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5 Tips about Adding Groceries to your Dollar Store Merchandise

Those who start a dollar store are eager to provide exactly the items their shoppers seek.  They know that if shoppers are able to find the core consumables they seek they will return much more frequency.  And of course they will purchase more and more of the other dollar store merchandise being offered.  One area shoppers always want and need is grocery items.  No matter how big or small the selection you offer, shoppers will always take the time to check out the grocery items in your store.  Even better; they will make purchases as they examine the options.  In this article I provide 5 tips about adding groceries to your store.

Tip #1) Start a dollar store with a smaller core selection and build your selection as you understand your customer grocery needs and wants.  Bring in items that are not highly perishable to start.  Be sure there are long pull dates on everything you carry.  As shoppers discover you carry food products they will begin to buy more and more.  As that happens you can broaden the selection and carefully add items with shorter shelf lives.

Tip #2) Recognize you are trading profit margins whenever you add grocery items to your dollar store merchandise selection.  Food items in both the grocery and snack category are sold on an extremely tight margin.  Where you may become accustomed to making gross margins of 30¢-40¢, and even more with general merchandise, some food items literally sell with pennies of gross margin.  After all costs are paid, it takes outstanding buying to make a significant profit.

Tip #3) Groceries are great traffic generators.  While margins are tight with grocery products, almost nothing can beat them for generating traffic and add on sales for your store.  Place the grocery department toward the back of your store to maximize the positive impact these items can have on overall sales levels for your store.  When you start a dollar store be sure to carefully monitor the impact food has on traffic, sales and profits for your business.

Tip #4) Know the rules, regulations and laws associated with selling groceries and food items.  Since rules, regulations and laws do vary, this is an area that requires some investigation before charging ahead.  You will find there are many guidelines to be followed whenever you carry food items.  Some are very general and easy to meet.  Others may require special handling or placement of products.  Be sure you obtain required licensing and inspection as well.  

Tip #5) Expect added labor expense as you grow your grocery sales.  When you start a dollar store you will discover that unlike most other dollar store merchandise, groceries need to be carefully managed for package damage and pull date problems.  As a general rule groceries are also heavier and harder to move about.  But still they may hold a valuable place in the product mix for your store.

To your dollar store success!

About the Author

Want the best ideas to earn from your dollar store business? Check out "Tactics to Add Streams of Income to Your Dollar Store Business" at www.OpeningADollarStore.com.
Bob Hamilton is an entrepreneur, author, writer, business consultant and trainer.

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