Retail Channels Part 4/4

This is the final installment of the list of 76 distinct retail channels.  It's interesting to note that this list is excerpted from an 87 page contract between a manufacturer and its independent sales agents.  Slice 'n dice! 

65.            Stationery Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily stationery.  Examples of Stationery Stores include, without limitation, Farr’s Stationaire’s.

66.            Street Peddlers shall mean individual merchants who offer products for sale in stands, booths or other non-permanent structures usually located on the sidewalk and designed to attract passing pedestrians.

67.            Supermarket / Grocery Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily packaged food products.  The “Supermarket/Grocery Stores” channel shall specifically exclude the in-store bakery departments of such stores, which shall be included in the “In-Store Bakeries” channel defined above.  The “Supermarket/Grocery Stores” channel shall specifically exclude Gourmet Food Specialty Stores (as defined above) and Convenience Stores (as defined above).  Examples of Supermarket/Grocery Stores include, without limitation, Kroger, Safeway, American Stores, Albertson’s Winn Dixie, Food lion, Von’s, Finast, Ralph’s and Marsh.

68.            Swap Meets / Flea Markets shall mean offering products for sale through organized events known as swap meets or flea markets, which involve a group of vendors offering for sale a variety of products, often collectibles or antiques.

69.            Television Home Shopping shall mean offering products for sale through cable and broadcast television, including infomercials, QVC and Home Shopping Network.  The “Television Home Shopping” channel shall specifically exclude sales through the Internet, CD-Interactive and other electronic media.

70.            Theatrical Concessions shall mean the retail section that sells such items as popcorn, soda and candy within chain and non-chain movie theater locations such as Cineplex Odeon, Loews and Cinemark.

71.            Toy Wholesalers shall mean companies that offer for sale primarily toys to retail stores.  In order to be considered a “Toy Wholesaler” hereunder, the total number of toy-type SKU’s must represent eighty percent (80%) or more of such wholesaler’s total SKU’s.

72.            Trackside – CART shall mean offering products for sale at races organized and sponsored by the Championship Auto Racing Teams.

73.            Trackside – NASCAR shall mean offering products for sale at races organized and sponsored by the national Association for Stock Car Racing.

74.            Trackside – NHRA shall mean offering products for sale at races organized and sponsored by the National Hot Rod Association.

75.            Upstairs Department Stores shall mean stores that (a) offer products for sale in a broad assortment of unrelated product categories, which products are generally classified in the trade as “best” quality products, and (b) offer a high level of customer service with a strong emphasis on store aesthetics.  Examples of Upstairs Department Stores include, without limitation, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, May Department Stores, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Dillards.

76.            Warehouse Clubs shall mean stores that offer for sale products in large sizes and quantities with more of an emphasis on price than service or store aesthetics.  The “Warehouse Clubs” channel shall specifically exclude the in-store bakery departments of such stores, which shall be included in the “In-Store Bakeries” channel defined above.  Examples of Warehouse Clubs include, without limitation, Sam’s Club and Price Costco.

76 Retail Channels - Part 3/4

47. Non-Chain Book Stores shall mean stores or groups of stores (containing fewer than twenty (20) individual stores) that offer for sale primarily books.

48. Non-Chain Comic Book Stores shall mean stores or groups of stores (containing fewer than twenty (20) individual stores) that offer for sale primarily comic books.

49. Non-Chain Drug Stores shall mean stores or groups of stores (containing fewer than twenty (20) individual stores) that offer for sale primarily prescription and over-the-counter drugs, personal care products and household products.

50. Non-Chain Jewelry Stores shall mean stores or groups of stores (containing fewer than twenty (20) individual stores) that offer for sale primarily jewelry.  The “Non-Chain Jewelry Stores” channel shall specifically exclude Guild Jewelers as defined above.

51. Non-Chain Toy Stores shall mean stores or groups of stores (containing fewer than twenty (20) individual stores) that offer for sale primarily toys.  In order to be considered a “Toy Store” hereunder, the total number of toy-type SKU’s must represent eighty percent (80%) or more of such store’s total SKU’s.  Examples of Non-Chain Toy Stores include, without limitation, Talbot’s Toyland and Tons of Toys, Inc.

