(i) Departmental Stores -

It is a large scale retail unit in which many different stores are housed in a large building under the same roof.
They are divided into different departments or stores.
Each department specialises in the sale of a particular type of product
Every product carries fixed price tag thereby making purchases simple and easy
Every department store has a General Manager who co-ordinates the activities of all Sectional Managers
They are found mainly in urban centres
They offer opportunity for one stop buying

(ii) Mobile Shop

They operate from motor vans or trucks and move from place to place
They sell a wider range of goods and are accessible to the consumers
They advertise their goods through playing of music, ringing bells or other methods.
They offer personal service to their customers.

(iii) Chain Stores

They are large scale retail business units with standard shop front scattered all over the country
They deal in one line of product in all their branches
Goods sold in all their branches are manufactured or purchased by the Head Office and distributed to all branches
Their prices are pre-determined by the Head Office
They are found in urban centres
Goods have price tags.

(iv) Mail Order Business

It is operated through the post
Its transaction is aided by the use of illustrated catalogues which customers use to order goods
Payment for goods is sent with order or through cash on delivery basis
It incurs lower overhead cost
It operates from its warehouses.

(v) Supermarkets

They are large scale retail self-services stores
They stock mainly household goods and food items under the same roof
Goods displayed have price tags for easy selection
Facilities like trolleys, baskets or trays are provided for customers to ease movement, selection and carriage
Gods collected are paid for and cross checked by the security guards stationed at exit doors
They provide packing space for their customers
They are located in city centres/population centres