In a Recession, the Dollar Store Seizes the Moment

[steven johnson]

Walmart isn't worried about the dollar stores but they are both riding the cheapskate trend.

The nation's dollar stores, those once-dowdy chains that lured shoppers by selling some or all of their merchandise for $1, are suddenly hot. They are busily opening new stores, outfitting existing stores with refrigerators and freezers, and sprucing up their aisles with better lighting, fresh paint and new signs.

And while most big retail chains are closing stores and radically cutting back on new outlets, the dollar chains are planning to open hundreds of stores this year in some of the best locations to which they have ever had access.

Dollar stores have long had a reputation for being down-at-the-heels places to buy cheap, generic goods. While keeping their low prices, they are revamping their image and climbing the respectability ladder - in some cases into the Fortune 500.

Dollar General, long part of that select club of the 500 biggest American companies, appears on this year's list at No. 259, up 15 places from last year. And Dollar Tree landed on the list for the first time, at No. 499.


http://mobile.nytimes.com/article;jsessionid=DB115ADBA1E17FFF53382E1480D7D3D0.w5?a=360018&f=23

[Lasher]

1. I love going in there and asking prices.

They think I'm soooo funneeeee! Mrs. Lasher hates it when I do that. Just like ordering in Spanish at the Taco Bell drive thru. They never have a clue and they just react like I'm from another planet. Hee hee!

Srsly, I've noticed a lot of grocery-type items that I could live with at the Dollar Store. They are expanding beyond the Chinese finger cuff market. Good on them!

[NMDemDist2]

2. i spent $80 today at DG

it probably saved me $150 at Albertsons

all my paper goods, cleaning supplies, toiletries (tooth paste, shampoo etc) and drinks come from DG and I save a BUNCH compared to the regular grocery store

[islandgirl808]

3. dollar store is the ish

esp. for kitchen stuff.

and they have sooooo many cool toys :D!

[xCrushx]

4. Family Dollar

Not everything at Family Dollar is just a dollar but over the last year their stock has steadily increased while everyone else was falling because of the economy. A lot of people are starting to shop at the dollar stores.

[izquierdista]

5. I shop there

I just won't buy anything that is supposed to be edible that says 'Made in China'.

[northernlights]

6. just be careful of any medications there

Make sure they aren't expired or close to it. Old aspirin turns from back into salicylic acid and can give you reeeeally bad stomach problems.

2 years ago I was able to buy ugly tennis shoes at the dollar store for $4.00. Unfortunately, my cockatoo chewed them up well past embarrassing all the way into more holes than shoes. And then they stopped carrying them. And the $5.00 ugly tennis shoes at Wallies wre all in very strange sizes, so I ended up having to pay $11.00 to replace them. x(