Dollar Store Merchandise Variety Leads to a Thriving Store

If you are thinking about opening a dollar store, one of the foremost concerns needs to be the competition.  As the dollar discount industry matures both the total number and the quality of the competition have taken huge leaps forward.  No more will just finding a small assortment of dollar store merchandise placed on tables scattered around an out of the way location provide much opportunity for success. 

One of the keys to success for those opening a dollar store today is offering a wide range of high value dollar store items.  If the competition offers one brand of liquid dish detergent with four different flavors, carry two brands with five different flavors each.  If your competition offers three types of sponge-scrubbers to complement their one brand of liquid dish detergent, you need to do more.  The dollar store merchandise you offer could include dish scrub brushes, four or five different sponge-scrubbers, various sponges and other dish cleaning tools. 

The tradeoffs for those who are opening a dollar store may include less inventory depth for each of the dollar store items being offered.  Where your competitor with only one brand of liquid dish detergent might have 72 each of the various flavors, you may be limited to 24 or 36 each of all the flavors you are offering.  As a result there may be added ordering during the month to keep all flavors in-stock. 

However the good news is you have increased the presence your store will have in this popular product category.  Along with that bigger presence will be the very real potential for added sales when shoppers visit.  And of course once shoppers start to buy they typically add-in more dollar store merchandise as they cruise through aisle after aisle of items.

It is important to repeat this same strategy with every one of the most in-demand dollar store items you carry.  Many health and beauty items, paper products and more should be treated this way. Add in more of the most wanted items not seen in your competitors’ stores.  Add to the breadth of products offered by carry more than one brand of the hottest selling products.  Finally, add in more complementary items to build sales even higher.

If you are opening a dollar store in today’s marketplace, consider adding a wider variety of brands of the most popular and in-demand dollar store items you sell.  Also add in all of the popular impulse items and a few treasures not normally found in dollar stores. This strategy can prove to impress shoppers as they compare your business to the competition.