What are the main store formats

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In the article we will talk about what store formats are and how they differ. In addition, you will learn what the specifics of Russian retail outlets are.

The current state of retail

Retailing is becoming increasingly important these days. It connects the processes of production, distribution and consumption, forming a single complex. Trade today has undergone significant structural changes. The number of markets organized spontaneously has been significantly reduced. Retail chains have become larger, and competition among them has intensified. Currently, retail trade turnover is formed mainly by commercial organizations, as well as individual entrepreneurs who carry out their activities within the stationary networks.

Shops in the face of increased competition offer all new goods and services. To date, the state of the market is characterized by the presence of rigid structuring. In addition, new store formats are emerging. The development of trade is characterized by significant changes in the forms of service and sales methods. In this regard, the "Soviet" classifications no longer reflect it.state of the art.

Classification criteria

It is more expedient to divide retail enterprises not only by types and kinds, but also by formats. The classification criteria in this case are as follows:

• range;
• area;
• price;
• trade service form;
• atmosphere;
• location;
• target consumer group;
• promotion.

Main formats of food stores

In Russia today there are 5 main formats of stores that specialize in food products:

• convenience store;
• discounter;
• store-warehouse;
• supermarket;
• hypermarket.

Let's look at each one briefly.

Hypermarket

Do you know the difference between a hypermarket and a supermarket? Many cannot determine what is the difference between them. These formats of retail stores differ in terms of area and assortment.

A hypermarket is a store that is larger than a supermarket. Its area is at least 10 thousand square meters. m. It also differs from a supermarket in an expanded range of goods, which ranges from 40 to 150 thousand items.

One or more large parking areas are organized for customers. This is explained by the fact that buyers usually come to hypermarkets by car. In these stores, unlike other formats, you need to pay great attention to convenience.stay in them for a long time. Toilets, catering facilities, playgrounds, food packaging areas, recreation areas, etc. are required.

Supermarket & convenience store

Supermarket area - from 2 to 5 thousand square meters. m. This format implies a spacious room, access roads, convenient location of shops, cozy atmosphere, beautiful interior design. Assortment - from 4 to 20 thousand items.

Hypermarkets and warehouse stores operate in the economy and middle market segments. Compared to supermarkets, they are more democratic. The economy supermarket is divided into separate categories based on price. In addition, it can be supplemented by a convenience store - a new format. It is conveniently located, has extended opening hours, and sells a limited range of FMCG items.

Warehouse store

Warehouse store is often opened by wholesale firms 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. At present, the share of wholesale trade is decreasing every year. Many manufacturers work directly with retailers. The store-warehouse in this case is a good "transitional" stage from wholesale to retail.

This format was formed back in the 1960s. At first, the customers of such stores wererepresentatives 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. It implies payment of the purchase in cash, and then the client himself takes the goods away. Cash and pickup allow these stores to increase their inventory turnover while reducing operating costs.

Discounters

Speaking of discounters, it should be noted that they attract not only low-income buyers. They are visited by consumers with medium and even high incomes. Thus, discounters adapt to the needs of buyers.

As you remember, store formats are distinguished by area, assortment, price of goods and other criteria. As for discounters, their area ranges from 500 to 1.5 thousand square meters. m. The range of goods is quite narrow, additional services are not provided. No interior design is provided, except for corporate network design and consumer information.

These shops are located in residential areas as it is expected that visitors may not have their own transport. A small number of discounters designed for car owners are located at the intersection of major highways, usually within the city.

Speciality of Russian stores

The new store formats listed above combine the use of the following marketing and trade methods: consumer self-service, mixedassortment, 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 operation of Russian discounters, supermarkets, convenience stores have their own specifics. They do not meet the format standards adopted abroad. This applies mainly to pricing policy.

For example, Western convenience stores set high markups on goods. This is due to the fact that these stores have a convenient location, which is 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.

Clothing store formats

Market, department store, pavilion - concepts that can be defined by every Russian. The formats of small clothing stores, designed for a buyer with an average or low income, are also familiar to us. However, today there are more and more new words that denote types of retail space. We invite you to consider some formats of clothing stores that have emerged relatively recently in our country.

Boutique

Boutique is a French word. This is the name of a small store of expensive and fashionable goods. Boutique - a store that sells exclusive clothes, as well asaccessories. Its range may include clothing from several brands, but not necessarily. The boutique can also be the official outlet of famous fashion houses. In other words, it can be either multi-brand or mono-brand.

This term in the modern fashion industry is also called a store of expensive and fashionable clothes, which is distinguished by a high level of service, exclusive design of the premises, an assortment of goods, a bright corporate identity and has a specific target audience (men and women with an average and high level of income).

Showroom

Showroom is a word that means "showroom" in English. 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. In the showrooms of companies that distribute goods, there is an opportunity to make bulk purchases.

In our country, many of these shops arrange sales of clothing samples that are presented in them. In addition, they can specially bring shoes, clothes and accessories from abroad that are not sold on the Russian market. They sell these things on "demonstration sites", which, by the way, contradicts the format of world showrooms.

Concept store

All new store formats are gradually penetrating our country. One of them is a concept store. In translationfrom English this word means "multifunctional store". These outlets are not yet very popular in our country, but concept stores are ubiquitous in Europe. The term itself originated in the late 1990s. It was then that a new way of organizing multi-brand boutiques was invented. The main idea was to present an expensive "lifestyle" to visitors.

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 that helps convey a certain worldview to the buyer. Classic concept stores feature only rare and limited edition items, but cater to consumers of all income levels.

Currently, these and other store formats are gaining more and more popularity. Russia is gradually assimilating the experience of Western states, where trade is still better organized than in our country. Foreign store formats, the types and types of which can already be found today on the territory of the former Soviet Union, are constantly evolving. It must be assumed that great changes await the inhabitants of our country in the future.