1. 7.01 Summarize the channels of distribution

2. What is distribution?
The moving of or transferring the ownership of goods and services from the producer to the consumer

3. What is a channel of distribution?
The path (channel) a product travels from the producer (manufacturer) to the ultimate consumer. This is the “place” element in the marketing mix.

4. Who is an intermediary (middleman)?
Channel members who assist the producer in getting the goods and services to the final user. There are three types.

5. The three types of intermediaries:
Wholesalers: Companies that purchase large quantities from manufacturers, store products in warehouses, and sell them to other businesses
Ex: Ingles’ buys soft drinks from Pepsi and Coca Cola manufacturers. Bi Lo buys their canned vegetables from Del Monte or Green Giant manufacturers
Retailers: businesses that sell products to the final user (consumer)
Brick-and-mortar retail: A physical store that sells their products directly to customers.
Ex: Dillard’s, Lowe’s, Ingles.
Non-store retail: Way to reach customers through vending machines, direct mail, catalog retailing, TV home shopping, and e-tailing.
Lance snack machines, Land’s End Catalogs and QVC.
Agents: An individual or business that connects the buyers and sellers. These do not own the products they sell.
Ex: Real estate agent links home buyers to the home seller.

6. What is a direct channel?
Distribution that occurs directly from the producer to the consumer
For example: A consumer buys apples from an apple farmer at his produce stand.

7. What is an indirect channel?
Distribution that occurs through one or more intermediaries before reaching the final user
For example: The apple farmer sells his apples to Harris Teeter and Harris Teeter sells them to the consumer.
Or the farmer sells them to Seneca who makes apple juice or applesauce out of them and then sells those to the grocery store who them sells them to the consumer.