NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Dollar store

A dollar store is a store that sells inexpensive items for one dollar or less each. A popular concept throughout the world, the stores usually sell everything from cleaning supplies to children's toys to food. In the United States, most, if not all, of these stores contain almost exclusively merchandise that is imported from overseas. There are many dollar stores that sell nothing but goods made in China. Download high resolution version (918x627, 81 KB)99 cent store File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (918x627, 81 KB)99 cent store File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The dollar (represented by the dollar sign: $) is the name of the official currency in several countries, dependencies and other regions. ... Cleanliness is the absence of dirt, including dust, stains and a bad smell. ... A teddy bear A toy is an object meant to be played with. ...

Often the term "dollar store", used by the store, can be misleading. Some stores with the word "dollar" in the name, and even some claiming to be "dollar stores", have items that technically cost more (or less) than a dollar. The problem with the name is also compounded by sales taxes, which leads to taxable items costing the customer more than a dollar.

Separate from "everything costs $1 (or less)" stores, there are also stores featuring the word "Dollar" in their names, where the prices are in easy multiples of a dollar or 50 cents (for example, $2.50, $2 etc).

This concept is not new, and likely originated with the five and ten or five and dime, a store where everything cost either five or ten cents. The originator of the concept may be Woolworths, which began in 1878 in Utica, New York. Other five and tens that existed in the USA included W.T. Grant, J.J. Newberry's, McCrory's, Kresge, McClellan's, and Ben Franklin Stores. Inflation eventually dictated that the stores were no longer able to sell any items for five or ten cents, and were then referred to as variety stores. Five and dime was a common nickname in the United States for five-and-ten-cent stores (also called 5 and 10s), popular in the early to mid-20th century. ... Foot Locker Inc NYSE: FL (formerly Z) is a United States company specialising in athletic footwear and clothing. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Utica was a Phoenician colony, on the African coast, near Carthage. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area Ranked 27th - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 kmÂ²) - Width 285 miles (455 km) - Length 330 miles (530 km) - % water 13. ... W. T. Grant was the founder of a chain of U.S. mass-merchandise stores bearing his name. ... J.J. Newberrys was a five and dime store chain in the twentieth century. ... J.G. McCrorys or McCrory Stores is a defunct chain of five and dime stores in the United States based in York, Pennsylvania. ... The Kmart Corporation (NYSE: KMRT), based in Troy, Michigan, near Detroit, functions as a global retailer, based primarily in the United States of America. ... Ben Franklin Stores are a chain of five and dime discount stores found in small towns throughout the United States. ...

The most notable examples are the large retail chains Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. ... Dollar General (NYSE: DG) is a chain of limited-selection consumable retail stores operating in 30 U.S. states. ... A typical Family Dollar store. ...

In economic terms, the pricing strategy of dollar stores is inefficient as some items may actually be sold elsewhere for less than a dollar. However, this is balanced by the marketing efficiencies of a single price structure and consumers accept potentially overpriced items. The pricing inefficiency becomes unacceptable at higher price points. Thus there are no "100 dollar stores" where all items sell for $100; consumers expect to pay the correct amount as inaccuracies result in significant dollar amounts. Economics (deriving from the Greek words Î¿Î¯ÎºÏ‰ [okos], house, and Î½ÎÎ¼Ï‰ [nemo], rules hence household management) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

