Taking a look at the future for dollar stores, if the shrinking of product size keeps happening, shoppers are going to lose their sense of urgency and shop elsewhere. That's prompted Dollar Tree to buy its indirect competitor Family Dollar, which is more like a mini Walmart rather than a true dollar store — because it sells products at a variety of price points. Because let's face it: You don't have a brand if you have to become Two Dollar Tree. So Dollar Tree can only grow by absorbing Family Dollar at this point.