Retail Terms: Must Read

Scrambled merchandisingThe offering of merchandise not typically associated with the store type, such as clothing in a drugstore.
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varietyThe numbers of different merchandise categories within a store or department.
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vertical integrationAn example of diversification by retailers involving investments by retailers in wholesaling or manufacturing merchandise.

assortmentthe number of SKUs within a merchandise category. Also called depth of merchandise.
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Catalog retailingNon-store retail format in which the retail offering is communicated to a customer through a catalog.
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Category killers or category specialistA discount retailer that offers a complete assortment in a category and thus dominates a category from the customers ’perspective. Also called a category specialist.
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Close-out retailerOff-price retailer that sells a broad but inconsistent assortment of general merchandise as well as apparel and soft home goods, obtained through retail liquidations and bankruptcy proceedings.
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Convenience storeA store that provides a limited variety and assortment of merchandise at a convenient location in a 2,000-to 3,000-square-foot store with speedy checkout.