crockett

B&M = Brick and Mortar - ie actual store fronts.

Something I've noticed while traveling around is it's not McDonald's that are in every town be it big or small, but rather Dollar Stores.

Be it Dollar General, Dollar Tree or Family Dollar they each are growing toward matching the number of locations McDonald's has in the US. I never really thought about it before as they were just a common thing I was used to seeing, however it seems time and time again, I roll through a town that is too small to gain the attention of any larger retailers or even fast food chains, but they always have a Dollar Store of some sort.

I looked up the numbers..

McDonalds to use as a comparison in the US has roughly 14k locations and world wide 34k


Dollar General 11k+ in the US in 2013 they opened 650 new stores and celebrated their 24th year of consecutive growth.

Family Dollar over 8k locations in US and plans to triple that number. In 2013 they opened 500 new stores.

Dollar Tree as smaller competitor has about 5k stores in US but seems to be growing steadily.

Now the deal is when you go through these rural towns these stores always have customers because they are often the only game in town. The thing is these stores in the middle of nowhere also tend to have some of the highest sales numbers because they are the only game in town.

Just something to think about, even in a retail world dominated by Walmart and other large retailers, these little throw back to a dime store have created a profitable niche.

_Richard_

been seeing 5-10 dollar stores now

crockett

I think only Dollar Tree is everything for $1. Most seem to just cater in the range of $10 & under. Considering the small town locations of so many of their stores, I'm surprised they aren't doing more actual food items though. Seems they could really corner the food market in a lot of their locations.

candyflip

I've seen a few Dollar General stores that look to be nothing more then prefab pole barns.

Can't say I've been in one, but they're popping up in all sorts or rural areas outside of the city. Around here at least.

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crockett

I never used them until I started traveling a lot and that's just to get a random item here or there. I'm just surprised at how fast they seem to be growing at a time most retailers are having problems.

I remember Dollar General being around forever but it was one of those stores I never visited as there were always far better options. However traveling around rural areas they are often the only store in a area.

mineistaken

Another place to sell Chinese labor and deprave US out of jobs.

EddyTheDog

1000's of them here in the UK - They are pound stores though of course...

In Spain they are 'Chinos' because they are all owned by Chinese.....

A lot of people seem to use them because they are so damn convenient - Better than driving to the Mall, you can pick a 'proper' one up one your next scheduled trip - The price is secondary - If it craps out then what the fuck...

BlackCrayon

i can't stand the smell of dollar stores. they have an odd smell i've never really smelled before. i guess its all the cheap plastic...i don't know. its just nasty.

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kane

Now that I think about it, you're correct. We have one in my town and I usually go in there to buy my Christmas ribbons, bows and wrapping paper every year. It always has an odd smell to it.

mineistaken

Only once a year? Bad customer for the Chinese

MK Ultra

I grew up in a small town, one store I remember even from when I was really young was the Coronet 5-10-15 cent store which sold a variety of very low priced merchandise.

We just called it the dime store.

I go back to that small town today and there's a dollar store in that very same building.

Nothing new under the sun.

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CurrentlySober

i cant afford to spend a dollar...

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_Richard_

yea you get it a lot in Vancouver.. can't stand it, think it has something to do with the manufacturer process