Dollar Stores Gain Respect

A couple months ago, a post on this blog discussed the popularity and rapid growth of dollar stores and concluded that they have found an enduring and comfortable corner in the American marketplace. Dollar Tree more than doubled in size in the last four years to 2,500 stores. Family Dollar Stores expanded 10 percent last year and now has over 5,000 stores. Dollar General Corp. operates more than 6,800 stores and plans more than 600 this year. Expect Dollar Stores to be successful despite whether the economy is slow or robust.

Interestingly, major consumer product manufacturers are now taking notice. According to this story, Procter & Gamble Co., Clorox Co., and Dial Corp. are creating special packages of name brand items to fit the dollar price point. Examples are:

Dollar Tree now gets a regular supply of Procter & Gamble's Comet cleanser in a specially shrunken 11-ounce pack that it sells for a dollar. Clorox, maker of bleach and other household products, has designed Armor All Car Wash Wipes in packages containing a few wipes to be sold at the chain for a buck.

Now that consumer goods will be targeted for sale through Dollar Stores, one has to expect even more rapid growth of the market sector. And, the consumer comes up the winner via increased product availability and lower prices.

Bully!