When used as a noun, retail describes the sale of a product by a business (the retailer) to a consumer. When used as an adverb, retail describes the price point of the product. For example, when purchasing a computer part at a retail store, you’ll pay the suggested retail price. Exceptions to this rule include the item being on sale, purchased as a brown box, sold as OEM, or refurbished.

Examples of retail stores

The following list includes examples of the different types of retail stores that sell to consumers in alphabetical order.

  • Big box store - A store that specializes in a product. For example, Best Buy specializes in electronics.
  • Department store - Store that sells many different types of products. For example, Target is an example of a department store.
  • Discount store - A store that sells discounted items. Walmart is an example of a discount store.
  • E-commerce store - An online website that sells products to a consumer over the Internet.
  • Mom-and-pop store - A small store that often meets a specific niche and is run by a small business owner.
  • Warehouse store - A store that specializes in low prices that are subsidized by a membership. Costco is an example of a warehouse store.

What is the difference between a retailer and a reseller?

A reseller is buying a product or service with the intention of reselling to another person or company. A retailer buys a product with only the intention of selling it to a consumer to meet their needs.

B2C, Business terms, Drop shipping, E-commerce, Online shopping, POS, Reseller

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