Category killer
A category killer is a type of retailer, usually a big-box store, that specializes in a single product category and carries a wide assortment of related goods.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp By offering extensive selections, competitive pricing, and leveraging large-scale bargaining power, these stores often gain a comparative advantage over smaller retailers and can significantly reduce competitors’ sales within that category, increasing their market penetration.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>
They are generally described as discount-orientated specialist mass retailers.<ref name=":0" />Template:Rp<ref name=":1" /> Examples include chains such as OfficeMax, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, and Hobby Lobby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Category killers were once most commonly located in power centers, but are now often found within or adjacent to repurposed shopping malls.
Large category killer stores are typically located in mid- to large-sized cities, where sufficient population density supports their operations.<ref name=":0" />Template:Rp
Impact
Local merchants in cities with category killers "may suffer a substantial reduction in sales," and stores in a wider radius can be affected by the draw.<ref name=":0" />Template:Rp Between 1983 and 1993, Iowans spent 31% less in hardware stores, translating to a loss of 37% in the same time to those stores as a result of category killer stores.<ref name=":0" />Template:Rp
United States retailers
Sporting goods stores that are category killers range in footprint from Template:Convert.<ref name=":0" />Template:RpHome Depot carries 30,000 items in Template:Convert stores.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
| Retailer | Category | Defunct |
|---|---|---|
| The Home Depot | Home and construction | |
| Lowe's | ||
| Builders Square | 1999 (stores) 2009 (brand) | |
| Home Quarters | 1999 | |
| Circuit City | Electronics | 2009 (stores) 2012 (brand) |
| Best Buy | ||
| Toys "R" Us | Toys | 2018 - 2021 (US stores) |
| Barnes & Noble | Books | |
| Borders | 2011 | |
| OfficeMax | Office supplies | |
| Office Depot | ||
| Staples | ||
| Petco | Pet supplies | |
| PetSmart | ||
| Party City | Party supplies | 2024 |
| The Gap<ref name=":2" />Template:Rp | Clothing | |
| Old Navy |