Examples of products

Some items sold at a dollar store would be a dollar or less anyway, whereas other items are a substantially better deal. There are four reasons a dollar store is able to sell merchandise at such a low price: Classes Calcarea Hexactinellida Demospongiae The sponges or poriferans (from the Greek poros pore and ferro to bear) are animals of the phylum Porifera. ... Spray can refer to: A slang adjective used to describe something positively. ... The word scrubber can mean:- The part of a rebreather breathing set which absorbs the carbon dioxide which the individual using the breathing set breathes out. ... Different styles of paintbrushes The term brush refers to a variety of devices mainly with bristles, wire or other filament of any possible material used mainly for cleaning, grooming hair, painting, deburring and other kinds of surface finishing, but also for many other purposes like (but not limited to) seals... Commercial chlorine bleach To bleach something is to remove or lighten its color; a bleach is a chemical that can produce these effects, often via oxidation. ... It has been suggested that Textile be merged into this article or section. ... A basic screwdriver (slotted tip shown) A screwdriver is a device specifically designed to insert and tighten, or to loosen and remove, screws. ... A wrench or spanner is a tool used to turn bolts, nuts or other hard-to-turn items. ... Green flashlight Flashlight is the NATO designation for the Yakovlev Yak-25 Soviet military jet. ... The word lock came from Anglo-Saxon loca = a secure enclosure. Currently lock has several meanings: A lock (device) is a mechanical fastening device which may be used on a door, vehicle, safe, or other container. ... Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope (IPA: ) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. ... A piece of transparent duct tape, left, and of silver duct tape, right. ... Sellotape is Europes best-known brand of transparent, cellulose-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. ... Electrical tape, standard black Electrical tape, color coded (grounding) Electrical tape is a type of tape used to insulate electrical wires and other material that conduct electricity. ... A comb A comb for people with hair loss. ... Different styles of paintbrushes The term brush refers to a variety of devices mainly with bristles, wire or other filament of any possible material used mainly for cleaning, grooming hair, painting, deburring and other kinds of surface finishing, but also for many other purposes like (but not limited to) seals... A woman wearing a barrette A barrette (also called hair-slide in British English) is a clasp or pin for holding hair in place, usually a womans. ... Several shampoos on a shower window Shampoo (Hindi: à¤¶à¤®à¥à¤ªà¥‚) is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, environmental pollution and/or other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair. ... Soap most commonly appears in bar form. ... Collection of Modern Safety Razors - Gillette Fusion Power, Gillette m3power, Mach3Turbo, Schick Quattro Chrome, Schick Quattro Power, Gillette Mach3, Gillette Sensor, Schick Xtreme3 System, Schick Xtreme SubZero, and Schick Xtreme3 Disposables A razor is an edge tool primarily used in shaving. ... A razor shaving some stubble off the underside of a chin. ... Stick deodorant Roll-on deodorant Deodorants are cosmetic substances applied to the body, most frequently the armpits, to reduce the body odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration. ... A spatula A spatulaâ€”sometimes also called a lifter or turnerâ€”is a hand-held tool that is used for lifting, flipping, or spreading substances. ... A potato peeler A potato peeler is a metal blade attached to a metal, plastic or wooden handle that is used for peeling vegetables, usually potatoes. ... Crate can refer to: A type of box A guitar amplifier company, Crate Amplifiers A wire or mesh enclosure with a door used in crate training dogs. ... Wire (top) and wooden (bottom) clothes hangers A clothes hanger, or coat hanger, is a device in the shape of human shoulders designed to facilitate the hanging of a coat, jacket, sweater, shirt, blouse or dress in a manner that prevents wrinkles, with a lower bar for the hanging of... Suction is the creation of a partial vacuum, or region of low pressure. ... A ballpoint pen A pen is a writing instrument which applies ink to a surface. ... A selection of coloured pencils. ... A brass thumbtack A thumbtack is a short nail or pin with a large, slightly rounded head made of metal which is used to fasten documents to a background for public display and which can easily be inserted or removed by hand. ... Small metal paperclip Another example of a paperclip. ... Latex being collected from a tapped rubber tree Rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer which occurs as a milky colloidal suspension (known as latex) in the sap of several varieties of plants. ... A regular wedge eraser. ... Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... Halloween is a tradition celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets, fruit, and other treats. ... Easter, also known as Pascha (Greek Î Î¬ÏƒÏ‡Î±: Passover), the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity). ... The light bulb is one of the most significant inventions in the history of the human race, illuminating the darkness of the evening and bringing light indoors at all times in order focus on the task at hand. ... The capitalization of this page is due to be corrected to Extension cord. ... A collection of lit candles on ornate candlesticks A close-up image of a candle showing the wick and the various regions of the flame. ... An extension cable, also known as a power extender, extension cord (U.S.) or an extension lead, is a length of flexible electrical power cable (flex) with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other end (usually of the same type as the plug). ... An extension cable, also known as a power extender, extension cord (U.S.) or an extension lead, is a length of flexible electrical power cable (flex) with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other end (usually of the same type as the plug). ... This mains power plug travel adaptor allows European or British plugs to be inserted into American or Australian sockets An adapter or adaptor is a device used to match the physical or electrical characteristics of two different things so that a connection may be made between them. ... A split-finger fastball or splitter, is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. ... Look up Can in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 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For other uses of dictionary, see dictionary (disambiguation). ...

