Why do we call finance/real estate companies "shops"???

This is semantics obviously, but it's hard to wrap my head around. When I think of a "shop", I'm literally imagining a brick and mortar retail location where fruits and vegetables are sold, not a company in an office building.

Is this some kind of cool new lingo that I'm not aware of? Are the words "firm" or "companies" obsolete?

Comments (8)

1y 
dumbanon, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I've thought "shop" refers to the "sweatshop" connotation of banking

1y 
Level 100 Magikarp, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I've never heard of companies referred to as "shops" outside of finance circles. For example, I don't think I've heard accounting people call the Big4 or consulting people call the MBB as "shops".

1y 
geology rocks, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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