Internal TradeClass 11 Business Studies NCERT Solutions
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Q1Long Answer Questions
Itinerant traders have been an integral part of internal trade in India. Analyse the reasons for their survival in spite of competition from large scale retailers.
Solution
Itinerant traders, such as hawkers, peddlers, and market traders, have been an integral part of internal trade in India and continue to survive despite the rise of large-scale retailers like supermarkets and departmental stores. The reasons for their survival are rooted in the unique value they provide:
- Customer Convenience: Their biggest advantage is providing products at the very doorstep of the customers. This saves consumers time and effort, a service that large-scale retailers located in central markets cannot match for daily or small-ticket purchases.
- Focus on Daily-Use Products: They primarily deal in consumer products of daily use like fruits, vegetables, and other low-value items. Consumers prefer buying these fresh and in small quantities frequently, which suits the business model of itinerant traders.
- Low Operating Costs: Since they do not have a fixed place of business, they save on major expenses like rent, electricity, and staff salaries. This allows them to operate with limited resources and potentially offer competitive prices.
- Flexibility and Reach: They can move from one street or locality to another in search of customers, reaching areas where fixed shops may not be viable. This flexibility allows them to tap into different customer bases and adapt to changing demand patterns.
- Catering to Specific Income Groups: Itinerant traders often cater to lower and middle-income groups who may be price-sensitive and prefer the convenience of doorstep service over the shopping experience of a large store.
In essence, itinerant traders survive by filling a niche in the market focused on ultimate convenience, low overheads, and serving the specific needs of customers for fresh, daily-use items, a domain where large-scale retailers face logistical challenges.
Q2Long Answer Questions
Discuss the features of a departmental store. How are they different from multiple shops or chain stores.
Solution
Features of a Departmental Store:
A departmental store is a large retail establishment that offers a wide variety of products under one roof. Its main features are:
- Wide Product Variety: They aim to satisfy almost every customer's need, offering everything from 'a pin to an elephant'. The store is divided into several departments, each specializing in one kind of product like groceries, electronics, furniture, etc.
- Central Location: They are generally located in a central place in the heart of a city to attract a large number of customers.
- Professional Management: Due to their large size, they are often formed as a joint stock company managed by a board of directors and professional managers.
- Centralised Purchasing: All purchases are made centrally by a purchase department, while sales are decentralised across the different departments.
- Emphasis on Service: They aim to provide maximum service to customers, including restaurants, restrooms, home delivery, and credit facilities. They primarily cater to higher-income customers for whom service is a priority.
Difference between Departmental Stores and Multiple Shops (Chain Stores):
| Basis of Difference | Departmental Store | Multiple Shops / Chain Stores |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Located at a central place in the city to attract a large number of customers. | Located in various populous localities to be near the customers' residences or workplaces. |
| Range of Products | Offers a very wide variety of products of different types to satisfy all customer needs under one roof. | Deals in a limited and specified range of standardised and branded products. |
| Services Offered | Provides extensive services like restaurants, home delivery, credit facilities, etc. | Offers very limited services, mainly confined to guarantees and repairs. |
| Pricing | Pricing policy is not uniform across departments and may offer discounts to clear stock. | Sells goods at fixed prices and maintains a uniform pricing policy across all its shops. |
| Class of Customers | Caters mainly to high-income group customers who prioritise service over price. | Caters to different types of customers, including lower-income groups, who want quality goods at reasonable prices. |
| Credit Facilities | May provide credit facilities to regular and credit-worthy customers. | All sales are made strictly on a cash basis. |
| Flexibility | Has greater flexibility in the line of goods marketed and can adapt to changing tastes. | Has less flexibility as it deals in a limited line of products, often produced by the parent company. |
Q3Long Answer Questions
Why are consumer cooperative stores considered to be less expensive? What are its relative advantages over other large scale retailers?
Solution
Why Consumer Cooperative Stores are Less Expensive:
Consumer cooperative stores are generally considered less expensive because their primary objective is to provide service to their members, not to maximize profits. They achieve lower prices through the following means:
- Elimination of Middlemen: These stores purchase goods in large quantities directly from manufacturers or wholesalers. By reducing or eliminating the layers of middlemen (like wholesalers and distributors), they cut down on the commissions and profits that would otherwise be added to the final price.
