Kinds of shops
Shops are divided into multiple categories of stores which sell a selected set of goods or services.
Many shops are part of a chain: a number of similar shops with the same name selling the same products in different locations. The shops may be owned by one company, or there may be a franchising company that has franchising agreements with the shop owners (see also restaurant chain).
Some shops sell second-hand goods. Often the public can also sell goods to such shops. In other cases, especially in the case of a nonprofit shop, the public donates goods to the shop to be sold (see also thrift store). In give-away shops goods can be taken for free.
For details on the various types of retail stores see:
* Bookstore
* Convenience store
* Department store
* Dollar store
* Electronic commerce, B2C
* General store
* Hardware store
* Hobby store
* Hypermarket
* Mail order
* Pet store
* Pharmacy
* Sports Store
* Supermarket
* Superstore
* Surplus store
* Thrift store
* Travel agency
