| Most of us normally buy everyday goods and | | | | different items from one manufacturer, and |
| necessities from superstores, and other | | | | different items from different manufacturers. |
| retail outlets. Superstores, gas stations, | | | | Some wholesalers sell only a narrow range of |
| department stores, different branded | | | | commodities, such as very specific machine |
| products, are some examples of retail | | | | tools; while others sell a wide-ranging |
| outlets. These are called retail outlets | | | | goods, such as all the equipment essential to |
| because they sell products at retail price, | | | | open a new store, including shelving, light |
| and not wholesale price, meaning, that they | | | | fixtures, wallpaper, floor coverings, signs, |
| keep a certain significant percentage of the | | | | cash registers, accounting ledgers, and |
| selling price as their own profit. | | | | perhaps even some merchandise for resale. |
| | | | |
| Now, where do these retailers buy their goods | | | | Wholesale trade firms play an extremely vital |
| from? Naturally, they buy it from | | | | role in the improvement of economy. They act |
| wholesalers. Many times, offices and | | | | as the intermediary in the relations between |
| universities also buy goods from wholesalers. | | | | the manufacturing party, and the final |
| This is because they need stationary and | | | | customers. The manufacturers sell their |
| other supplies in large quantities, and the | | | | product to the wholesalers, who in turn sell |
| best option for them is to buy from | | | | to the retailers. Thus, the manufacturer does |
| wholesalers. | | | | not need to keep contacts with the different |
| | | | customers; this is taken care of by the |
| The wholesale trade industry has different | | | | wholesaler. They provide services such as |
| sizes and scopes. This is because wholesale | | | | customer service, order processing, and |
| products are not limited to a certain item; | | | | technical support, and therefore support the |
| rather, they apply to almost all the products | | | | manufacturers. Since they are wholesalers, |
| sold in the world. They sell any and every | | | | they usually have warehouses and storerooms |
| type of good. Companies which manufacture | | | | where they can keep the products until the |
| products may buy their raw materials from | | | | customer acquires them. Because of these |
| wholesalers, for example, a textile | | | | warehouses, the manufacturers can produce |
| production company may buy cotton from one | | | | their goods in large quantities, and have the |
| wholesaler, and dye from another. Many times, | | | | wholesalers store them, and the customer can |
| schools, universities, and offices buy items | | | | buy goods in bulk as needed. This means they |
| which are used in abundance in the normal | | | | may store goods that neither manufacturers |
| course of their operation, such as | | | | nor retailers can store until consumers |
| stationary, furniture, and so on. Similarly, | | | | require them. In so doing, they fill numerous |
| a departmental store may buy clothing, | | | | positions of the economy. They provide |
| crockery, and other items in wholesale, and | | | | businesses a nearby source of goods made by |
| then resell at retail. Wholesale traders may | | | | many different manufacturers; they provide |
| sell one particular item, from one | | | | manufacturers with a controllable number of |
| manufacturer, or a particular item from | | | | customers, while permitting their goods to |
| different manufacturers. They may also sell | | | | reach a huge number of users. |