A departmental store is a large retail trading organization. It has several departments, which are classified and organized accordingly. Departments are made as per different types of goods to be sold. For example, individual departments are established for selling packed food goods, groceries, garments, stationery, cutlery, cosmetics, medicines, computes, sports, furniture, etc., so that consumers can purchase all basic household requirements under one roof. It provides them maximum shopping convenience and therefore, also called as 'Universal Providers' or 'one spot shopping'.
Today, departments often include the following: clothing, furniture, home appliances, toys, cosmetics, house ware, gardening, toiletries, sporting goods, paint, and hardware. Additionally, other lines of products such as food, books, jewelry, electronics, stationery, photographic equipment, baby products, and products for pets are sometimes included. Customers generally check out near the front of the store, although some stores include sales counters within each department. Some stores are one of many within a larger retail chain, while others are independent retailers.
The Department Stores industry comprises retailers that sell a wide range of merchandise, including apparel, footwear, home goods, appliances, toys and sporting equipment. While big-box retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, have historically dominated the industry, many have expanded their product offerings in recent years to include groceries. This one-stop-shop format has boosted revenue for these companies; however, general merchandise stores that offer groceries are included in the Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters industry which effectively removes them from the Department Stores industry.
