Department Stores Key Terms

Shop for the terminology of department stores

By Lori Carver

Department stores are merchants who sell many products under one roof. Some department stores sell mostly clothes with a men's, women's and children's department, while others focus on merchandise such as bed linens, small appliances and kitchenware. Learn how to break into the department store vendor business. Find a niche market to pursue, and discover how to use targeted marketing to boost your bottom line when you learn these department stores key terms.

Accessories department

Accessories are items that complement a person's attire. Some examples are clutch bags, fashion eyewear and belts. Accessories can be found at many department stores.
Try: Macy's offers accessories such as handbags and sunglasses at their department store. Belks offers an accessory department featuring fashion jewelry, watches and tote bags.

Clearance department

A department store's clearance department places all clearance items in one area. Clearance sales offer discounts to sell older stock to make room for the newest styles. This is not the same as close outs since with clearance they will restock the newer versions of the items.
Try: Sears offers clearance on many items from computers to beauty products in their clearance department.

Closeouts

Department stores offer merchandise on close out when they discontinue selling the product. They usually deeply reduce the price to move the product out and make room for new items. Most online department stores have a separate close out department.
Try: J C Penney offers a close out department online.

Point of sale registers

Department stores use point of sale registers to ring up the purchases their customers make. The registers will have small, add on items for the customers to buy on impulse.
Try: Free Download Center offers point of sale registers for department stores and explains why they are different from regular point of sale registers.

Wedding and gift registries

Department stores use wedding and gift registries so people can announce what gifts they would like to receive.
Try: Dillard's offers wedding and gift registries including baby showers. Kohl's offers gift registries for weddings, births and special days.