Yes, there are plenty of them in L.A., but many more are located in red or near-red states. In fact, a kind of “dollar store belt” stretches from Ohio and Indiana in the north, through Kentucky and Tennessee to the Gulf Coast. Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana have the largest concentrations of dollar stores. Using data from UCLA grad student Patrick Adler and other researchers, the Atlantic’s Richard Florida provides a breakout of the dollar store shopper.
–Overwhelmingly concentrated in low income states.
–Concentrated in states with lower levels of education or human capital.
–Positively correlated with voters who backed McCain in 2008.
–Shoppers are more likely to be obese and smoke.
–Associated with people who say religion plays an important role in their daily life.
From a Colliers research paper:
When the recession began, nearly everyone traded down either out of necessity or a desire to spend more prudently. Many consumers may have expected to resume their pre-recession shopping habits when the economy improved, but the slow recovery has kept them in a cautious mode. Retail is habit-forming, though, and the longer shoppers patronize a particular store or category, the more likely it is to become a permanent shopping destination. Regardless of the pace of recovery, dollar stores are hoping their real estate and merchandising expansions will keep them top-of-mind with consumers for years to come.
Mark Lacter • February 7 2012 9:35 AM
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2012/02/where_are_the_dollar.php
–Overwhelmingly concentrated in low income states.
–Concentrated in states with lower levels of education or human capital.
–Positively correlated with voters who backed McCain in 2008.
–Shoppers are more likely to be obese and smoke.
–Associated with people who say religion plays an important role in their daily life.
From a Colliers research paper:
When the recession began, nearly everyone traded down either out of necessity or a desire to spend more prudently. Many consumers may have expected to resume their pre-recession shopping habits when the economy improved, but the slow recovery has kept them in a cautious mode. Retail is habit-forming, though, and the longer shoppers patronize a particular store or category, the more likely it is to become a permanent shopping destination. Regardless of the pace of recovery, dollar stores are hoping their real estate and merchandising expansions will keep them top-of-mind with consumers for years to come.
Mark Lacter • February 7 2012 9:35 AM
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2012/02/where_are_the_dollar.php
The task of ordering this much inventory can be overwhelming for a first time retail business owner.
