You’ve gone into the local dollar store for wrapping paper or maybe a few inexpensive home products like a spatula or an oven mitt, but did you know that this discount retailer has been revolutionizing the economics of shopping for decades? Not to mention, Dollar Stores and Dollar Trees have been doing collaborations that earn rave reviews. From selling fine wines to partnering with celebrity chefs, these aren’t your grandmother’s bargain bins anymore.
1. Luxury Labels Hiding in Plain Sight
Believe it or not, dollar stores have become secret hotspots for designer overstock masquerading under different brand names. Some locations have been caught selling $50 department store face creams for a buck, simply because they’re approaching their best-by date. A market report found that 30% of dollar store makeup comes from high-end brands you would normally find in Macy’s or Nordstrom. Celebrity makeup artists have even admitted to sourcing their kit essentials from these discount havens.
2. Gourmet Food Galore
Your snobby foodie friend may soon be doing a YouTube haul video from the dollar store. Yes, it is true. Several chains now partner with renowned food manufacturers to create fancy gourmet products that rival Whole Foods’ offerings. And, to further excite those taste buds, tests by culinary experts revealed that certain dollar store olive oils outperformed expensive specialty brands. Lastly, on podcast tell-alls, professional chefs admit to sourcing specialty ingredients from dollar stores to keep catering costs down.
3. A Multi-Billion Dollar Real Estate Empire
Dollar stores are secretly among America’s biggest property owners. These brands collectively control more real estate than Walmart and Target combined, with a portfolio worth over $50 billion. Several hedge funds now exclusively invest in dollar-store properties due to their impressive returns.
4. Early to the AI Revolution
Before Elon and ChatGPT, it was the dollar store. Yes, the place where you can buy $1 toilet paper employs artificial intelligence systems more advanced than many luxury retailers to predict shopping patterns and optimize pricing. Plus, a few select stores across the country experiment with checkout systems that use weight sensors and cameras to automatically count purchases without scanning. These innovations have caught the attention of Silicon Valley investors who see dollar stores as potential tech industry disruptors.
5. Sustainability Superstars
The dollar store is also a green company pioneer. Several chains have developed closed-loop recycling systems that transform returned items into new products sold in their stores. Their compact store designs use 80% less energy than traditional retail spaces. One major chain has begun testing zero-waste stores where all packaging is either compostable or reusable. Environmental scientists have praised their efficient distribution models for having a lower carbon footprint per item sold than most online retailers.
Respect the Dollar Store
The next time you visit a dollar store to buy birthday balloons or some foil, think about the innovation and real estate savvy that goes into this retail empire. Of course, you may not want to shop there exclusively, but you have to respect the premise and the consistency of these forward-thinking brands.