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What is a Distribution Channel?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

A distribution channel is a method of getting a product to its consumer. These channels are part of a company's marketing mix, each business' unique combination of product, price, promotion, and place. Distribution affects the place or path through which consumers can buy and receive the product. A channel of distribution may be an on-site store, a virtual store, a retailer, a wholesaler, an agent, a telemarketer, or direct mail.

Direct mail works on a large scale. Materials advertising the product and presenting an offer usually target a specific audience most likely to purchase the item. The marketing materials inform and compel the target audience to take immediate action and respond at once by mailing in the order form. The reward for the urgent response is often a discount price or added value such as free gifts.

A real estate agent is part of the distribution channel for houses.
A real estate agent is part of the distribution channel for houses.

Telemarketing is also a distribution channel that works to get a target customer's direct response to an offer. Unlike direct mail that may reach a national audience, telemarketing is often done on a local or regional basis. It is most often used for small businesses that offer services rather than products. For example, painting contractors may telephone potential customers in the area with a special offer to try to get new business.

Direct mail can be a component of a product's distribution channel, i.e., how the product reaches consumers.
Direct mail can be a component of a product's distribution channel, i.e., how the product reaches consumers.

Buying a house is a good example of a distribution channel that requires an agent. A real estate agent markets the product, which in this case is the home for sale. Interested consumers must contact the agent. Insurance is another common product distributed through an agent. While it wouldn't make sense to distribute inexpensive, short-term, mass-produced products such as breakfast cereal this way, it does work well for big ticket, unique items.

Some stores may have an online presence where consumers can browse and purchase goods from a website.
Some stores may have an online presence where consumers can browse and purchase goods from a website.

Wholesalers and retailers are ways that manufacturers get their products to a specific group of people. A wholesaler markets items to business owners, who will in turn sell the products to consumers. Retailers sell products directly to consumers. These channels may change when businesses grow; sometimes, a retailer will become a wholesaler and vice versa, and many companies do both retailing and wholesaling.

Telemarketers operate as one kind of a distribution channel.
Telemarketers operate as one kind of a distribution channel.

An online store may have a national or even international distribution channel, while on-site stores tend to have a local customer base. In some cases, on-site stores also have an online, or e-commerce, component of their marketing mix. Local consumers can read information about products on a company's website before shopping in person on-site, or they can choose to order items online and have them shipped just as national or international customers do.

Discussion Comments

turquoise

I'm working for a software company and we are trying to develop more distribution channels for our products. Currently we make sales through our online site but we want to expand our product availability by making it available either through stores or telemarketing. Is either one of these known to be a more successful method of distribution than the other?

Customers can be resistant to new brand names in stores and it is also difficult to gain trust via phone to make a sale through telemarketing. Software can be a difficult item to market and I wonder which type of distribution channel would be best after an online store.

Does anyone have any advice?

bear78

I think multiple distribution channels are great. Having both a physical store and an online store is a great way of providing services and convenience to customers. I often make purchases online but nothing beats looking at the actual item, feeling it, smelling it and so on. It's great if I can go to the store and check out the items and later be able to make purchases online, regardless of where I am!

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    • A real estate agent is part of the distribution channel for houses.
      By: Gina Sanders
      A real estate agent is part of the distribution channel for houses.
    • Direct mail can be a component of a product's distribution channel, i.e., how the product reaches consumers.
      By: Feng Yu
      Direct mail can be a component of a product's distribution channel, i.e., how the product reaches consumers.
    • Some stores may have an online presence where consumers can browse and purchase goods from a website.
      By: Maksim Kostenko
      Some stores may have an online presence where consumers can browse and purchase goods from a website.
    • Telemarketers operate as one kind of a distribution channel.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Telemarketers operate as one kind of a distribution channel.
    • Retailers act as a distribution channel to sell merchandise for clothing manufacturers.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Retailers act as a distribution channel to sell merchandise for clothing manufacturers.