- Service Motive: The main goal is to serve members by providing quality goods at reasonable prices. Any profit or surplus earned is often distributed among members as a bonus or used for their collective welfare, rather than being pocketed by owners.
- Cash Sales: They normally sell goods on a cash basis, which eliminates the risk of bad debts and reduces the need for large amounts of working capital, thus lowering operational costs.
Relative Advantages over Other Large-Scale Retailers:
Consumer cooperative stores have several advantages when compared to other large-scale retailers like departmental stores or chain stores:
- Democratic Management: They are managed democratically by an elected managing committee. Each member has one vote, irrespective of the number of shares they hold, ensuring equal say in the management. This is unlike companies where control is based on shareholding.
- Limited Liability: The liability of members is limited to the extent of the capital they have contributed. Their personal assets are safe from business debts.
- Service to Members: Their focus is on the welfare of members rather than profit maximisation. This ensures that the interests of the consumers (who are also the owners) are always prioritised.
- Ease of Formation: It is relatively easy to form a cooperative society. Any ten adults can voluntarily form an association and get it registered under the Cooperative Societies Act.
Q4Long Answer Questions
Imagine life without your local market. What difficulties would a consumer face if there is no retail shop?
Solution
Life without a local market or retail shops would pose significant difficulties for consumers, disrupting daily life and making the procurement of goods a challenging task. The primary difficulties a consumer would face are:
- Inconvenience in Buying: Consumers would lose the convenience of purchasing goods as and when needed. They would have to travel longer distances to wholesalers or manufacturers to buy even basic necessities. Retail shops are located near residential areas and are open for convenient hours, and their absence would be greatly felt.
- Need to Buy in Bulk: Retailers sell goods in small quantities suitable for individual households. Without them, consumers would be forced to buy in larger quantities directly from wholesalers, which would require more money for a single purchase and significant storage space at home.
- Lack of Variety and Selection: A retail shop stocks products from various manufacturers under one roof, offering consumers a wide selection. Without retailers, a consumer would have to visit multiple manufacturers or wholesalers to purchase different items, which is highly impractical.
- Absence of Product Information: Retailers provide information about new products, their features, and uses. Without them, consumers would have limited access to information about new arrivals in the market.
- No Credit Facilities: Many local retailers provide credit facilities to their regular customers. This important financial support for managing household budgets would be unavailable.
- No After-Sales Service: Services like home delivery, product demonstration, and help with minor issues, which are often provided by retailers, would not be available. This would make purchasing and using durable goods more difficult.
- Break in the Supply Chain: The crucial link that retailers provide between wholesalers and consumers would be broken, making the distribution of goods from producers to the final users inefficient and chaotic.
Q5Long Answer Questions
Explain the usefulness of mail orders houses. What type of products are generally handled by them? Specify.
Solution
Usefulness of Mail Order Houses:
Mail order houses are retail outlets that sell their merchandise through mail, offering several benefits to both sellers and consumers. Their usefulness lies in the following advantages:
- Limited Capital Requirement: They do not require a prime retail location or elaborate display arrangements, so they can be started with a relatively low amount of capital.
- Elimination of Middlemen: By selling directly to consumers, they eliminate middlemen, which can result in cost savings for both the business and the customers.
- Wide Reach: They can reach customers in any location that has postal services, allowing them to serve a large, geographically dispersed market without needing physical stores.
- Convenience for Customers: Goods are delivered directly to the customer's doorstep, offering great convenience and saving them the time and effort of going out for shopping.
- Absence of Bad Debts: Since they do not offer credit facilities and usually operate on an advance payment or 'Value Payable Post' (VPP) basis, the risk of bad debts is eliminated.
Type of Products Handled by Mail Order Houses:
This type of business is not suitable for all products. The goods that are generally handled by mail order houses have specific characteristics. They must be:
- Graded and Standardised: The products should have a standard quality and size so that customers know exactly what they are ordering without physical inspection.
- Easily Transportable: They should be easy to transport at a low cost, meaning they should not be bulky or fragile.
- Have Ready Demand: The products should be in demand in the market, reducing the need for aggressive personal selling.
- Available in Large Quantity: The business must have a steady supply of the product throughout the year to meet orders.
- Describable through Pictures: The products must be such that they can be easily and accurately described through pictures and text in catalogues or advertisements.
Examples of suitable products include: books, watches, small electronic gadgets, cosmetics, and certain types of apparel.
