What's Happening in Dallas, TX…

Dollar stores have been springing up all over the country, and now added to the several companies specializing in this niche in Dallas is Daiso.

The Japanese budget retailer opened its first store in Dallas on August 1. The company’s inaugural Texas store is located on Old Denton Road in the Carrollton Town Center, and is just the beginning of a makeover for the neighborhood shopping center. In mid-October, the center will see its anchor, 99 Ranch Market, an Asian grocer, opening.

In Japan, Daiso is the largest of what are referred to as ‘100-yen stores’. The company, pronounced ‘Die-so’, garners over a 65% market share in its category in Japan with in excess of 2,800 stores in Japan as well as 600 stores scattered through 28 countries. Most items within a Daiso store sell for $1.50 with the most costly item being $7. The company has its own brand and reportedly 99% of the items sold in a Daiso store are of the store brand.

Daiso’s introduction into the U.S. market occurred in 2005 in Seattle and then expanded to six stores in Washington State followed by 40 stores in California. Soon with the help of local printing companies, the Daiso name will become familiar in Texas. The company anticipates opening 20 Daiso stores in Texas over the next 18 months and 50 stores within the next three years.