52. Non-Mail Clothing Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily clothing and are not located within a mall.  Examples of Non-Mall Clothing Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Kids Mart, Kids R Us, Clothestime and Fashion Bug.

53. Novelty Gift Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily novelty gift items.  The “Novelty Gift Stores” channel shall specifically exclude Airport Gift and Other Airport Stores and Duty-Free Operators (as such terms are defined above).  Examples of Novelty Gift Stores include, without limitation, Spencer’s.

54. Off-Price / Closeout Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily discounted apparel and other merchandise.  Examples of Off-Price/Closeout Stores include, without limitation, Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx, Ross for Less, hit or Miss and Tuesday Morning.

55. Office Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily office supplies.  Examples of Office Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Office Depot, Staples and Office Max.

56. Outlet Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily discounted merchandise of a particular manufacturer or retailer.

57.            Party Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily party supplies.  Examples of Party Stores include, without limitation, Party City and Party World.

58.            Pet Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily pet supplies.  Examples of Pet Stores include, without limitation, PetCo and PetSmart.

59.            Regional Discount / Mass Retailers shall mean stores that (a) have regional distribution, (b) generally offer products for sale in a broad assortment of unrelated product categories, which products generally are not classified in the trade as “better/best” quality products, (c) are usually “self-service” with more of an emphasis on price than aesthetics, and (d) generally do not require individual store servicing by suppliers.  Suppliers to Regional Discount/Mass retailers typically advertise in trade publications, such as “Discount Store News” and “Discount Merchandiser”, and usually attend the IMRA (International Mass Retailer Association) trade show.  The “Regional Discount/Mass Retailers” channel shall specifically exclude the in-store bakery departments of such stores, which shall be included in the “In-Store Bakeries” channel defined above.  Examples of Regional Discount/Mass Retailers include, without limitation, Meijers, Caldors, Ames, Bradlees, Hill’s, Rose’s, Venture, and Shopko.

60.            Retail Bakeries shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily freshly baked breads, cakes, cookies and similar bakery items.  The “Retail Bakeries” channel shall specifically exclude In-Store Bakeries (as defined above).

61.            School Book Clubs / Fairs shall mean offering products for sale through book catalogs distributed to teachers and students at public or private schools (usually elementary or high school) or through book fairs conducted on the premises of such schools.  Examples of School Book Clubs / Fairs include, without limitation, Troll Book Club and Scholastic Book Fair.

62.            Souvenir Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily souvenirs.

63.            Sporting Good Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily sporting goods, equipment, athletic apparel, and other merchandise that reflects a sports theme.  Examples of Sporting Good Stores include, without limitation, Big 5, Sports Authority and Sports Chalet.

64.            Sports Stadium Shops shall mean concessionaire shops located within stadiums or arenas where sporting events are held.

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76 Channels... Part 2/4

This is the second installment of the list of 76 retail channels for consumer products... it's 10 years old and still relevant although some of the specific names are gone and the categories' relative strength has ebbed and flowed. The 4th installment will list more recently developed channels of distribution on the internet and for new categories of products. 