Q1Projects/Assignments
Identify various fixed shop retailers in your locality and classify them according to the different types you have studied.
Solution
To answer this question, one should survey their local market and classify the shops based on the types mentioned in the chapter. Here is a sample classification:
Fixed Shop Small Retailers:
- General Stores: The neighbourhood 'kirana' store that sells a variety of daily-use items like groceries, soft drinks, stationery, and toiletries.
- Speciality Shops:
- A pharmacy/medical store (specialises in medicines).
- A bakery (specialises in bread, cakes, and pastries).
- A sweet shop (specialises in traditional Indian sweets).
- A bookstore (specialises in books and stationery).
- Street Stall Holders: A small, fixed stall at a busy street crossing selling cigarettes, soft drinks, and snacks.
- Second-hand Goods Shop: A shop selling used books or old furniture.
Fixed Shop Large Retailers:
- Departmental Stores: A large store like 'Shoppers Stop' or 'Lifestyle' in a mall, which has separate departments for clothing, cosmetics, home goods, etc., all under one roof.
- Chain Stores or Multiple Shops:
- A 'Bata' or 'Reliance Footprint' outlet (footwear chain).
- A 'Cafe Coffee Day' or 'Starbucks' outlet (beverage chain).
- A 'Reliance Fresh' or '24 Seven' store (grocery and convenience store chain).
- Super Markets: A large self-service store like 'Big Bazaar' or 'DMart' that primarily sells groceries and household items on a low-price appeal.
Q2Projects/Assignments
Do you know any retailers selling second-hand goods in your area? Find out the category of the product that they deal in? Which products are suitable for resale? List some of your findings. What conclusions do you draw?
Solution
Yes, in many areas, there are retailers who specialise in selling second-hand goods.
Category of Products:
These shops typically deal in categories such as:
- Books: Used academic textbooks, novels, and magazines.
- Furniture: Used tables, chairs, cupboards, and beds.
- Automobiles: Used cars, scooters, and motorcycles.
- Electronics: Refurbished mobile phones, laptops, and other appliances.
- Clothes: Vintage or second-hand clothing.
Products Suitable for Resale:
Products that are durable and retain their functional or aesthetic value are most suitable for resale. These include:
- Books: Their content remains valuable regardless of use.
- Furniture: Wooden or metal furniture is often durable and can be resold.
- Vehicles: Automobiles have a long functional life and a well-established resale market.
- Antique Items: Rare objects of historical value can be resold at high prices.
Findings and Conclusions:
- Findings: I found a shop that primarily sells second-hand academic books. Students sell their old books after completing a grade, and other students buy them at a lower price. The shop owner keeps a margin. I also found a dealer for used cars who buys from individuals, refurbishes the cars, and sells them with a limited warranty.
- Conclusions: The market for second-hand goods serves several important functions.
- Affordability: It makes goods accessible to people with modest means who cannot afford to buy new items.
- Sustainability: It promotes the reuse of products, which is environmentally friendly and reduces waste.
- Value Realisation: It allows the original owners to get some value back for their used items instead of discarding them.
- Niche Market: It also caters to collectors and enthusiasts looking for rare or antique items.
Q3Projects/Assignments
Do you observe any difference in the retail business of yesterday and the times to come. Prepare a brief write-up and discuss it in class.
Solution
The Evolution of Retail Business: From Past to Future
The retail business has undergone a dramatic transformation over the years, and this evolution is set to continue at an accelerated pace.
Retail of Yesterday:
The retail landscape of the past was dominated by small, independent, and often family-run stores. These included itinerant traders like hawkers and fixed small shops like general stores and speciality shops. Business was highly personal; the shopkeeper knew their customers by name and often extended credit based on personal trust. The variety of goods was limited, and the shopping experience was simple and transaction-focused.
Retail of Today and the Times to Come:
Today's retail is a mix of the old and the new, but the trend is clearly moving towards large-scale, organised, and technology-driven formats. We see the rise of:
- Large-Scale Retailers: Departmental stores, supermarkets, and chain stores now dominate urban markets. They offer a wide variety of products, a comfortable shopping environment, and competitive pricing due to economies of scale.
- Technology Integration: The future of retail is digital. Vending machines for various products are becoming common. E-commerce platforms have brought the entire market to our fingertips, offering unparalleled convenience and choice. Digital payments have replaced cash in many transactions.
