Some Definitions of Stores

You would do well, if you keep these definitions of store in mind.

Please remember, however, that Indian stores are more or less a combinations of each of these (and size is much smaller). So to categorize a store in purely one category would be a disaster.

Mass Merchandiser

a retailer or retail store that seeks to sell large quantities of goods quickly through such means as discounting, customer self-service, or unadorned display and packaging, as in a warehouse.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/

Destination Store

Giant retail store combining the attributes of several categories of stores: the size of a mass merchandiser, the variety and scope of a department store, and the low prices of a discount store. So called because consumers are willing to travel a good distance to shop in it.

Department Store

Large retail establishment with an extensive assortment in variety and range of goods, organized into separate departments. All departments are housed under the same roof to facilitate buying, customer service, merchandising, and control.

Discount Store

A department store which offers its items at a lower price than many other retail stores. Discount stores are often able to drop their prices due to efficient distribution methods. Many of the largest discount stores are also chain stores, and include Wal-Mart, Target, and K-Mart. Furthermore, many of these discount stores could also be categorized as big-box stores, as they grow to include more and more products, sometimes even including a large grocery section.

Source: http://www.businessdictionary.com