What type of clubs sell products in bulk directly to consumers and typically require a membership?

Wholesale clubs are designed specifically to sell products in bulk directly to consumers, typically requiring a membership for access to their offerings. This business model allows members to purchase items at lower prices than traditional retail settings by leveraging the volume of sales and minimizing overhead costs. Wholesale clubs focus on providing a limited selection of higher-demand items in bulk sizes, which benefits consumers looking to save money on larger quantities, such as families or businesses that require significant supplies.

In this context, retail clubs and membership stores could sound similar, but they generally do not specify the bulk sale aspect that wholesale clubs emphasize. Discount stores typically operate on a different model by selling smaller quantities of product at reduced prices without the bulk purchasing or membership requirement. Hence, the defining characteristics of wholesale clubs make them the correct choice in this scenario.