In commercial trade, multiple shops (chain stores) achieve operational economies of scale by centralizing purchasing and administrative management while decentralizing retail outlets across diverse geographical locations, whereas department stores concentrate their wide variety of merchandise departments, management, and retail sales within a single large physical location.
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Answer
The statement is TRUE. Multiple shops decentralize retail selling through multiple branch outlets while maintaining centralized buying and administrative control. In contrast, department stores centralize sales, management, and diverse merchandise lines under a single roof.
The statement accurately depicts the primary structural difference between multiple shops (chain stores) and department stores in large-scale retailing. Multiple shops utilize centralized buying and unified policy control across dispersed branch outlets specializing in similar product lines, whereas department stores offer a wide assortment of merchandise separated into departments under a single roof.
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Key Concept
Structural and Operational Differences Between Department Stores and Multiple Shops