 22. Direct mail Catalogs shall mean catalogs that offer products for sale and are mailed directly to consumers’ homes. The “Direct mail Catalogs” channel shall specifically exclude catalogs for fundraising purposes which shall be included in the “Fundraising” channel defined below. Examples of Direct Mail Catalogs include, without limitation, Speigel, Hearth & Home, Domestications, Tapestry, Company Store, Hammacher Schlemmer, Fingerhut, Amway, and Lillian Vernon.
23. Door-to-Door Solicitation shall mean offering products for sale through personal visits by salespersons to consumers’ homes.
24. Duty-Free Operators shall mean (a) stores usually located in transit locations (i.e., airports, in-flight, train, ferry stations, cruise lines and ports) which offer products for sale to international travelers free of taxes and duties and (b) sales offered to diplomat shops, diplomat suppliers and individual diplomats free of taxes and/or duties. If Licensor grants to Licensee the right to distribute products through Duty-Free Operators, such channels of distribution (like all other channels of distribution granted) shall be limited to those stores located within the Territory.
25. Educational Institutions shall mean offering products (generally books) for sale to public or private schools or other educational institutions. Examples of Educational Institutions include, without limitation, the Los Angeles Unified School District.
26. Educational Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily educational products. Examples of Educational Specialty Stores include, without limitations, Imaginarium and Nature Company.
27. Electronics Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily electronic products. Examples of Electronics Stores include, without limitation, Circuit City, Fry’s and Best Buy.
28. Fashion Accessory Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily costume jewelry, hair accessories and other fashion accessories. Examples of Fashion Accessory Stores include, without limitation, Claire’s Boutique, Afterthoughts, It’s About Time and Piercing Pagoda.
29. Florists shall mean stores or companies that offer for sale primarily flowers. Examples of Florists include, without limitation, Conroy’s, FTD and 1-800-Flowers.
30. Food Service shall mean locations that provide food service to consumers in cafeterias, hospital food services, school lunch programs, and similar institutional food service locations.
31. Fundraising shall mean offering products for sale through catalogs, direct mail brochures, prize programs and in-school sales, which are used by schools and charitable, religious or other organizations to raise funds. Examples of Fundraising companies include, without limitation, Giftco, Springwater and Darlington Farms.
32. Garden Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily garden supplies and plants. Examples of Garden Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Armstrong’s, Callaway’s, Wolf Nurseries.
33. Gift Retailers shall mean stores that (a) offer products for sale that are in somewhat related product categories and are known as “gifts” in the trade, which products generally are classified in the trade as “better” quality and are higher priced (as compared to national and Regional Discount/Mass Retailers’ products), (b) do not usually discount merchandise or sell it at greatly reduced prices, (c) usually focus more on aesthetics in merchandise displays than on price, and (d) generally required individual store servicing by suppliers in merchandise se-up, display, SKU maintenance and reordering. Suppliers to Gift Retailers typically advertise in trade publications, such as “Gift & Stationery Business”, “Giftware News” and “Gifts & Decorative Accessories”. Suppliers to Gift Retailers usually include companies such as Enesco, Midwest of Cannon Falls, New Creative Enterprises, Dale Tiffany, Pacific Rim, Ande Rooney, Waterford, GiftCraft, Carson Industries, Possible Dreams, Lenox, Department 56, Lefton, Swarovski and Flambro. The “Gift Retailers” channel shall specifically exclude Novelty Gift Stores (as defined below), Duty-Free Store Operators (as denied above), and Airport Gift and Other Airport Stores (as defined above).
34. Gourmet Food Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily gourmet and specialty food products. Examples of Gourmet Food Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Bristol Farms, Whole Food and Gelsons.
35. Greeting Card Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily greeting cards. Examples of Greeting Card Stores include, without limitation, Hallmark.
36. Guild Jewelers shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily fine jewelry, which is generally classified in the trade as “best” or “highest” quality. Examples of Guild Jewelers include, without limitation, Mayers, Rogers and Baily Banks & Biddle.
37. Hobby & Model Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily hobby and model supplies.
38. Home Improvement Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily hardware and home improvement supplies. Examples of Home Improvement Stores include, without limitation, Home Depot, OSH, Home Base, and Lowes.
39. Home Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily bedding, towels and other bathroom products, kitchen merchandise and housewares. Examples of Home Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Strouds, Linens ‘n Things, 3D Bed & Bath, Bed/Bath/Beyond and Luxury Linens.
40. In-Store Bakeries shall mean the in-store bakery departments within Supermarket/Grocery Stores, National and Regional Discount/Mass Retailers and Warehouse Clubs. Such departments offer for sale primarily freshly baked bread, cakes, cookies and similar bakery items.
41. Internet shall mean offering products for sale through the electronic network known at the Internet.
42. Mall Clothing Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily clothing and are located within a mall. Examples of Mall Clothing Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Millers Outpost and Wet Seal.
43. Mid-Tier Department Stores shall mean stores that offer products for sale in a broad assortment of unrelated product categories, which products are generally classified in the trade as “better” (but not “best”) quality products. Examples of Mid-Tier Department stores include, without limitation, JC Penney, Sears, Mervyn’s, SteinMart, Kohls and Fred Meyer.

More to follow...... check back later.

List of 76 Channels of consumer product distribution.

