When you step into a one-dollar store, you’re greeted with aisles of affordable products—everything from kitchen tools to toys, all priced at a dollar or less. But have you ever wondered how these stores manage to offer such low prices? The answer lies in Yiwu, a bustling city in China that has become the global hub for budget-friendly goods. Yiwu’s massive wholesale markets are the secret sauce behind the success of dollar stores worldwide.
義烏：世界超市
Yiwu is home to the largest small commodity market on the planet, with over 75,000 vendors selling millions of products in bulk. From plastic storage bins to holiday decorations, Yiwu’s manufacturers specialize in producing high-volume, low-cost items that are perfect for dollar stores. The city’s efficient supply chain and economies of scale allow retailers to source goods at prices so low they seem almost unbelievable.
Dollar stores like Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar rely heavily on Yiwu to keep their shelves stocked with affordable products. For example, a pack of party favors or a set of kitchen utensils that costs just a few cents to produce in Yiwu can be sold for a dollar, creating a high-margin product that appeals to shoppers. This business model has enabled dollar stores to expand rapidly, even in competitive retail markets.
Yiwu’s success lies in its ability to produce goods at scale while keeping costs minimal. The city’s manufacturers use efficient production methods and benefit from low labor costs, allowing them to offer products at prices that dollar stores can’t resist. Additionally, Yiwu’s markets are designed for bulk purchasing, making it easy for retailers to source large quantities of goods quickly and affordably.
A Global Impact
義烏的影響力遠遠超過美國。歐洲、非洲和拉丁美洲的零售商也依靠義烏的平價出口商品來滿足消費者對低成本商品的需求。這種全球影響力使義烏成為國際貿易格局中的重要角色，也是一元店現象的主要推動力。
儘管義烏的低價商品為一元店帶來了福音，但同時也引起了人們對可持續發展和道德製造的關注。為此，義烏正在採用新技術和更具可持續性的做法來應付這些挑戰，同時繼續滿足人們對價格合理的產品日益增長的需求。
平價零售的未來
只要消費者追求價值和便利，義烏就會一直處於一元店行業的核心位置。義烏為世界各地的零售商提供物美價廉的商品，改變了我們的購物方式，證明了價格與品質是可以並存的。
The next time you pick up a bargain at your local dollar store, remember the Yiwu connection. This small Chinese city is the unsung hero behind the affordable goods that fill our homes and lives. Without Yiwu, the dollar store magic simply wouldn’t exist.
