ABSTRACT
Numerically, and in virtue of his aggregate turnover, the small independent retailer is still by far the most important of the various channels of distribution. It has been estimated with some authority that there are about 500,000 retail shops in the country. Of these, probably not more than 10 per cent. belong to the various chain stores and multiple branch organisations, including cooperative societies, so that upwards of 90 per cent. are of the small independent type. In the absence of reliable statistics, it is impossible to place any accurate figure on the proportion of the total retail trade of the country for which in the aggregate these outlets are responsible, but probably between 50 and 60 per cent. is not far off the mark. This means that of the existing retail outlets the 10 per cent. which belong to the multiple companies and other forms of large-scale retailing account for possibly 45 per cent. or more of the trade.
