How To Identify Most Common Retail Store Types

1. Department Stores Department stores, like Macy’s, Kohl’s, and JCPenney, are large retail establishments selling diverse products under one roof. These stores are typically organized into various departments, each specializing in different types of merchandise such as clothing, electronics, and household items.

Department stores are often found in malls and are characterized by excellent customer service. The average size of a department store is around 250,000 square feet, and they frequently use a loop layout to guide customers through multiple departments.

What to Look for: Large, multi-story buildings or large sections within malls. A wide array of departments ranging from clothing to electronics. Well-known branding and names. Examples: Department stores account for $120 billion in annual sales in the U.S. (Statista, 2023).

Macy’s, one of the largest department store chains, operates over 500 stores across the U.S. 2. Specialty Stores Specialty stores focus on a single product category or a limited range of goods. Examples include Best Buy (electronics), Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Barnes & Noble (books)…