Dollar General is opening 900 new stores across the country next year
Even in the age of Amazon, its business is booming
Even in the age of Amazon, its business is booming
Even in the age of Amazon, its business is booming
By the end of 2018, one in four Americans will live less than five miles away from a store. That's because the discount chain is expanding in a big way, adding 900 stores across the country next year, reports. It's unclear where the stores will be just yet, but chances are you won't have to go far to find one.
At a time when more and more people are shopping online, hurting brick-and-mortar stores and leaving mall shops empty, Dollar General's business is booming. Right now, the chain has 14,000 stores in 44 states, and that's up 35% over the past five years.
There are several important reasons why , like Dollar General and , are seeing a significant increase in business. The low prices are part of why they're so successful, but they're also doing well because they're located in smaller towns and rural areas — places where big-box stores like Walmart might not be easy to access. The economy is also a reason why dollar stores are doing so well; the uptick started during the recession in 2008 and hasn't stopped since.
Dollar General in particular is making changes to boost its business even further. It's now looking to open some of its new stores in urban areas to attract higher-income customers. The chain has added more products to its food and beverage sections, according to , and some remodeled stores include fresh food. They're also adding more brand-name products like Tide laundry detergent, and looking to target people who might go to their local drugstore instead of Dollar General to buy beauty products.
Instead of being a place to rummage around for discounts, the dollar store of the future might be a one-stop shop for everything you need — for cheap. Sounds like a good deal.