Store Types

Department Store Offers lines of merchandise in three categories: furniture, home furnishings, and general apparel. Offers lines of merchandise in three categories: furniture, home furnishings, and general apparel. Carries high quality merchandise with sales people to help you. Carries high quality merchandise with sales people to help you. Has higher costs. Has higher costs. For example: Dillard's, JC Penney, For example: Dillard's, JC Penney, Kohl’s Kohl’s

Specialty Store Handles a limited variety of goods but with an extensive assortment within each variety. Handles a limited variety of goods but with an extensive assortment within each variety. Doesn’t have as many choices. Doesn’t have as many choices. For example: Brats, Claire’s, Journeys For example: Brats, Claire’s, Journeys

Boutiques Are a type of specialty store. Are a type of specialty store. They are small shops that carry unusual, often “artsy” merchandise They are small shops that carry unusual, often “artsy” merchandise They go out of business if not properly established. They go out of business if not properly established. For example: usually locally owned stores…vary in name. For example: usually locally owned stores…vary in name.

Discount Stores Are departmentalized retail stores which use many self-serve techniques. Are departmentalized retail stores which use many self-serve techniques. They offer lower prices. They offer lower prices. They are like large box stores and carry seconds. They are like large box stores and carry seconds. For example: Ross, TJ Max, Marshalls For example: Ross, TJ Max, Marshalls

Chain Stores Are a group of stores that are owned, managed, and controlled by a central office. Are a group of stores that are owned, managed, and controlled by a central office. They offer lower prices than department stores. They offer lower prices than department stores. Everyone may be wearing the same thing as you. Everyone may be wearing the same thing as you. For example: American Eagle, Old Navy, Aeropostle, Pac Sun For example: American Eagle, Old Navy, Aeropostle, Pac Sun

Factory Outlet Stores Can be similar to manufacturer-owned stores. Outlets appeal to buyers looking for a good buy. Can be similar to manufacturer-owned stores. Outlets appeal to buyers looking for a good buy. They carry overruns and seconds. They carry overruns and seconds. The customer has to travel farther; the latest styles are not always available. The customer has to travel farther; the latest styles are not always available. For example: Nike Outlet, Carter’s Outlet, Gap Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger Outlet For example: Nike Outlet, Carter’s Outlet, Gap Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger Outlet

Electronic Shopping Shopping over the Internet. Shopping over the Internet. The customer can stay in the comfort of his/her own home. The customer can stay in the comfort of his/her own home. Special closeout pricing is available. Special closeout pricing is available. The customer can not try on items and must pay shipping. The customer can not try on items and must pay shipping. For example: JC Penney, Old Navy, Gap, E-bay For example: JC Penney, Old Navy, Gap, E-bay

Telephone/Mail Order A company that offers a variety of merchandise by catalog. Orders are placed over the phone. A company that offers a variety of merchandise by catalog. Orders are placed over the phone. The customer can’t try on items before purchasing, must pay for shipping; colors and designs may be different after they are received. The customer can’t try on items before purchasing, must pay for shipping; colors and designs may be different after they are received. For example: Chadwicks, Delias, JC Penney, Spiegel For example: Chadwicks, Delias, JC Penney, Spiegel

When to Shop? End-of-season sale End-of-season sale Annual holiday sales Annual holiday sales Markdowns Markdowns Special purchases – store has bought items at a low price and pass savings on to consumers. Special purchases – store has bought items at a low price and pass savings on to consumers.

Size Ranges Female sizes Female sizes Male sizes Male sizes Special sizes-women’s, slim, husky, tall, etc. Special sizes-women’s, slim, husky, tall, etc. ***Since sizes are not necessarily the same for all manufacturers, it is always a good idea to try on a garment before buying.***

Checking for fit Collar or neckline Collar or neckline Waistband or waistline Waistband or waistline Pants legs Pants legs Chest and back Chest and back Hemline Hemline Shoulders Shoulders Sleeves Sleeves Hip area Hip area

Checking fabric and construction Seams Seams Trims Trims Care information Care information Wearing qualities Wearing qualities Fastenings Fastenings Hem Hem

Cost per wearing The more times you wear a garment, the more value you will get from it. The more times you wear a garment, the more value you will get from it. PantsPants $24.99 (purchase price)$25.00 (purchase price) (cleaning cost) (laundering cost) $40.99 (total cost)$27.00 (total cost) / 15 (# of wearings)/ 64 (# of wearings) $ 2.73 cost per wearing$ 0.42 cost per wearing