Often the term "dollar store" is used by the store to be intentionally misleading. Many stores claiming to be "dollar stores" often have many items that cost more or less than a dollar. The problem with the name is also compounded by sales taxes, which usually guarantee that no items will actually cost the customer a dollar.
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2 Notable dollar stores 3 European counterparts 4 Japanese counterparts 5 Australian counterparts 6 See also 7 External links |
Products
Some stores carry mostly new merchandise, some mostly closeout merchandise bought from other stores below regular wholesale cost. Other variations on the dollar store include the 99¢ store, and at least one $1.25 store. While they may each set a different amount, the stores' concept depends on having a single retail price point for all merchandise, regardless of wholesale cost.
Dollar stores are often franchises. Dollar stores are the modern incarnation of "5 and 10" or "five and dime" stores where all merchandise was ten centss or less.[1]
Notable dollar stores
European counterparts
This phenomenon also occurs in Europe. In Britain they are called pound shops. One popular chain is called either Poundland or Euroland, depending on whether in Britain or the Eurozone.
The Hema (Hollandse Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij - Dutch Standard Pricing company) was originally a 'guilder' store, everything costing one gulden.
This type of retail is also observable in Japan. It is commonly referred to as
"100-yen shop" (US dollar being 100 to 150 yen).
The stores are said to be proliferating across Japan since around the turn of the century. This is considered by some an effect of decade long recession of Japanese economy.
For a long time, 100-yen shops existed not as stores in brick-and-mortar building, but as venders under temporary, foldable tents. They were (and still are) typically found near the entrance areas of supermarkets.Japanese counterparts
