Fixed shop retailers are retailers who have a fixed place of business where they sell goods and services.
A fixed shop retailer sells goods at one permanent shop. He does not need to move about like a hawker.
Fixed shop retailers generally have a permanent place of business where they sell goods to the consumers and do not need to move about like itinerant retailers
They often sell a limited variety of goods, which they store and display in their shops
Types Of Fixed Shop Retailers
There are four main types of fixed shop retailers, which are speciality stores, general stores, street stallholders and second hands goods dealers.
1. Speciality stores: As the name seems to suggest, these retailers specialize in the sale of a particular line of products.
Rather than sell different products, speciality stores usually sells a particular line of products.
Examples of speciality stores are stores selling only baby clothes, books, electrical appliances, and women's wear.
The advantage of speciality stores is that they provide consumers with a wide range of choices for a particular good.
For example, a consumer looking to buy a women's wear would see a wide variety of women's wears to choose from if he goes to a store specializing only in the sale of women's wears
2. General shops: As is evident from their name, general shops sell a wide range of items that are necessary for daily life.
General stores are mostly found in residential areas.
Because they sell different variety of goods, general shops are also known as various shops.
A good example of a general store is a store that sells different items like toiletries, snacks, and biscuits in the same shop.
3. Street stallholders: These retailers are mostly located near places where a huge floating population gather.
Street stallholders put up their stalls in areas with a lot of traffic to sell their wares.
Typically, they offer a wide selection of inexpensive products including soft drinks, toiletries, and cigarettes..
Unlike second-hand goods shops which buy from individuals, street stallholders purchase their supplies from local suppliers and wholesalers.
4. Second-hand goods shops: These sells majorly used goods such as second-hand books, bags, clothes, electronic appliances and automobile at a relatively cheaper price.
Thanks to second-hands goods shops, low-income earners can purchase used items at a cheaper price if they lack the finances to purchase brand-new items
Second hands goods shops do not get their supply from the wholesaler or manufacturers.
Instead, they obtain their supply from people who sell them secondhand products, which they in turn resell to consumers.
In general, second-hand goods shops do not offer guarantee on the items they sell, but they try their best to assure that the items are, at the very least, in acceptable condition when they are sold to customers.
Characteristics Of Fixed Shop Retailers
1. Deal in different goods: Fixed shop retailers generally deal in a variety of goods.
They may sell durable or non-durable goods.
2. Capital requirements: Compared to itinerant retailing, fixed shop retailing requires more capital because it requires a fixed location for operations.
3. Fixed place: Fixed shop retailers have a permanent place of business where they display and sell their goods.
4. Provide Home delivery: On request, fixed shop retailers can also deliver goods to their customers' houses or any specified location.
READ ALSO: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT 'STREET TRADERS'
5. Credibility: In the eyes of most consumers, fixed shop retailers are very credible because they sell at a fixed location.
Should the goods have defects, fixed shop retailers can easily locate them at their permanent shop, as opposed to itinerant traders who may be difficult to get because they do not sell at a particular place.