Final answer:
Discount stores or outlet stores offer brand-name merchandise at reduced prices by purchasing in bulk and operating with lower overhead costs. They are part of the broader retail landscape that includes traditional department stores and online giants like Amazon, with their historical roots in mail-order catalogs like Sears.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stores that offer an assortment of brand-name merchandise at a significant discount off the manufacturers' prices are commonly known as discount stores or outlet stores. These stores are able to offer lower prices due to factors such as bulk buying, less prime location, and lower overhead costs compared to traditional department stores. Some well-known examples include T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross in the United States. Discount stores are part of a larger retail ecosystem that includes department stores, mail-order houses like the historical example of Sears catalogs, and online retailers like Amazon, which have shaped consumer expectations and the way people shop for goods.
Advancements in transportation and communication have played a crucial role in the development of national markets, allowing products to be shipped across long distances and marketed to a wide audience. This has led to the proliferation of brand-name merchandise available far and wide, from urban department stores to rural mail-order catalog recipients. These retail innovations have marked a shift in consumerism from local and bargained purchases to fixed prices and national, standardized goods.