Big Box Retailer
A big-box retailer is a huge store with a large footprint that is often part of a chain and sells many products to customers.
Updated: October 13, 2023
Abig-box retailer is a huge store with a large footprint that is often part of a chain and sells many products to customers. A big-box store gets its name from the look of its building, typically plain and square. These are typically around 50,000 square feet, but many of them are 100,000 to 200,000 square feet.
They mostly sell general merchandise, but some specialize in a single category, such as tools or sporting equipment. Retail operations software are used by brick-and-mortar stores to centralize and analyze their data since it pulls data from point-of-sale (POS) systems and packages it into helpful insights about inventory, pricing, or use of retail space.
General merchandise and specialty stores are two different types of big box retailers. General merchandise are a one-stop shop for customers, offering everything from paper towels to apparel to bicycles whereas specialty stores specialize in a single product category. General merchandise are called hypermarkets or super centers when these stores carry groceries. Specialty stores generally focus on ready-to-build furniture, outdoor goods, or home improvement.
Sprawling retail space, chain affiliation, expansive parking lots and basic design are basic elements of big box retailers. Benefits of big box retailers include low prices, convenience, selection, and familiarity.
