Distribution*

“The decisions and activities that make products available to consumers when and where they want to purchase them.”

Supply chain*

“All the organizations and activities involved with the flow and transformation of products from raw materials through to the end consumer.”

Supply chain management (SCM)*

“The coordination of all the activities involved with the flow and transformation of supplies, products, and information throughout the supply chain to the ultimate consumer.”

Procurement*

“Processes to obtain resources to create value through sourcing, purchasing, and recycling including materials and information.”

Logistics management*

“Managing the efficient and effective flow of materials, products, and information from the point of origin to consumption.”

Marketing channel*

“A group of individuals and organizations that direct the flow of finished products from producers to customers.”

Marketing intermediaries*

“Middlemen that link producers to other intermediaries or ultimate consumers through contractual arrangements or through the purchase and resale of products.”

Disintermediation*

“The removal or bypassing of intermediaries in a supply chain.”

Industrial distributor*

“An independent business organization that takes title to industrial products and carries inventories.”

Strategic channel alliance*

“An agreement through which the products of one organization are distributed through the marketing channels of another.”

Multichannel distribution*

“The use of a variety of marketing channels to ensure maximum distribution.”

Digital distribution*

“Delivering content through the internet to a computer or other device.”

Channel captain*

“The dominant leader of a marketing channel or a supply channel.”

Channel power*

“The ability of one channel member to influence another member’s goal achievement.”

Vertical channel integration*

“Taking ownership of upstream or downstream supply chain functions.”

Horizontal channel integration*

“Combining organizations at the same level of an industry’s chain.”

Intensive distribution*

“Using all available outlets to distribute a product.”

Selective distribution*

“Using only some available outlets in an area to distribute a product.”

Exclusive distribution*

“Using a single outlet in a fairly large geographic area to distribute a product.”

Third-party logistics (3PL) firms*

“Firms that have special expertise in core physical distribution activities such as warehousing, transportation, inventory management, and information technology and can often perform these activities more efficiently.”