Big-box store

Big-box store is a colloquial term used to describe a style of retail store, and by extension to the company behind the store. Typical characteristics include the following:

Floor space several times greater than traditional retailers in the sector, in North America generally more than 50,000 square feet (4650 m²), sometimes approaching 200,000 square feet (18,600 m²), though varying by sector and market (in countries where space is at a premium, such as the UK, the relevant numbers are a fraction of that).
Free-standing, windowless, rectangular, single story construction, with a high ceiling
Expansive open air surface parking lots and general orientation to automobile-driving consumers, as opposed to pedestrians
Location in suburban or rural areas, often in proximity to freeways, as opposed to downtown shopping districts

This design provides space for a large amount of merchandise and serves as an enormous billboard to attract customers. It is particularly favored by volume discount retailers.

Opponents criticize big boxes especially for being visually overbearing, wasteful of open space, and deleterious to community and small businesses. Proponents point to consumer benefits from greater convenience and lower cost of goods, and the ability of such stores to draw in tax-generating consumers from a wide area. In recent years, particularly in Canada, commercial developers have chosen to build big box stores (often grouped together in so-called "power centres") in lieu of traditional shopping malls .

Generally, big-box stores can be broken down into two categories: general merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, and so-called category killers, such as Home Depot or Circuit City which specialise in goods within a specific range, such as hardware or electronics. In recent years, many traditional retailers such as Tesco and Praktiker have opened stores in the format in an effort to compete with big box chains, which are expanding internationally as their home markets reach maturity.