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. A generic brand product is one made by a manufacturer the customer doesnt know much about who may or may not put thier name on the product. ... For the American magazine, see Foreign Policy. ... The grey market (or gray market) refers to the flow of goods through distribution channels other than those authorized or intended by the manufacturer or producer. ... A surplus store sells items that are used, or purchased but never used, but no longer needed. ... Closeout as in closeout sale is the final sale in the case of the final closure of a retailer because of a relocation, a fire (fire sale) or, especially, because of a bankruptcy. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... Closeout as in closeout sale is the final sale in the case of the final closure of a retailer because of a relocation, a fire (fire sale) or, especially, because of a bankruptcy. ... Drawing of a self-service store. ... Price points are prices for which demand is relatively high. ... Wholesaling consists of the sale of goods/merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services. ...

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 cents or less.[1] Franchising (from the French for honesty[citation needed]) is a method of doing business wherein a franchisor licenses trademarks and tried and proven methods of doing business to a franchisee in exchange for a recurring payment, and usually a percentage piece of gross sales or gross profits as well as... Five and dime was a common nickname in the United States for five-and-ten-cent stores (also called 5 and 10s), popular in the early to mid-20th century. ... A two-cent euro coin A United States penny, or 1Â¢ In currency, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1/100 of the basic unit of value. ...

Depending upon the size, some dollar stores may have a frozen food and drink section, and also one with fruits and vegetables. The Deal$ and 99 Cents Only Store chains in the U.S. are two such examples.

Notable dollar stores

Buck Or Two is a Canadian chain of dollar stores and is based in Concord, Ontario. ... Dollarama is a franchise retail chain of over 300 dollar stores across Canada. ... Deal$ is a very popular midwest and southeast United Sates dollar store. ... Dollar General (NYSE: DG) is a chain of limited-selection consumable retail stores operating in 30 U.S. states. ... Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. ... Family Dollar NYSE: FDO is a United States store chain that has locations almost all over the country. ... Freds (NASDAQ: FRED) is a regional chain of dollar stores based in the southeastern United States. ... The term Greenbacks is used to refer to: the paper money first issued by the United States during the American Civil War, and the United States Greenback Party, which advocated inflation of the currency in the years after the war. ... 99 Cents Only Stores NYSE: NDN is a chain store that only sells products with prices of 99 cents or less. ...

European counterparts

This phenomenon also occurs in Europe. In Britain they are called pound shops. One popular chain is called either Poundland[2] or Euroland, depending on whether in Britain or the Eurozone. Other 'Pound shops' include Everythings a £1! and Superpound. It is quite common to find products originally intended for sale in other markets, despite differences such as packaging written in foreign languages. For example, one may find Pepsi from Poland or the Czech Republic on sale in the UK. (See also Grey market). Poundland is a United Kingdom-based dollar store chain which sells every item in its stores for Â£1 (~US$1. ... The Eurozone (also called Euro Area, Eurosystem or Euroland) is the subset of European Union member states which have adopted the euro, creating a currency union. ... The grey market (or gray market) refers to the flow of goods through distribution channels other than those authorized or intended by the manufacturer or producer. ...

The Hema (Hollandse Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij - Dutch Standard Pricing company) was originally a 'guilder' store, everything costing one gulden. Categories: Corporation stubs ... Guilder is the English name for the Dutch Gulden. ... The guilder (Dutch gulden), represented by the symbol ƒ, was the name of the currency used in the Netherlands from the 15th century until 1999, when it was replaced by the euro (coins and notes were not introduced until 2002). ...

In Norway there is Tier´n, which is a colloquialism for ten kroner (crowns), about $1.40. ISO 4217 Code NOK User(s) Norway Inflation rate 2. ...

