| A | B |
| atmospherics | elements of the shopping environment that appeal to customers, attract them to a store, and encourage them to buy |
| channel captain | a company that takes responsibility to identify channel members, assign distribution activities, help members agree on performance standards, and facilitate communication among channel members |
| direct channel | the producer sells the product to final consumers |
| distribution centers | a facility used to accumulate products from several sources and then regroup, repackage, and send them as quickly as possible to the locations where they will be used |
| distribution function | determining the best methods and procedures to use so that prospective customers can locate, obtain, and use a business’s products and services |
| franchising | a business relationship in which the developer of a business idea sells others the rights to the business idea and the use of the business name |
| indirect channel | other businesses between the producer and the consumer |
| inventory shrinkage | a loss of products due to theft, fraud, negligence, or error |
| mixed merchandise retailers | businesses that offer products from several different categories |
| non-store retailing | selling directly to the consumer at home rather than requiring the consumer to travel to a store |
| physical distribution (logistics) | the process of efficiently and effectively moving products and materials through the distribution channel |
| retailer | the final business organization in an indirect channel of distribution for consumer products |
| service retailers | businesses that have services as their primary offering with a limited number of products for sale that complement the services |
| specialty or limited-line retailers | businesses that offer products from one category of merchandise or closely related items |
| warehouse | a building designed to store large amounts of raw materials or products until they can be used or sold |
| wholesale member clubs | businesses that offer a variety of common consumer products for sale to selected members through a warehouse outlet |
| wholesalers | companies that assist with distribution activities between businesses |