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The retail structure of Asian cities is quite developed. At the highest retail level there is the department store with the widest variety of goods and services. In Bangkok, major department stores are attached to large malls that consist of the second level of retail, the retail store. These are highly specialized stores, such as photo shops, restaurants and smaller scale companies. Retail stores can be very small scale, such as family owned enterprises.
The two lowest levels in the retail structure are the two that vary
the most between countries. The department store is the most generic, and
usually western-based. The market however, has very different characteristics
due to the traditions of a particular country. These markets are sellers
in public spaces, usually enclosed public market areas, such as Chatuchak Weekend Market. The market may be periodic, in a moo baan,
or a floating market.
The fourth level of retail structure is the vendor from a public place, usually the street. There are several different types of vendors, depending on several factors, such as mobility, transportation of goods and how they attract customers.
The itinerant hawkers are individuals who travel through the streets in a repetitive pattern, while calling out what type of good they are selling. Some play a particular musical instrument to announce their presence. These mobile hawkers often carry their goods on a pole over their shoulder that has a basket hanging from each side.
Semi-itinerant hawkers are those traders that vary the
location of their business throughout the day. They travel at random times
to reach areas of high population density, the location of which varies
throughout the day. A good example of this are hawkers who cook food, such
as som tam or indian roti while the customers wait beside
their cart.
Location-specific hawkers are traders who go to the same location every day to sell. They remain there for the duration of their business day. An example of this could be hawkers, who sell fresh flowers, fruit or vegetables from their stands. These hawkers have a regular clientele and therefore do not need to move in order to find customers. They renew their supply daily, often from trucks coming in from the hinterland.
Markets in General
