Dollar stores grow by offering great deals

If you’re looking to save money, you’ve got to check out dollar stores.

Both Family Dollar and Dollar General price a majority of their items at $1, but also offer some merchandise at higher price points. So they’re not true dollar stores. On the other hand, Dollar Tree and the 99-Cent Only chain are both true dollar stores where everything is $1, no exceptions.

According to a recent report I read, Family Dollar now has 7,100 stores across the country.

Meanwhile, archrival Dollar General is experimenting with different price points at stores depending on the neighborhood. So a store in an affluent area will have higher quality merchandise with slightly higher price points than what you would find in a poorer area.

If you’re not familiar with these dollar stores, check them out. You’ll typically find them off to the side in strip center malls. Both Dollar General and Family Dollar are eating up competitors like Wal-Mart and Target. When you walk into one of these dollar stores, it’s not an elegant experience. You’ll find harsh lighting and ordinary displays, but you’ll be in and out so fast because they’re about the size of a corner drug store.

When I go to Dollar General, I buy a lot of their DG private label stuff, including OTC meds and cleaning supplies. Take a product category like detergent. Instead of the 30 yards of choices you might find at a Wal-Mart, you’ll be confronted with maybe just six choices at a Dollar General or Family Dollar.

It’s like the equivalent of going to Aldi for groceries to save money instead of going to a traditional supermarket. All you do is save dough!