MARTs

A mart is a marketplace or retail facility where a wide range of goods is sold. The term covers consumer-facing stores such as grocery marts and discount outlets as well as wholesale centers where retailers buy goods in bulk. In common usage, mart implies a large, multi-vendor space rather than a small shop.

Historically marts have been central to commerce, from ancient bazaars and fairs to modern shopping centers. The word derives from the concept of a market and has come to designate both physical marketplaces and stores that emphasize variety and scale.

Retail and wholesale forms include general purpose marts, grocery or department-store formats, and dedicated wholesale marts that serve retailers, institutions, or other buyers. Farmers' markets and craft markets are also considered marts, focusing on direct sales by producers. In the digital era, online marketplaces are sometimes described as marts or marts-style platforms, linking buyers with sellers without a fixed location.

Marts influence distribution, pricing, and product assortment, and they shape urban retail landscapes by concentrating sellers and customers. Practices vary by country and sector, including pricing models, vendor arrangements, and the balance between fixed pricing and negotiation.

See also: market, bazaar, shopping mall, farmers' market, e-commerce marketplace.