- Impersonal Experience: While modern retail offers efficiency and variety, it often lacks the personal touch of the past. Self-service formats and online shopping mean there is little to no interaction with a salesperson.
- Globalisation: Consumers now have access to products from across the globe, thanks to multinational corporations and e-commerce.
In conclusion, the retail business has shifted from a relationship-based, small-scale model to a convenience-driven, large-scale, and technology-heavy model. The future will likely see further integration of technology like AI for personalised shopping experiences, even as the traditional small retailer continues to survive by offering personalised service and convenience.
Q4Projects/Assignments
From you own experience, compare the features of two retail stores selling the same product. For example, the same products being sold at a small scale retailer like a general store and in a big store like a departmental store. What similarities and differences can you identify in terms of price, service, variety, convenience, etc.
Solution
Here is a comparison of buying a product, for example, a bar of branded chocolate, from a local general store (small-scale retailer) versus a departmental store (large-scale retailer).
Similarities:
- Product: The core product (the branded chocolate bar) is identical in both stores in terms of quality, brand, and packaging.
- Basic Function: Both stores serve the fundamental purpose of making the product available to the final consumer.
Differences:
| Feature | Local General Store | Departmental Store |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The price is usually the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). Discounts are rare. | May offer discounts or promotional deals like 'buy one, get one free', especially on bulk purchases. The price could be slightly lower than MRP. |
| Service | Service is highly personal. The shopkeeper knows regular customers and may offer informal credit. The transaction is quick. | Service is formal and impersonal. Staff are available for assistance, but there is no personal relationship. Additional services like gift wrapping may be available. |
| Variety | Variety is limited. The store may stock only the 2-3 most popular brands or sizes of chocolate. | Offers a huge variety of chocolates from different brands, including domestic and imported ones, in various sizes and gift packs. |
| Convenience | Highly convenient for quick, single-item purchases due to its proximity to residential areas and quick service. | Less convenient for small purchases as it is often located in a central market, and the process of navigating the large store and waiting in a queue at the billing counter takes time. |
| Shopping Experience | The experience is purely functional and transactional. There is no emphasis on ambiance. | The experience is more holistic. The store is air-conditioned, well-lit, and designed to encourage browsing and impulse buying. It is a 'shopping experience' rather than just a purchase. |
| Credit Facility | May offer informal credit (running a tab) to regular and trusted customers. | Credit is generally not offered, except through credit card payments. |
Q5Projects/Assignments
The GST has been rolled out by the Government of India on July, 01, 2017. Different goods and services are classified under GST rates viz., 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. Collect the information on GST from newspapers, media news, Internet and business magazines and classify the given goods and services five GST rates: Activity: Classification of GST Rates of different Goods and Services Items No tax (0%) 5% 12% 18% 28% Jute Newspaper Coffee/Tea Shampoo Washing Machine Motorcycles Vegetables Milk Curd Salt Spices Kerosene Kites Apparel above Rs 1000 Cheese Ghee Fruit Juices Bhujia Ayurvedic Medicines Sewing Machine Cell Phones Ketchup & Sauces Exercise Books Notebooks Spectacles Luxury goods Fertilisers Biscuits Pasta Pastries and cakes Jams Mineral Water Steel Products Camera Speakers and monitors Aluminum Foil CCTV Telecom Services Branded Garments
Solution
(Note: GST rates are subject to change by the GST Council. The classification below is based on general knowledge and common rates applicable since 2017.)
