Hardlines refer to a store department or product line primarily consisting of general merchandise such as hardware, housewares, automotive supplies, electronics, sporting goods, health and beauty aids, appliances, barbecue items, batteries, brooms, cookware, cutlery, furniture, garden supplies, photography film or supplies and toys.

Numerous retailer s fall into the hardlines category. Among them is big-box merchant Best Buy, which sells a large selection of consumer electronics, computers, appliances, and mobile products and services; Bed Bath & Beyond , which sells domestic home-living merchandise; Pier 1 Imports, which offers a range of imported, decorative home furnishings and related accessories; and Tiffany & Co., best known for its fine jewelry and gift items. Other retailer s in the Hardlines industry include PetSmart, a retailer of pet supplies, food, and services (i.e., boarding, grooming, and veterinary services), and videogame seller GameStop.

Some hardlines merchants seem to fit into either category of hardlines and softlines, given that they include “soft goods” in their offerings. Dick’s Sporting Goods is a good example. The chain sells an assortment of brand-named sports equipment, along with a line of sports-related apparel and footwear. Coach fits the bill here, too, since a range of high-quality handbags, accessories, and outerwear (i.e., gloves, scarves), can be found together with luggage and business cases.