Big-box store

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
It has been suggested that List of superstores be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)
It has been suggested that Superstore be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)
This article or section does not cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations. (help, get involved!) This article has been tagged since August 2006.

Big-box store is a term of art in the retail trade that refers to a style of retail store, and by extension to the company behind the store. Typical characteristics include the following:

  • "Big-Box" is descriptive of the physical characteristics of the building. A big box store is a large, free-standing, rectangular, generally single-floor store built on a concrete slab. The flat roof and ceiling trusses are generally made of steel, the walls are concrete block clad in metal or masonry siding. The interior can be either relatively luxurious, or starkly utilitarian, depending on the market niche of the firm and how it wishes to communicate that market position to its customers.
  • Floor space several times greater than traditional retailers in the sector, in North America generally more than 50,000 square feet (4650 m²), sometimes approaching 200,000 square feet (18,600 m²), though varying by sector and market (in countries where space is at a premium, such as the UK, the relevant numbers are a fraction of that).

This design provides space for a large amount of merchandise and serves as an enormous billboard to attract customers. It is particularly favored by volume discount retailers.

Exterior of a Wal-Mart SuperCenter, an archetypical big box store, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Enlarge
Exterior of a Wal-Mart SuperCenter, an archetypical big box store, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Opponents criticize big boxes especially for being visually overbearing, wasteful of open space, and deleterious to community and small businesses. Proponents point to consumer benefits from greater convenience and lower cost of goods, and the ability of such stores to draw in tax-generating consumers from a wide area. In recent years, particularly in Canada, commercial developers have chosen to build big box stores (often grouped together in so-called "power centres") in lieu of traditional shopping malls [citation needed].

Generally, big-box stores can be broken down into two categories: general merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, and so-called category killers, such as Home Depot or Circuit City which specialise in goods within a specific range, such as hardware or electronics. In recent years, many traditional retailers such as Tesco and Praktiker have opened stores in the big box store format in an effort to compete with big box chains, which are expanding internationally as their home markets reach maturity.

Contents

[edit] List of big-box chains

Companies known for operating big box stores include the following:

[edit] Multi-national

[edit] Australia

[edit] Canada

[edit] Hong Kong

PARKnSHOP Superstore
Enlarge
PARKnSHOP Superstore

[edit] India

[edit] Indonesia

[edit] Malaysia

[edit] Philippines

  • SM Hypermarket

[edit] Singapore

[edit] Thailand

  • Auchan (Branches in Thailand now changed and acquired by BigC)
  • BigC (a part of Groupe-Casino and Central Retail Corporation)
  • Carrefour
  • Central Superstore (Branches now changed to BigC)
  • Makro
  • Tesco Lotus (Groceries) (a part of Tesco UK) group, includes
    • Tesco Lotus Discount Store (Branches now changed to Tesco Lotus Supercenter)
    • Tesco Lotus Supercenter
    • Tesco Lotus Khumkha (Tesco Lotus Value)

[edit] United Kingdom

  • Currys (Electronics, White Goods)
  • Halfords (Auto Parts and Accesories)
  • Matalan (clothing)
  • Argos (General Household Merchandise, Toys)
  • DFS (Furniture)
  • MFI (Fitted Kitchens, Furniture)
  • B&Q (Hardware, Home Improvement Materials)
  • Tesco Extra (General Household Merchandise)

[edit] United States

[edit] Vietnam

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../b/i/g/Big-box_store.html"