
- storehouse;
- supermarket;
- a hypermarket.
Briefly consider each of them.
Hypermarket
Do you know how a hypermarket differs from a supermarket? Many cannot determine what the difference between them is. These retail store formats differ in size and assortment.
A hypermarket is a store that is larger than the size of a supermarket. Its area is at least 10 thousand square meters. m. It also differs from the supermarket in an expanded assortment of goods, which ranges from 40 to 150 thousand positions.
For customers, one or more parking lots of a large area are organized. This is because buyers usually come to hypermarkets by car. In these stores, unlike other formats, you need to pay very much attention to the convenience of finding visitors in them for a long time. It is necessary to have toilets, catering points, playgrounds, food packaging areas, recreation areas, etc.
Supermarket and convenience store
The supermarket area is from 2 to 5 thousand square meters. m. This format implies a spacious room, access roads, convenient location of shops, a cozy atmosphere, beautiful interior design. Assortment - from 4 to 20 thousand items.
Hypermarkets and warehouse stores operate in the economical and medium segments of the market. Compared to supermarkets, they are more democratic. An economical supermarket is divided into separate categories by price. In addition, it can be supplemented by the store "at home" - a new format. It is located in a convenient place, characterized by an extended working time, it sells a limited set of everyday goods.
Warehouse store
The warehouse store is often opened by wholesale companies that can purchase large quantities of goods at significant discounts from manufacturers or other suppliers. They can also be organized by companies that are distributors of a particular product. Currently, the share of wholesale trade is declining every year. Many manufacturers work directly with retail. The storehouse in this case is a good “transitional" stage from wholesale to retail.
Back in the 1960s, this format was formed. At first, customers of such stores were representatives of medium and small businesses interested in buying small quantities of goods at a low price. This format is determined precisely by the contingent of buyers, and not by sales volumes. Payment of the purchase in cash is implied, and then the customer takes the goods away. Cash and pickup allow these stores to increase the turnover of funds for goods, while reducing operating costs.
Discounters
Speaking about discounters, it should be noted that they attract not only low-income buyers. They are visited by middle-income and even high-income consumers. Thus, discounters are tailored to the needs of customers.
As you remember, store formats are distinguished by area, assortment, price of goods and other criteria. As for discounters, their area is from 500 to 1.5 thousand square meters. m. The range of goods is rather narrow, additional services are not provided. No interior design is provided, with the exception of the corporate design of the network and consumer information.
These stores are located in residential areas, as it is suggested that visitors may not have their own vehicles. A small number of discounters for car owners are located at the intersection of major highways, usually within the city limits.
The specifics of Russian stores
The new store formats listed above are united by the use of the following sales and trade organization methods: consumer self-service, the presence of a mixed assortment, and networking. At the same time, Russian enterprises that work within their framework have a number of features. Firms operating in the format of hypermarkets, for the most part, comply with Western standards. However, the principles of work of Russian discounters, supermarkets, convenience stores have their own specifics. They do not meet the standards of formats accepted abroad. This applies mainly to pricing policy.
For example, Western enterprises in the "at home" format set a high margin on goods. This is because these stores have a convenient location, considered as a service. The format "at home", adopted in Russia, is somewhat different. Its specificity lies in the fact that the price level of this store corresponds to the purchasing power of the residents of the area where it is located.
Formats of clothing stores
Market, department store, pavilion - concepts that every Russian can define. The formats of small clothing stores designed for middle-income or low-income customers are also familiar to us. However, today there are more and more new words that indicate the types of retail space. We invite you to consider some formats of clothing stores that have recently appeared in our country.
Boutique
A boutique is a word of French origin. So called a small store of expensive and fashionable goods. Boutique - a store where exclusive clothes and accessories are sold. Its range may include clothing from several brands, but not necessarily. A boutique can also be an official point of sale of famous fashion houses. In other words, it can be both multi-brand and mono-brand.
This term is also called in the modern fashion industry an expensive and fashionable clothing store, which is distinguished by a high level of service, an exclusive design of the premises, an assortment of goods, a bright corporate identity and a specific target audience (men and women with middle and high income).
Showroom
A showroom is a word translated from English meaning "showroom". This format of the store involves a room with a showroom, which presents samples of the collection of brands. Companies that do not distribute their products on their own in their showrooms provide only the addresses of distributors and information about the goods. With the showrooms of companies distributing goods, there is the opportunity to make bulk purchases.
In our country, many of these stores arrange sales of clothing samples that are presented in them. In addition, they can specially bring from abroad shoes, clothes and accessories that are not sold on the Russian market. They realize these things at “demonstration sites”, which, incidentally, contradicts the format of world showrooms.
Concept store
More and more new store formats are gradually entering our country. One of them is the concept of stor. Translated from English, this word means "multifunctional store." These outlets are not yet very popular in our country, but in Europe, concept stores are ubiquitous. The term itself arose in the late 1990s. It was then that a new way of organizing multi-brand boutiques was invented. The main idea was to give visitors an expensive "lifestyle."
Items sold in concept stores are often completely heterogeneous, but they are united by a certain concept (idea). This store should create a special atmosphere and space to help bring a certain worldview to the buyer. In classic concept stores exclusively rare and limited products are presented, however they are designed for consumers with different income levels.
Currently, these and other store formats are gaining more and more popularity. Russia is gradually absorbing the experience of Western countries, in which trade is still better organized than in our country. Foreign store formats, the types and types of which can already be found on the territory of the former Soviet Union, are constantly evolving. It must be assumed that in the future, great changes await the inhabitants of our country.