Non-Store Retail Formats: Shopping Without Walls

Non-store retail formats offer consumers the convenience of shopping from the comfort of their
homes or on-the-go:

1. E-retailing (Electronic Retailing):

● Concept: Leveraging the internet to sell products directly to consumers through online stores
and marketplaces.
● Explanation: E-retailers offer extensive product selection, competitive prices, detailed
information, and convenient home delivery or in-store pickup options.
● Examples: Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra
● Benefits: Wide selection, competitive prices, 24/7 accessibility, convenience.
● Limitations: Inability to physically examine products, potential for delayed gratification,
reliance on internet connectivity.

2. Direct Selling:

● Concept: Selling products directly to consumers through face-to-face interaction, often

outside of a traditional store setting.
● Explanation: Sales representatives demonstrate products, answer questions, and close
deals in person, at parties, or through home visits. (Ex: Tupperware)
● Examples: Amway, Avon, Herbalife
● Benefits: Personalized customer service, product demonstrations, potential for social
interaction.
● Limitations: High-pressure sales tactics, may feel intrusive, limited product selection
compared to other formats.

3. Television Home Shopping:

● Concept: Using television to showcase and sell products through dedicated channels or
infomercials.
● Explanation: Television hosts present product demonstrations, highlight features and
benefits, and provide ordering information. Viewers call in or order online to purchase.
● Examples: QVC, HSN
● Benefits: Convenient way to shop from home, visual demonstrations, live interaction with
hosts in some cases.
● Limitations: Limited product selection, pressure to buy during limited-time offers, difficulty in
assessing product quality.

4. Vending Machine Retailing:

● Concept: Selling products through automated vending machines located in high-traffic areas.
● Explanation: Customers insert cash or use digital payments to select and purchase
pre-packaged snacks, drinks, or small items.
● Examples: Beverage vending machines, snack vending machines, vending machines for
toys or phone accessories in public places.
● Benefits: 24/7 availability, quick and convenient purchases, ideal for impulse buys.
● Limitations: Limited product selection, fixed pricing, no opportunity to examine products
before purchase.