Activity: Classification of GST Rates of different Goods and Services
| Items | No tax (0%) | 5% | 12% | 18% | 28% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jute | ✔ | ||||
| Newspaper | ✔ | ||||
| Coffee/Tea | ✔ | ||||
| Shampoo | ✔ | ||||
| Washing Machine | ✔ | ||||
| Motorcycles | ✔ | ||||
| Vegetables | ✔ | ||||
| Milk | ✔ | ||||
| Curd | ✔ | ||||
| Salt | ✔ | ||||
| Spices | ✔ | ||||
| Kerosene | ✔ | ||||
| Kites | ✔ | ||||
| Apparel above Rs 1000 | ✔ | ||||
| Cheese | ✔ | ||||
| Ghee | ✔ | ||||
| Fruit Juices | ✔ | ||||
| Bhujia | ✔ | ||||
| Ayurvedic Medicines | ✔ | ||||
| Sewing Machine | ✔ | ||||
| Cell Phones | ✔ | ||||
| Ketchup & Sauces | ✔ | ||||
| Exercise Books | ✔ | ||||
| Notebooks | ✔ | ||||
| Spectacles | ✔ | ||||
| Luxury goods | ✔ | ||||
| Fertilisers | ✔ | ||||
| Biscuits | ✔ | ||||
| Pasta | ✔ | ||||
| Pastries and cakes | ✔ | ||||
| Jams | ✔ | ||||
| Mineral Water | ✔ | ||||
| Steel Products | ✔ | ||||
| Camera | ✔ | ||||
| Speakers and monitors | ✔ | ||||
| Aluminum Foil | ✔ | ||||
| CCTV | ✔ | ||||
| Telecom Services | ✔ | ||||
| Branded Garments | ✔ |
Q1Short Answer Questions
What is meant by internal trade?
Solution
Internal trade refers to the buying and selling of goods and services within the geographical boundaries of a single nation. This type of trade involves transactions between producers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers located within the same country. No customs duty or import duty is levied on these transactions as the goods are part of domestic production and are intended for domestic consumption. Payments are generally made in the country's legal tender. Internal trade can be broadly classified into wholesale trade and retail trade.
Q2Short Answer Questions
Specify the characteristics of fixed shop retailers.
Solution
Fixed shop retailers are those who maintain permanent establishments to sell their merchandise. Their key characteristics are:
- Permanent Establishment: Unlike itinerant traders, they do not move from place to place and operate from a fixed shop.
- Greater Resources: They generally have more financial resources compared to itinerant traders and operate on a relatively larger scale.
- Product Variety: They deal in a wide range of products, including both consumer durables and non-durables.
- Credibility: They enjoy greater credibility and trust in the minds of customers due to their permanent presence.
- Customer Services: They are in a better position to offer various services to customers, such as home delivery, guarantees, repair services, credit facilities, and availability of spare parts.
Q3Short Answer Questions
What purpose is served by wholesalers providing warehousing facilities?
Solution
Wholesalers serve a crucial purpose by providing warehousing and storage facilities. They purchase goods in bulk from manufacturers as soon as they are produced and store them in their godowns or warehouses until they are demanded by retailers. This serves two main purposes:
- Relieves Manufacturers: It reduces the burden on manufacturers to provide for large storage facilities for finished products, allowing them to focus on production.
- Ensures Availability: It ensures a smooth and continuous supply of goods to retailers according to market demand. By holding stocks, wholesalers create time utility, making goods available when and where they are needed.
Q4Short Answer Questions
How does market information provided by the wholesalers benefit the manufacturers?
Solution
Wholesalers act as a vital link between manufacturers and retailers, placing them in a unique position to gather market information. This information greatly benefits manufacturers in the following ways:
- Expert Advice: Wholesalers are in direct contact with retailers who are, in turn, in touch with the final consumers. They can provide valuable feedback to manufacturers regarding customer tastes, preferences, and changing fashions.
- Market Conditions: They inform manufacturers about the prevailing market conditions, including the level of competition and demand for the products.
- Product Features: They can suggest desirable features or modifications for the products based on customer feedback.
This flow of information helps manufacturers make important marketing decisions, adapt their products to meet consumer needs, and align their production schedules with market demand.
Q5Short Answer Questions
How does the wholesaler help the manufacturer in availing the economies of scale?
Solution
Wholesalers help manufacturers avail the economies of scale by facilitating large-scale production. They do this by collecting small orders from a large number of retailers who are scattered over a wide geographical area. The wholesaler then pools these small orders and places a single bulk purchase order with the manufacturer. This enables the manufacturer to produce goods on a large scale. Large-scale production leads to lower per-unit costs, which are known as economies of scale, making the entire operation more efficient and profitable for the manufacturer.
Q6Short Answer Questions
Distinguish between single line stores and speciality stores. Can you identify such stores in your locality?
Solution
Based on the text, speciality stores and single-line stores are very similar, with speciality stores being a broader category.
- Speciality Stores: These retail stores specialise in the sale of a specific line of products rather than selling a variety of goods. For example, a store selling only toys and gifts, or only men's wear, is a speciality store. They cater to a specific target market and offer a wide choice within that particular product line.
