Distribution Channels

Agent or broker

Someone who brings together buyers and sellers

Breaking-bulk

Dividing large quantity of goods received from a supplier before selling them in smaller quantity to consumers

Changes in distribution to reflect social trends

• Huge growth in online shopping

• Sellers using call centres to sell product

• Supermarkets extending product range

• Shopping becoming more of a leisure activity

• Flourishing of charity shops

Direct selling

Producers selling their product directly to consumers

• The internet

• Door-to-door selling

• Direct response adverts

• Shopping parties'

• Telephone sellinh

Distribution

The delivery of goods from producer to customer

Distribution channel

The route taken by a product from the producer to consumer

Retailer

A business that buys goods from manufacturers and wholesalers, and sells them in smaller quantities to consumers

Wholesaler

A business that buys goods from manufacturers and sells them in smaller quantities to retailers