Shop vs. Parlour — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 21, 2024
A shop is a place where goods are sold, while a parlour is typically a room or business where specific services or leisure activities are provided, such as ice cream or beauty treatments.
Difference Between Shop and Parlour
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A shop is primarily a commercial establishment where various goods are displayed and sold. Shops are usually retail outlets found in shopping centers, streets, or markets, offering products ranging from clothing to groceries. A parlour, on the other hand, often refers to a place providing specialized services or leisure activities. Examples include beauty parlours, ice cream parlours, and tattoo parlours. Parlours focus more on service delivery rather than the sale of physical goods.
While a shop caters to the consumer's need to purchase items, a parlour caters to the need for services or experiences. For instance, a beauty parlour offers haircuts and beauty treatments, whereas a shop might sell the products used in those treatments.
Shops generally have a transactional nature, involving buying and selling, whereas parlours tend to have a more experiential or service-oriented approach, focusing on customer satisfaction and experience.
The term "shop" can be used in a variety of contexts, including online shops, which are e-commerce websites, while "parlour" is less versatile and is primarily used for physical spaces dedicated to specific activities or services.
Shops are commercial spaces for selling products, whereas parlours are service-oriented places providing specific experiences or leisure activities.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Selling goods
Providing services or leisure activities
Common Types
Clothing shop, grocery shop, bookshop
Beauty parlour, ice cream parlour, tattoo parlour
Nature of Business
Transactional (buying and selling)
Experiential/service-oriented
Versatility
Used for a wide range of retail contexts
Specific to certain services or activities
Online Presence
Common as e-commerce platforms
Rarely used in an online context
Compare with Definitions
Shop
A retail establishment selling goods.
She went to the shop to buy groceries.
Parlour
A business providing specialized services.
She has an appointment at the beauty parlour.
Shop
A place for making or repairing goods.
The car was taken to the repair shop.
Parlour
A room for receiving guests or for leisure activities.
They entertained guests in the parlour.
Shop
A small retail store or boutique.
The corner shop sells handmade crafts.
Parlour
A place offering a particular type of food.
They visited the ice cream parlour after dinner.
Shop
An establishment where a particular service is provided.
The barber shop was busy all day.
Parlour
A room used for relaxation or social activities.
The hotel has a comfortable parlour for guests.
Shop
A physical location for business transactions.
They opened a new coffee shop downtown.
Parlour
An establishment offering professional services.
He went to the tattoo parlour to get a new design.
Shop
Also shoppe A small retail store or a specialty department in a large store.
Parlour
A parlour (or parlor) is a reception room or public space. In medieval Christian Europe, the "outer parlour" was the room where the monks or nuns conducted business with those outside the monastery and the "inner parlour" was used for necessary conversation between resident members.
Shop
An atelier; a studio.
Parlour
Variant of parlor.
Shop
A place for manufacturing or repairing goods or machinery.
Parlour
Standard spelling of parlor
Shop
A commercial or industrial establishment
A printing shop.
Parlour
Same as parlor.
Shop
A business establishment; an office or a center of activity.
Parlour
A room in an inn or club where visitors can be received.
Shop
A home workshop.
Parlour
Reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
Shop
A schoolroom fitted with machinery and tools for instruction in industrial arts.
Parlour
A room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
Shop
The industrial arts as a technical science or course of study.
Shop
To visit stores in search of merchandise or bargains.
Shop
To look for something with the intention of acquiring it.
Shop
To visit or buy from (a particular store).
Shop
An establishment that sells goods or services to the public; originally only a physical location, but now a virtual establishment as well.
Shop
A place where things are manufactured or crafted; a workshop.
Shop
A large garage where vehicle mechanics work.
Shop
Workplace; office. Used mainly in expressions such as shop talk, closed shop and shop floor.
Shop
Discussion of business or professional affairs.
Shop
A variety of classes taught in junior or senior high school that teach vocational skill.
Shop
An establishment where a barber or beautician works.
A barber shop
Shop
An act of shopping, especially routine shopping for food and other domestic supplies.
This is where I do my weekly shop.
Shop
(intransitive) To visit stores or shops to browse or explore merchandise, especially with the intention of buying such merchandise.
I went shopping early before the Christmas rush.
He’s shopping for clothes.
Shop
(transitive) To purchase products from (a range or catalogue, etc.).
Shop our new arrivals.
Shop
To report the criminal activities or whereabouts of someone to an authority.
He shopped his mates in to the police.
Shop
To imprison.
Shop
To photoshop; to digitally edit a picture or photograph.
Shop
(dated) Used to attract the services of a shop assistant
Shop
A building or an apartment in which goods, wares, drugs, etc., are sold by retail.
From shop to shopWandering, and littering with unfolded silksThe polished counter.
Shop
A building in which mechanics or artisans work; as, a shoe shop; a car shop.
A tailor called me in his shop.
Shop
A person's occupation, business, profession, or the like, as a subject of attention, interest, conversation, etc.; - sometimes in deprecation or disapproval; as, to talk shop at a party. Also used attributively, as in shop talk.
Shop
A place where any industry is carried on; as, a chemist's shop;
Shop
Any place of resort, as one's house, a restaurant, etc.
Shop
The group of workers and the activities controlled by an administrator; as, to have five people in one's shop.
Shop
To visit shops for the purpose of purchasing goods.
He was engaged with his mother and some ladies to go shopping.
Shop
A mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services;
He bought it at a shop on Cape Cod
Shop
Small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done
Shop
A course of instruction in a trade (as carpentry or electricity);
I built a birdhouse in shop
Shop
Do one's shopping;
She goes shopping every Friday
Shop
Do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
Shop
Shop around; not necessarily buying;
I don't need help, I'm just browsing
Shop
Give away information about somebody;
He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam
Common Curiosities
Can a shop also provide services?
Yes, some shops may offer services like repairs or tailoring.
What is the primary function of a shop?
To sell goods to consumers.
What services might you find in a parlour?
Services such as beauty treatments, ice cream, and tattoos.
Do shops and parlours have different business models?
Yes, shops are transactional, while parlours are service-oriented.
What type of products are sold in a shop?
Various products including clothing, groceries, and electronics.
Is a parlour the same as a shop?
No, a parlour focuses on providing services or experiences, while a shop sells goods.
Are parlours common in e-commerce?
No, parlours are primarily physical establishments.
What are some examples of parlours?
Beauty parlours, ice cream parlours, and tattoo parlours.
Are shops typically larger than parlours?
Not necessarily; size can vary for both.
What is a common feature of shops?
They display goods for sale.
Is "parlour" used in American English?
Yes, it is used to describe places offering specific services.
Can the term "shop" be used online?
Yes, it is commonly used for e-commerce websites.
Do shops require more staff than parlours?
It depends on the size and type of business.
Can a single establishment be both a shop and a parlour?
Yes, some businesses may offer both goods and services.
Can a parlour sell goods?
It may sell related items, but its main focus is on services.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
