Dictionary definition of “Mart Brothers”

Mart Brothers

n.pl. the American retail store chains Wal-Mart and K-Mart. Subjects: English, United States, Business, Retail

Editorial Note: This term is ironically jocular through comparison to local stores that tend to be named after their owners and in contrast to the two retailers’—especially Wal-Mart’s—enormous market influence and many retail locations.

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Citations: 1993 D'arcy Egan Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) (Jan. 10) “Live-Bait Shops Are Vanishing” p. 14D: I’ve got the “Mart Brothers” to contend with, with Wal-Mart up the street and K mart down the street.…I don’t compete with them. I stock the quality fishing gear they don’t carry, or won’t sell. 2001 Davis Dyer Generations of Corning (June 1) p. 417: The vast purchasing power of K-Mart and Wal-Mart ("the Mart brothers,” as Houghton called them) continued to rise. 2002 Sporting Goods Business (Feb. 1) “Kmart’s future is another cloud over industry” vol. 35, no. 2, p. 10: How many vendors have gone to bed with the Mart Brothers and Ignored the general sporting goods trade? 2005 Jon F. Weinstein Port Washington News (Nassau County, N.Y.) (Aug. 26) “Big Box Debate Finally Comes to Town”: Some in my own profession call them “The Mart Brothers,” for Wal-Mart and Kmart; others with more balance call them “The Great Discounters.”

Posted 8 Sep 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend