Small Is Beautiful: The Re-Emergence of The Convenience Strategy

For much of the last few decades it has appeared canonical that "bigger is better"in the physical size of retail stores. In practice, the grocery and general merchandisecategories have seen tremendous increases in average store size. Academic literaturepoints to many benefits of size. Advances in information technology and logistics,however, have provided a platform for a cost and quality competitive small storeformat. The viability and strategic functional choices of the small store, "convenience"strategy is explored.