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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

CLASSS XI
SUBJECT: BUSINESS STUDIES

CHAPTER -9,

Internal Trade

Topics: Fixed shop — Large stores, Departmental stores, Chain Stores or Multiple Shops.

(LESSON NOTES-44)

Fixed shop — Large stores

1. Departmental stores

A departmental store is a large establishment offering a wide variety of products, classified into

well defined departments, aimed at satisfying practically every customer’s need under one
roof. It has a number of departments, each one confining its activities to one kind of product.

For example, there may be separate departments for toiletries, medicines, furniture, groceries,

electronics, clothing and dress material within a store.

Thus, they satisfy diverse market segments with a wide variety of goods and services. It is not
uncommon for a department store in the United States of America to carry ‘needle to an

aeroplane’ or ‘all shopping under one roof.’ Everything from ‘a pin to an elephant’ is the spirit

behind a typical department store. In India real departmental stores have not yet come in a big

way in the retailing business. However, some stores on this line in India include ‘Akberally’ in
Mumbai and ‘Spencers’ in Chennai.

Some of the important features of a departmental store are as follows:

(a) A modern departmental store may provide all facilities such as restaurant, travel and
information bureau, telephone booth, restrooms, etc. As such they try to provide maximum

service to higher class of customers for whom price is of secondary importance.

(b) These stores are generally located at a central place in the heart of a city, which caters to a

large number of customers.