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Dollar stores and Web sites are becoming the preferred outlets for more price-conscious consumers, according to the consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail. Supermarkets and supercenters remain one and two, but online ranked third in the report, with almost half the women surveyed shopping online in the last quarter. From the WSJ:
The internet "has become the go-to channel to find the lowest prices and coupons," according to WSL. Growth in online shopping, dollar stores and "deep-discount" grocery like Sav-a-Lot threaten to diminish the popularity of supercenters like Walmart, said WSL chief executive Wendy Liebmann in the release.
The online revolution is clearly a structural change that will only gain strength as the economy recovers.
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.