Springsteen once wrote, "57 Channels and nothin' on."

I recently found a list from 10+ years ago of 76 distinct market channels.  Some retailers on the list are gone and forgotten, and the channels have ebbed and flowed.  This is the first installment.

1. Airport Gift and other Airport Stores  shall mean gift and other stores located within airports, excluding Duty-Free Store Operators (as defined below).  Examples of Airport Gift and Other Stores include, without limitation, Paradies and W.H. Smith.

2. Amusement Game Redemption shall mean distribution of products as prizes awarded in amusement games.

3. Amusement Park Gift Stores shall mean gift stores located within amusement parks, such as Six Flags, Paramount Parks, Universal Theme Parks, Dollywood, Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Land.

4. Art & Craft Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily art and craft supplies.  Examples of Art & Craft Stores include, without limitation, Aaron Brothers, Fast Frame, Michaels and MJ Designs.

5. Athletic Apparel & Footwear Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily athletic apparel and footwear.  Examples of Athletic Apparel & Footwear Stores include, without limitation, Footlocker, Athlete’s Foot and Champs.

6. Automotive/Carwash Stores shall mean (a) stores that offer for sale primarily automotive supplies, or (b) stores located at carwash or gasoline station premises.

7. Baby Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily infant apparel, furniture, accessories and other products designed specifically for babies.  Examples of Baby Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Babies R Us.

8. Beauty Supply Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily cosmetics, haircare products, beauty accessories and personal grooming related items.

9. Camera / Photo Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily camera equipment and supplies.

10. Candy / Confectionery Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily candy and confectionery products.  Examples of Candy / Confectionery Specialty Stores include, without limitation, FAO Schweetz, and The Sweet Factory.

11. Catalog Showrooms shall mean stores that offer a broad assortment of products for sale primarily through a catalog along with display of samples of products in a showroom.  Examples of Catalog Showrooms include, without limitation, Service Merchandise.

12. Chain Book Stores shall mean chain stores (containing twenty (20) or more individual stores) that offer for sale primarily books.  Examples of Chain Book Stores include, without limitation, B. Dalton, SuperCrown, Walden Books, and Brentano’s.

13. Chain Comic Book Stores shall mean chain stores (containing twenty (20) or more individual stores) that offer for sale primarily comic books.

14. Chain Drug Stores shall mean chain stores (containing twenty (20) or more individual stores) that offer for sale primarily prescription and over-the-counter drugs, personal care products and household products.  Examples of Chain Drug Stores include, without limitation, Walgreens, Rite-Aide, Thrifty/Payless, C.V.S./Revco, Thrift Drug, Phar Mor, Eckerds, and Longs Drugs.

15. Chain Jewelry Stores shall mean chain stores (containing twenty (20) or more individual stores) that offer for sale primarily jewelry.  The “Chain Jewelry Stores” channel shall specifically exclude Guild Jewelers (as defined below).  Examples of Chain Jewelry Stores include, without limitation, Sterling, Barry’s, Lipman’s and Helzburg.

16. Chain Toy Stores shall mean chain stores (containing twenty (20) or more individual stores) that offer for sale primarily toys.  In order to be considered a “Toy Store” hereunder, the total number of toy-type SKU’s (stock-keeping units) must represent eighty percent (80%) or more of such store’s total SKU’s.  Examples of Chain Toy Stores include, without limitation, Toys R Us.

17. Coffee Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily specialty coffee and related products, such as coffee mugs.  Examples of Coffee Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Starbucks, Buzz Coffee, Gloria Jeans and The Coffee Beanery.

18. College / University Stores shall mean stores located on the campuses of colleges or universities.

19. Commercial Facilities shall mean offering products for sale to architectural firms or interior designers working with commercial facilities, such as hotels and daycare facilities.

20. Computer Specialty Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily computer equipment and supplies.  Examples of Computer Specialty Stores include, without limitation, Comp USA.

21. Convenience Stores shall mean stores that offer for sale primarily packaged and “quick service” food products, are generally open 24 hours a day, and are designed to offer greater convenience than larger Supermarket/Grocery Stores.  Examples of Convenience Stores include, without limitation, 7-11, AM/PM, Dairy Mart and Circle K.

More to follow soon!