In Sweden there is Bubbeltian, called by some Tian, which is a colloquialism for ten kronor (crowns), about $1.25. Another chain that has been spreading in Sweden during the last seven years is Dollarstore[3], a chain where everything costs either 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 100 skr, which is supposed to roughly equal one, two, three, four, five or ten dollars. Despite the obvious similarity in name, it paradoxically does not seem to have any official connection with its American namesake, Dollarstore Corporation, and is limited solely to Sweden. Having a wider price range, these stores naturally also has a wider range of products than Bubbeltian, meaning more or less all of the aforementioned products excluding books and computer software. While it has only eleven stores yetsofar and has yet to reach any further south down the country than the town of Ludvika in the country's geographic middle, it is still one of the fastest growing low price chains in the country, after Netto and Lidl. ISO 4217 Code SEK User(s) Sweden Inflation 1. ... ISO 4217 Code SEK User(s) Sweden Inflation 1. ... Ludvika is a Municipality in Dalarna County, in central Sweden. ... Netto logo A Netto store in Copenhagen Netto is a Danish based chain of discount supermarkets. ... A Lidl in Cornwall, UK Lidl (either leed-ul as pronounced in German and in recently-launched British TV commercials, or lid-ul) is a European discount supermarket chain of German origin that operates 5,000 stores. ...

In Spain there are Todo a 100 shops ("everything for 100 pesetas (0.60 €)"), although due to the introduction of the euro and inflation, most products cost a multiple of 0.60 or 1 euro. Most of these shops maintain their name in pesetas, and most of them have been renamed as Casi todo a 100 ("almost everything for 100 [pesetas]") or Todo a 100, 300, 500 y más ("everything for 100, 300, 500 or more"). The peseta (₧) was the currency of Spain (and Andorra, along with the French franc) until December 31, 1998. ... The peseta is the former currency of Spain and, (along with the French Franc), of Andorra. ...

In Romania there are 38 000 lei shops. 38 000 ROL equals 3.80 RON (new Romania currency) and is the equivalent of about 1.20 euros. Excepting food, they sell about everything that can be squeezed at this price. Some stores also sell products at multiples of 3.80 lei.

Japanese counterparts

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). Daiso at Hanaten Osaka-City Daiso at Kohnoike Higashi Osaka-City 100-Emon at Kohnoike Higashi Osaka-City 100 Yen Shops (or One Coin Shops) have steadily gained in popularity over the last several years. ... Japanese 10 yen coin (obverse) showing Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Yen is the currency used in Japan. ...

The stores are said to be proliferating across Japan since around 2001. 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 vendors under temporary, foldable tents. They were (and still are) typically found near the entrance areas of supermarkets.

Australian counterparts

In Australia, these stores often sell aforementioned products for two dollars -- indeed, one store is named the "Two Dollar Shop". Often, stores similar to these operate and are labeled independently. They are found normally in shopping malls, but also found in other areas.

Brazilian counterparts

In Brazil, these stores are called um e noventa e nove (one and ninety-nine, meaning BRL 1.99, about US 90 cents) usually written as 1,99 (note the decimal comma). They began to appear in the decade of 1990 possibly as a consequence of both the increase in the purchasing power of the low income classes after the curbing of hyperinflation and the decrease in middle-class net income due to a gradual increase in the national average tax load. BRL may mean: Real (currency), the present monetary unit of Brazil. ... This article is about the year. ... Certain figures in this article use scientific notation for readability. ...

Present everywhere, usually independently owned, these stores offer a large range of choices, from cheap toys made in China to kitchen utilities and office supplies. Indeed, despite their names, few items are really below BRL 2.00.

Brazilians sometimes use the expression um e noventa e nove to refer to cheap, low quality things or even people.

Unrelated use of name

During the period from 1993 to 2004 when the United States Dollar was legal tender in Cuba, government-owned shops that exchanged solely in hard currency to mainly foreigners(similar to Friendship stores in the People's Republic of China or Intershop in the former East Germany) were called "Dollar stores". The name has remained in colloquial usage even with the introduction of the Cuban Convertible Peso. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 3. ... It has been suggested that Soft currency be merged into this article or section. ... A Friendship store was a store in China which sold exclusively to tourists, foreigners, and goverment officials. ... Intershop brand coffee Intershops were hard currency shops in East Germany. ... Anthem: Auferstanden aus Ruinen Capital East Berlin, in spite of status as part of an occupied city Government Socialist state - Last Head of State Sabine Bergmann-Pohl - Last Head of Government Lothar de MaiziÃ¨re History - Established October 7, 1949 - Final Settlement September 25, 1990 - Disestablished October 3, 1990 Area... The Cuban convertible peso (ISO 4217 code: CUC) is one of two official currencies in Cuba. ...

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