The United States discount department sales reached $8.3 billion, so we should understand the amount of data accessed and shared while reaching this target. Every consumer now feels a rush to find deeply discounted items by comparing the most significant discount stores in the US.
Discount stores are retail outlets that offer products at a lower price to promote bulk purchases, minimize expenses, and gain popularity. Around 89% of customers named pricing the major influencing factor of purchasing decisions, while 82% named quality. Discount stores offer a unique pricing model to set pricing strategies lower than those of their competitors and manufacturers.
The e-commerce discount sector will grow consistently with continuous customer demands and interest shifts. With the increasing competition in discount stores, the top two reasons people turn to their smart devices are to browse products at discounts and deals.
Key Stats About Largest Discount Stores In The US
A soft spot is always left in the retail landscape, helping them beat competition and scale. There are two significant types of discount stores: food discount stores and dollar stores. Let us share the critical data about the most essential discount stores in the US:
Walmart Inc.
It is one of the largest global retailers and is continuously setting the benchmark in the retail market. With around 4606 stores in the US and a workforce of 1.6 million, the company is growing exponentially.
The top highlights of Walmart are:
- Around 19 out of 20 Americans visit the store at least twice a year.
- Walmart shoppers will spend $54 on 13 items during a single trip.
- This discount store earns around $1.56 billion daily.
- The Market Capital in USD is $542.78 Billion.
Walmart store locations are strategically planned in rural, suburban, and urban areas to serve diverse demographics.
2. Costco Wholesale Corporation
It operates a chain of warehouses that offer diverse products, such as groceries, appliances, electric appliances, tires, hardware, sporting goods, jewelry, and others.
The top highlights of Costco Wholesale Corporation are:
- Costco has a net worth of $439.80 Billion.
- This discount store has 592 warehouses operated in the United States.
- Costco generates an estimated $456 million daily revenue.
- A shopper spends $114 per visit by purchasing nine items.
The Costco Wholesale Corporation prioritizes places with higher density while including urban and suburban areas that are easily accessible.
3. Target Corporation
This discount store was founded in 1902 and has headquarters in Minneapolis, MN, United States. Target Corporation deals with food assortments, dry groceries, frozen items, apparel, home décor, electronics, and other merchandise.
The top highlights of Target Corporation are:
- Approximately 440,00 employees are working globally.
- It had $107.4 billion in revenue in 2023.
- 100 million members enrolled in the Target Circle (Free loyalty program).
- Online services drive 20% of total revenue.
Target has expanded by operating more than 2000 stores in the US with several private brands for a diverse collection of products. They will invest strategically with location-sensitive data to develop and connect with their customers.
4. Dollar General Corporation
This discount store was founded in 1939 by Luther and Cal Turner to build one of the most successful retail companies. Dollar General Corporation operates in rural, urban, and suburban areas, which allows it to deliver a smooth customer experience.
The top highlights of Dollar General Corporation are:
- More than 195,000 employees are working at various stores.
- The store got $38.7 Billion in sales in the fiscal year 2023.
- Dollar General Corporation has over 19,000 stores in the United States, which will grow with time.
- 75% of stores are located in rural areas to increase accessibility.
Over 80% of the US population lives within five miles of Dollar General stores. They aim to create local jobs, opportunities, and career advancements with data-driven strategies.
5. Dollar Tree Inc.
This retail aims to give extreme value at lower prices even with competition at its peak. Dollar Tree Inc. was founded in 1953 by K.R. Perry in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. It strategically places stores in economically disadvantaged and rural areas with limited affordable retail options.
The top highlights of Dollar Tree Inc. are:
- As of 2024, the brand has made a revenue of $31.22 Billion.
- It has a workforce of 211,826 to deliver smooth customer support.
- 16,590 stores are operating in the US and Canada.
- Dollar Tree Inc. has a market capitalization of $15.40 Billion.
The store uses geospatial analysis to identify potential regions that led to its expansion in areas with higher foot traffic and profitability.
6. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc.
This discount store offers various fresh foods, bakery products, household essentials, technologies, and more. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
The top highlights of BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. are:
- This discount store has 7.5 million members.
- It generated over $9.8 billion in revenue in the first half 2024.
- There are around 244 clubs and 178 gas locations in 20 US states.
- It has 34,00 employees across its operations.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings offers a diverse range of private-label products, which provide affordable alternatives to national brands. It focuses on the growth of underserved markets to maintain a balance between online and physical retail.
7. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.
It is one of the largest retailers of closeout merchandise and excess inventory around the US, offering products at discounted costs. They aim to sell a broad collection of products, including food, books, stationery, housewares, toys, hardware, and more.
The top highlights of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. are:
- Each store contributes $4.3 million on average annually.
- With location data analysis, they ensure every store is within 10 miles of shoppers.
- They have expanded their branches in 30 states of the US.
- The net sales are between $2.27 to $2.29 billion for Fiscal 2024.
They have a constantly changing merchandise assortment with the help of an experienced team that leverages data analysis with primary business dealers. They aim to grab 950 Ollie’s locations in the US with market analysis, consulting services, and strategic planning.
8. PriceSmart Inc.
Sol Price founded it in 1994 in San Diego, California, and it became an independent publicly traded company in 1997. The company offers branded and private-label products to provide customers with a one-stop solution.
The top highlights of PriceSmart Inc. are:
- It has generated $4.25 billion in revenue in the Fiscal year 2023.
- The market capitalization of PriceSmart is around $2.43 billion.
- PriceSmart has over 3 million members in its network.
- The PriceSmart Inc. has generated a net income of $137.12 million.
PriceSmart prioritizes placing the clubs close to densely populated urban areas to boost member visits and engagement. It also analyzes data to gather insights about local economies, which allows it to develop pricing strategies.
Location Analysis Of Discount Stores In The US
The largest discount stores in the US are identifying customer trends, optimizing inventory, and ensuring operational efficiency across their chains. Look at the stats and facts about each:
- Walmart scales over 4700 stores while giving importance to rural areas.
- Costco has 591 warehouses in metropolitan and suburban areas.
- Target has around 1900 stores, mainly in the urban and suburban markets.
- Dollar General has approx. 19,000 stores in the rural and low-income sectors.
- Dollar Tree operates 16,419 chains to make maximum impact.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club has 247 stores in the eastern US, where families prefer bulk purchases.
- Ollie’s has 561 stores in 31 states, with the majority in the east of the US.
Discount stores are increasingly expanding into rural and suburban areas to cater to middle—and low-income households. This helps them maintain strong sales of essentials like household and grocery items.
Using location analysis, large chains like Costco optimize their supply chain logistics and place higher-density distribution centers with less transportation and quicker restocks.
