4.5d Place

• Place/distribution is how a business makes their product available to consumers.
• Intermediaries are firms or agents who act in the middle-person between producers and consumers.
• Zero-level distribution is when a business sells straight from the producer to the consumer.
• One-level distribution is when a business sells through a retailer, distributor or agent to the consumer
• Wholesalers are businesses that purchase large quantities from a manufacturer and then break the bulk purchase into smaller units for resale to retailers.
• Distributers are independent and specialist businesses that trade the products of only a few manufacturers.
• Agents are negotiators who act on behalf of buyers and vendors of a product that charge a commission for their services.
• Retailers or shops sell products to the final customer.
• Specialty channels of distribution is any indirect way to distribute products that does not involve retailers.
• Telemarketing is a specialty channel of distribution.
• E-commerce is a specialty channel of distribution.
• Vending machines are a specialty channel of distribution.
• Mail order is a specialty channel of distribution.
• Two level distribution involves a wholesaler and retailer.