Marketing Intermediaries Essay

401 Words2 Pages
Marketing intermediaries, also known as middlemen or distribution intermediaries are an important part of the product distribution channel. Intermediaries are individuals or businesses that make it possible for the product to make it from the manufacturer to the end user, essentially facilitating the sales process. The advantages of using intermediaries stem from the core economics of supply-chain management: market coverage, customer contacts, lower costs, systematic cash flow, etc. The intermediary adds value to the marketing of the product by bringing in specialization, marketing knowledge, capacity to segment the market, and selling skills that allow the marketer to implement marketing strategies effectively. Intermediaries providing logistic support increase convenience to both the producer and the consumer by offering effective delivery and pre- and post-purchase customer service as well as facilitating manufacturer services, making them indispensable to most mid- and small-scale producers. Whether offline or online, if the consumer cannot find a place where he or she can complete the transaction, then regardless of the quality of the rest of the marketing mix, the marketing will be a disaster and sales will plummet. This is why channel management, especially the management of distribution channels, is crucial to those in marketing. Deciding whether to use an intermediary in the distribution channel depends on many factors, but essentially it involves determining whether the needs of the consumer can successfully be met by the available resources and skills of the producer. The objective may be to encourage intermediaries to stock new items, buy in larger quantity, buy early, or stress a product in their own promotion efforts. Working with an intermediary is essentially a management issue. Effective intermediaries add great value to marketing, and it is
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