Commercial level
Trade levels are trading by the primary production or the secondary sector following distribution channels that until consumers are interposed. In the manufacturing industry, the counterpart are the processing stages .
General
As a rule, because of the division of labor, agricultural and industrial production do not have the sales organization , storage capacities and sales channels to market their products or services directly to consumers. Therefore, between the producers and consumers, trading levels are usually interposed, which function as a sales chain . Their interaction is called horizontal cooperation .
species
Depending on the number of trading levels switched on, a distinction is made between direct sales and indirect sales . Direct sales are characterized by the fact that the manufacturing company itself delivers to the end consumer (e.g. via outlets , teleshopping ). The classic trading levels of wholesale and retail belong to indirect sales, where they act as a sales intermediary between manufacturer and end user. Wholesale, in turn, can be divided into several levels ( assortment , specialist or specialty wholesaling ). Mail order is a modern level of trade , which can also be organized as electronic trade . It is used as form of operation classified retailers and comes in the forms of universal and specialty mail order in appearance.
economic aspects
The classic trade levels meet all trading functions, namely the bridging of the room ( freight transport ) and time ( storage ), the quantity (combination of several contracts or orders ), the quality ( range selection ), financing ( supplier credit ) and advertising . Here Karl Oberparleiter described the trading function as an achievement to overcome the differences created by the division of labor.
An important connecting criterion of the trading levels is their distribution logistics , through which a quantity, quality and timely delivery is to be guaranteed; their central control variable is the delivery service . Demand-synchronous requirements have to be covered by just-in-time logistics , which relate to distribution logistics and optimize the delivery service.
Individual evidence
- ^ Ludwig G. Poth / Marcus Pradel / Gudrun S. Poth (eds.), Gabler Kompakt-Lexikon Marketing , 2003, p. 180
- ↑ Ludwig G. Poth / Marcus Pradel / Gudrun S. Poth (eds.), Gabler Kompakt-Lexikon Marketing , 2003, p. 172
- ↑ Ludwig G. Poth / Marcus Pradel / Gudrun S. Poth (eds.), Gabler Kompakt-Lexikon Marketing , 2003, p. 189
- ↑ Ludwig G. Poth / Gudrun S. Poth, Gabler Marketing Concepts from A - Z , 1999, p. 463
- ^ Karl Oberparleiter, Functions and Risks of the Goods Trade , 1955, p. 7 ff.
- ↑ Ludwig G. Poth / Gudrun S. Poth, Gabler Marketing Concepts from A - Z , 1999, p. 176