Editing Retail (section)

== {{anchor|retail format|retail outlet|retail shop|retail store}}Types of retail outlets ==
{{Main|Retail format}}
[[File:Pfficeworks inside.jpg|thumb|Australia's [[Officeworks]] is a category killer, retailing everything for the home office or small commercial office; stationery, furniture, electronics, communications devices, copying, printing and photography services, coffee, tea and light snacks.]]
[[File:Apple Store, Opéra 1.jpg|thumb|Apple's concept stores include video walls, Wi-Fi and desks to provide an immersive customer experience.]]
[[File:ScarsdaleGeneralStore.JPG|thumb|A general store in Scarsdale, Victoria, Australia operates as a post-office, newsagent, petrol station, video hire, grocer and take-away food retailer. This type of store is referred to locally as a [[milk bar]].]] [[File:Luovon puoji.jpg|thumb|A local store named "Luovon puoji" in the [[Hailuoto Island]], [[Finland]]]]''Retail formats'' (also known as ''retail formulas'') influence the consumer's store choice and addresses the consumer's expectations. At its most basic level, a retail format is a simple [[marketplace]], that is; a location where goods and services are exchanged. In some parts of the world, the retail sector is still dominated by small family-run stores, but large [[retail chains]] are increasingly dominating the sector, because they can exert considerable buying power and pass on the savings in the form of lower prices. Many of these large retail chains also produce their own private labels which compete alongside manufacturer brands. Considerable consolidation of retail stores has changed the retail landscape, transferring power away from wholesalers and into the hands of the large retail chains.<ref>Constantinides, E., "The Marketing Mix Revisited: Towards the 21st Century Marketing", ''Journal of Marketing Management'', Vol. 22, 2006, p. 421</ref>  In Britain and Europe, the retail sale of goods is designated as a ''[[services marketing|service activity]].'' The European Service Directive applies to all retail trade including periodic markets, street traders and peddlers.

Retail stores may be classified by the type of product carried. Softline retailers sell goods that are consumed after a [[disposable product|single-use]], or have a limited life (typically under three years) in they are normally consumed. Soft goods include [[clothing]], other [[fabrics]], [[footwear]], [[toiletries]], [[cosmetics]], [[medicines]] and [[stationery]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.valueline.com/Tools/Educational_Articles/Stocks/The_World_of_Retail__Hardlines_vs__Softlines.aspx | title=The World of Retail: Hardlines vs. Softlines | publisher=Value Line | access-date=22 May 2014 | author=Ferrara, J. Susan | archive-date=18 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718155656/http://www.valueline.com/Tools/Educational_Articles/Stocks/The_World_of_Retail__Hardlines_vs__Softlines.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://smallbusiness.chron.com/soft-merchandising-26175.html | title=What is Soft Merchandising? | newspaper=Houston Chronicle | access-date=22 May 2014 | author=Time, Forest | archive-date=17 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717151205/http://smallbusiness.chron.com/soft-merchandising-26175.html | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Grocery store]]s, including [[supermarkets]] and [[hypermarkets]], along with [[convenience stores]] carry a mix of food products and consumable household items such as detergents, cleansers, personal hygiene products. Retailers selling consumer durables are sometimes known as ''hardline retailers''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.investorwords.com/2282/hard_goods.html | title=hard goods | publisher=Investor Words | access-date=22 May 2014 | archive-date=4 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104141007/http://www.investorwords.com/2282/hard_goods.html | url-status=live }}</ref> – [[automobiles]], [[Home appliance|appliances]], [[electronics]], [[furniture]], [[sporting goods]], [[lumber]], etc., and parts for them. Specialist retailers operate in many industries such as the arts e.g. green grocers, [[contemporary art galleries]], [[bookstores]], [[handicrafts]], [[Music store|musical instruments]], [[gift shops]].