Hardware and chamarilería define a model of commerce, store or warehouse dedicated to selling items at an affordable price,[1]​ especially those related to tools, containers and artifacts made of copper, brass, sheet metal (iron or laminated steel), zinc, tinplate, and a sector of accessories in the construction of buildings or with waste from the metallurgical industry (in iron, steel, copper, lead, aluminum, etc.). It has its origins in the crafts of cutlery, boilermaking "Boilermaker (trade"), and blacksmithing.[2]​[3]​.

In some countries, hardware has absorbed new products from various industries: costume jewelry, glassware and mirrors, perfumery, games and toys, carpets, earthenware and porcelain, umbrellas, parasols and fans, lamps, boxes and cases in general, handbags, memory books and albums, fancy papers and stationery, turned wood work and gilded wood ornaments, masks, elastic rubber and gutta-percha objects and a long and possible etc.

In the West and since the end of the century, accompanying the invasion of everything for one euro establishments (which replaced the everything for a hundred), this complex commercial sector has been practically absorbed and replaced by the Chinese "Chino (store)" bazaars).[4]​.