- Single Line Stores: These are a type of speciality store that deals in a single product line, such as watches or shoes. They keep a wide variety of items within that one line.
The main distinction is one of scope. A 'speciality store' could be a shop for 'children's products' (which includes garments, toys, and accessories), whereas a 'single-line store' would be more focused, for example, a shop selling only 'children's garments'.
Yes, such stores can be identified in most localities. For example:
- Speciality Store: A shop like 'FirstCry' which sells a wide range of products for babies and children.
- Single Line Store: A 'Bata' or 'Liberty' showroom that exclusively sells footwear.
Q7Short Answer Questions
How would you differentiate between street traders and street shops?
Solution
The textbook refers to 'street traders (pavement vendors)' and 'street stall holders', which can be considered street shops. The key differences are:
| Basis | Street Traders (Pavement Vendors) | Street Stall Holders (Street Shops) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Business | They are classified under itinerant retailers, meaning they do not have a fixed place of business, although they may operate from the same spot for a period. | They are classified under fixed shop small retailers. They have a permanent, albeit very small, structure like a stall or kiosk. |
| Location | They are commonly found near places with a huge floating population like railway stations and bus stands. | They are often found at street crossings or other places with a heavy flow of traffic. |
| Mobility | They are more mobile and do not have a permanent structure. They might display goods on the pavement. | They operate from a fixed stall, which gives them a sense of permanence compared to street traders. |
| Scale of Operation | The scale is generally very small, often with goods spread on a cloth on the pavement. | The area is very limited (a small stall), but it is a distinct structure from which they operate. |
Q8Short Answer Questions
Explain the services offered by wholesalers to manufacturers.
Solution
Wholesalers offer several valuable services to manufacturers, which are as follows:
- Facilitating Large-Scale Production: They buy goods in bulk from manufacturers after collecting small orders from numerous retailers. This enables manufacturers to produce on a large scale and benefit from economies of scale.
- Bearing Risk: Wholesalers purchase goods in their own name and hold them in their warehouses. They bear risks like a fall in prices, theft, spoilage, and fire, thereby relieving manufacturers of these risks.
- Financial Assistance: They generally make cash payments for the goods they purchase, which helps manufacturers avoid blocking their capital in stocks. Sometimes, they also provide advances for bulk orders.
- Expert Advice: Being in direct contact with the retail market, they provide crucial information to manufacturers about customer preferences, market conditions, and competitor activities.
- Help in Marketing Function: They take responsibility for the distribution of goods to a vast number of retailers, freeing manufacturers from marketing activities and allowing them to concentrate on production.
- Facilitate Production Continuity: They purchase goods from manufacturers throughout the year as they are produced, which ensures continuity in the production cycle.
- Storage: They provide warehousing facilities for the goods they purchase, reducing the manufacturer's burden of storing finished products.
Q9Short Answer Questions
What are the services offered by retailers to wholesalers and consumers?
Solution
Retailers are an important link in the chain of distribution and offer valuable services to both wholesalers and consumers.
Services to Wholesalers and Manufacturers:
- Help in Distribution of Goods: Retailers make products available to the final consumers, who may be scattered over a large geographical area, thus helping in the distribution process.
- Personal Selling: They undertake personal selling efforts to persuade customers, which helps in the actual sale of the products.
- Enabling Large-Scale Operations: By handling sales to individual consumers in small quantities, they free manufacturers and wholesalers to operate on a larger scale.
- Collecting Market Information: Being in direct contact with buyers, they collect and pass on valuable information about customer tastes, preferences, and attitudes.
- Help in Promotion: They participate in promotional activities like advertising, coupon schemes, and sales contests organised by manufacturers, helping to boost sales.
Services to Consumers:
- Regular Availability of Products: They maintain a stock of various products, ensuring consumers can buy them as and when needed.
- New Product Information: Through displays and personal selling, they inform consumers about new products, their features, and their uses.
- Convenience in Buying: They are usually located near residential areas, remain open for long hours, and sell goods in small quantities, which is very convenient for customers.
- Wide Selection: They stock products from various manufacturers, offering consumers a wide selection to choose from.
- After-Sales Services: They often provide services like home delivery, supply of spare parts, and attending to customer complaints.
- Provide Credit Facilities: They sometimes offer credit facilities to their regular customers, allowing them to purchase goods and pay later.