Comprehension

2.5. Answer the following questions.

1. Why are retailers important in the chain of production?

2. What do larger retailers usually buy?

3. What do smaller retailers buy?

4. What three main services which are given by all retailers do you know?

5. What is breaking bulk?

6. What other services can retailers offer?

7. What do small shops specialize in?

8. Why do customers shop at small shops?

9. Why have small shops become less important?

10. Why do customers shop at chain stores?

2.6. Which words go together?

chain (or multiple) breaking to run faulty department free of a local 8. to charge

a) goods b) store c) market d) stores e) a shop f) charge g) bulk h) a price

2.7. Complete the sentences by choosing suitable phrases from the right-hand column.

Retailers are important in the chain of production because ...	they can buy in large quantities from manufacturers and their prices are low
Sometimes people do not shop at small shops because ...	they wouldn't sell
Customers shop at chain stores because ...	they sell goods to the public
A clother’s shop in a poor area wouldn't stock expensive clothes because ...	prices are high
Customers shop at small shops because ...	larger shops are able to charge lower prices
Small shops have become less important because ...	they are ofter known by name and the shop is near people's home
Chain stores sell at low prices because ...	there is a wider selection of goods.

2.8. Read and translate text 2b and define if the statements below the text are true or false.

Make use of the vocabulary:

employ v нанимать на работу

select v выбирать

selection n выбор

costly adj дорогой, ценный

price-list n прайс-лист

item n предмет

discount n скидка

to buy on credit покупать в кредит

to obtain a credut получать кредит

Text 2b Department stores, Discount stores, Hypermarkets

Department stores sell a very wide range of goods. They are usually found in city centers and often charge high prices. Customers are allowed to buy goods on credit, e.g. using monthly accounts or the store's own credit card. The stores employ buyers to run each department within a store. For example, the buyer for the carpets department would decide what carpets to buy what prices to charge and so on.

Customers shop at department stores because there is a wider selection of goods. There are many assistants who serve and give advice. Shopping is more comfortable because these stores have restaurants, lifts and cloakrooms. Goods can be ordered by telephone and goods can be delivered to customers' homes. Credit can be easily obtained.

Sometimes people do not shop at department stores because goods are expensive. Rents in city centers are high and it is costly to provide the many services that department stores offer. The stores are far from people's homes.

Discount stores specialize in a narrow range of items. They are able to charge low prices because they can buy in bulk. Most are found outside city centers but near main roads so that customers can easily get to them. A lot of money is spent on advertising and detailed price lists are often shown in newspaper advertisements.

Customers shop at discount stores because prices are low. Detailed price lists help the customer to choose between different goods.

Sometimes people do not shop at discount stores because it is difficult to get advice particularly when self-service is used. A wide range of goods is not on display because the store only sells the more popular brands.

Hypermarkets are very large. To be called a hypermarket a shop must have a selling area of at least 4650 sq metres. Most are found on the edges of towns but near main roads in order to attract customers from a wide area. They are self-service, selling a very wide range of goods including groceries, clothing, gardening equipment and televisions. Cheap petrol is usually sold to attract the motorists.

Customers shop at hypermarkets because prices are low since a hypermarket can buy in bulk. Parking is usually easy.

Sometimes people do not shop at hypermarkets because they can be far away from people's homes. If a product cannot be found in a hypermarket the next shop could be many miles away.