Wholesaling

Wholesaler:

Wholesaling intermediary that takes title to the goods it handles; also called jobber or distributor.

Wholesaling Intermediary:

Broad term describing both wholesalers and agents and brokers that perform important wholesaling activities without taking title to the goods.

Sales Branch:

Establishment maintained by a manufacturer that serves as a warehouse for a particular sales territory, thereby duplicating the services of independent wholesalers; carries inventory and processes orders to customers from available stork.

Public Warehouse:

Independently owned storage facility that stores and ships products for a rental fee.

Sales Office:

Manufacturer's establishment that serves as a regional office for salespeople but does not carry inventory.

Trade Fair:

Periodic show at which manufacturers in a particular industry display wares for visiting retail and wholesale buyers.

Merchandise Mart:

Permanent exhibition facility in which manufacturers rent showrooms to display products for visiting retail and wholesale buyers, designers, and architects.

Merchant Wholesaler:

Wholesaling intermediary that takes title to the goods it handles.

Rack Jobber:

Full&-function merchant wholesaler that markets specialized lines of merchandise to retail stores and provides the services of merchandising and arrangement of goods, pricing maintenance, and stocking of display racks.

Cash&-and&-Carry wholesaler:

Limited&-function merchant wholesaler that performs most wholesaling functions except financing and delivery.

Truck Wholesaler:

Limited&-function merchant wholesaler that markets perishable food items; also called truck jobber.

Drop Shipper:

Limited&-function merchant wholesaler that receives orders from customers and forwards them to producers, which ship directly to the customers.

Mail&-Order Wholesaler:

Limited&-function merchant wholesaler that utilizes catalogs instead of a salesforce to contact customers in an attempt to reduce transportation costs.

Agents and Brokers:

Independent wholesaling intermediaries that may or may not take possession of goods but never take title to them.

Commission Merchant:

Agent wholesaling intermediary that takes possession of goods when they are shipped to a central market for sale, acts as the producer's agent, and collects an agreed upon fee at the time of sale.

Auction House:

Establishment that brings buyers and sellers together in one location for the purpose of permitting buyers to examine merchandise before purchase.

Broker:

Agent wholesaling intermediary that does not take title to or possession of goods and whose primary function is to bring buyers and sellers together.

Selling Agent:

Agent wholesaling intermediary responsible for the total marketing program of a firm's product line.

Manufacturer's Agent:

Agent wholesaling intermediary who represents a number of manufacturers of related but noncompeting products and receives a commission based on a specified percentage of sales.