What are the main store formats?

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 outlets are.

Current state of retail trade

Retail trade is now 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, significantly decreased. Retail chains have become larger, and competition between them has escalated. At present, retail turnover is mainly formed by commercial organizations, as well as by individual entrepreneurs, who operate in the framework of fixed networks.

Shops in an increasingly competitive environment offer all new products 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 methods of sales. In this regard, the "Soviet" classifications no longer reflect its current state.

Classification criteria

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

• range;
• area;
• price;
• Form of trade service;
• atmosphere;
• Location;
• Target group of consumers;
• Promotion.

The basic formats of shops selling food products

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

• Shop "at home";
• Discounter;
• Store-warehouse;
• supermarket;
• Hypermarket.

Let us briefly examine each of them.

Hypermarket

Do you know how the hypermarket differs from the supermarket? Many can not determine what is the difference between them. These retail formats differ in size and range.

A hypermarket is a store that is larger than the size of a supermarket. Its area is not less than 10 thousand square meters. M. It also differs from the supermarket with an expanded assortment of goods, which ranges from 40 to 150 thousand items.

For customers one or several parking lots of a large area are organized. This is due to the fact that in hypermarkets, buyers usually come by car. In these stores, unlike other formats, it is required to pay very great attention to the convenience of staying in them visitors for a long time. It is necessary to have toilets, catering points, children's playgrounds, food packaging areas, recreation areas, etc.

Supermarket and shop "at home"

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

Hypermarkets and warehouses operate in the economic and medium-sized market segments. In comparison with supermarkets they are more democratic. An economical supermarket is divided into separate categories according to the price tag. In addition, it can be supplemented by a shop near the house - a new format. It is in a convenient place, characterized by an extended working time, it sells a limited set of everyday goods.

Store-warehouse

Store-warehouse is often opened by wholesale companies that can purchase large quantities of goods with significant discounts from manufacturers or other suppliers. Also, they can be organized by companies that are distributors of a particular product. At present, every year the share of wholesale trade is declining. Many manufacturers work directly with retailers. Store-warehouse in this case is a good "transition" 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. Implied payment of cash purchase, and then the customer himself takes away the goods. Cash and self-delivery allow such stores to increase the turnover of funds for goods, while reducing operating costs.

Discounter

Speaking about discounters, it should be noted that they attract not only buyers who have a low level of income. They are visited by consumers with medium and even high incomes. Thus, discounters are tailored to the needs of customers.

As you remember, the formats of stores 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. The assortment of goods is rather narrow, additional services are not provided. There is no design for interior space, except for corporate design of the network and information for consumers.

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

The specifics of Russian shops

The new store formats listed above combine the use of the following marketing and sales methods: consumer self-service, the availability of a mixed assortment, networking. At the same time, Russian enterprises that operate within their framework have a number of characteristics. Firms operating in the format of hypermarkets, most of them correspond to Western standards. However, the principles of the work of Russian discounters, supermarkets, and stores "at home" have their own specifics. They do not conform to the standards of formats adopted abroad. This concerns, mainly, the price policy.

For example, Western enterprises in the "near the house" format set a high margin for 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 is that the price level of this store corresponds to the purchasing power of the residents of the district where it is located.

Formats of clothing stores

A market, a department store, a pavilion are concepts that every Russian can determine. 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 suggest that you consider some of the formats of clothing stores that have recently emerged in our country.

Boutique

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

This term in the modern fashion industry is also called the expensive and fashionable clothing store, which has a high level of service, an exclusive design of the room, an assortment of goods, a bright corporate style and has a certain target audience (middle-income and high-income men and women).

Showroom

Show room is a word, translated from English meaning "show room". This format of the store involves a room with a showroom, in which samples of the collection of brands are presented. Companies that do not distribute their products on their own, in their showrooms provide only addresses of distributors and information about products. At showrooms of companies distributing goods, there is an opportunity to make bulk purchases.

In our country, many such stores arrange sales of clothing samples that are presented in them. In addition, they can specifically bring from abroad shoes, clothing and accessories that are not sold in the Russian market. These things they realize on "demonstration sites", which, by the way, contradicts the format of the world showrooms.

Concept-Store

All new formats of shops are gradually penetrating into our country. One of them is a prescription-stop. In English it means "multifunctional shop". These retail outlets are not yet very popular in our country, however in Europe the 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 present visitors with an expensive "lifestyle".

Items sold in concept-storages are often completely heterogeneous, but they are united by a certain concept (idea). This store should create a special atmosphere and space, helping to convey a certain worldview to the buyer. In the classic concepts, only rare and limited goods are represented, but they are intended for consumers with different income levels.

Currently, these and other formats of stores are gaining in popularity. Russia is gradually learning the experience of Western countries, where trade is still organized better than in our country. Foreign formats of shops, types and types of which can already be found on the territory of the former Soviet Union, are constantly developing. Presumably, in the future, residents of our country expect great changes.