Selling Your Building Materials Through Indirect Distribution Channels

Generally, if your product is perishable or if you’re selling B2B, you’ll want fewer distribution channels between your point of manufacturing and your customer. Beyond boosting revenue, distribution channels can also broaden the portfolio of products and services available to customers. VAR, SI and MSP channel partners, for instance, often provide consulting, technology implementation services and post-sales support. They might also incorporate a vendor’s product into an integrated IT product. Hybrid channels combine the characteristics of direct and indirect channels. For example, a manufacturer might sell an item on its e-commerce website, but then an intermediary delivers the physical product to the customer.

Telemarketing is a type of marketing where companies use the telephone to contact potential or existing customers and promote their products or services. Telemarketing is an effective way to reach the target customers and generate sales. Internet marketing is the process of promoting products or services online using various tools such as search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, etc.

What is Your Distribution Strategy?

Channels of distribution can be divided into direct channel and indirect channels. Indirect channels can further be divided into one-level, two-level, and three-level channels based on the number of intermediaries between manufacturers and customers. In some geographic areas, the use of direct distribution channels might prove less profitable compared to the use of indirect distribution networks. Companies that are relying upon indirect sales channels will need to focus on developing great relationships with external vendors and distributors to achieve higher sales and customer satisfaction. Usually, a product will pass through a certain number of hands before it gets to the consumer.

• You cannot easily sell as much of your product on your own, as you could if you used a large distribution network.
• In other words, getting our product may be less convenient for the customer and that’s not such a positive thing.
• You can analyze what messages resonate and what content enables a buying decision to be made.
• One solution is to separate items into those that arc in high demand and those that are slow moving.
• A distribution channel is the set of steps it takes for a product to get in the hands of the key customer or consumer.
• On July 8, 2021 Mark Mitchell hosted our very own Kevin Dean on his podcast for building materials sales and marketing executives.

The majority or all distribution functions are performed by intermediaries in an indirect distribution channel, also known as wholesale distribution. The most difficult aspect of indirect distribution channels is that the manufacturer’s products and customer engagement must be left to another party. The most successful logistics companies, on the other hand, are professionals at delivering receivables in a way that most manufacturers are not. Indirect channels also eliminate any initial expenditures for the producer. They are significantly easier to handle than direct distribution channels if you have the correct partnership. Costs, vendors, and bureaucracy are all added to indirect distribution routes.

Indirect distribution channel

Those involved in a Direct Vs Indirect Distribution Channel‘s management and corporate governance must determine the better option. Customer service is the percentage of orders that are filled in time. A customer service standard may be that 90% of the orders are delivered within 48 hours of receipt and 10% are delivered within 72 hours.

Whereas, non-perishable goods like soaps, toothpaste, etc. require longer channels as they need to reach customers who reside in areas that are geographically diverse. Retailers buy the product from the manufacturer and then sell it to the customers. One level channel of distribution works best for manufacturers dealing in shopping goods like clothes, shoes, furniture, toys, etc. Managers and others involved in corporate governance have the responsibility of determining the most effective means based on the firm’s specific demands. The distribution channel’s job is to efficiently move products and services. They can be delivered to a retail location or straight to a customer’s home.

Wholesalers

Demand chain management is a complex endeavor that involves the relations among suppliers and customers and how those interested in growing the demand for the product or service. But this doesn’t mean that all the services are always delivered using the direct channels. Both the types of distribution networks offer their own advantages and disadvantages.

• The company will have direct access to its consumers and will use marketing channels which don’t necessarily require a complex salesforce.
• Otherwise, a startup that relies on external vendors and distributors may find itself free from the tensions and complications of developing and managing its one distribution network.
• Therefore, as the customer set of a company becomes more diverse, maintaining a single channel of distribution will either become ineffective or uneconomical.
• The route can be as short as a direct interaction between the company and the customer or can include several interconnected intermediaries like wholesalers, distributors, retailers, etc.
• Under it, two middlemen namely the wholesalers and retailers are involved.

On the other hand, indirect channels are easy to set up but they are expensive and manufacturers have less control. So, it is better to use a combination of both channels to get the best results. They may also require a higher investment than other marketing channels. A direct chain used to sell directly may not be as effective as other marketing channels in some cases. Direct channels marketing may not be appropriate for all businesses.

In this channel, the producer sells to big retailers like departmental stores and chain stores who in turn sell to consumer. This channel is very popular in the distribution of consumer durables such as refrigerators, TV sets, washing machines, type writers, automobiles, etc. If a company chooses multiple distribution channels, such as selling products online and through a retailer, the channels should not conflict with one another. Companies should strategize so one channel doesn’t overpower the other. Secondly, the company should consider how quickly it wants its product to reach the buyer. Certain products are best served by a direct distribution channel such as meat or produce, while others may benefit from an indirect channel.

We find a strong relationship between maven behavior across the channels, particularly from physical to Web to Second Life. At any time, businesses can leverage open and closed strategies to enhance and create ecosystems that enable the business to thrive. And to leverage those channels that can give momentum to the business. Therefore, digital distribution strategies are critical for any business, also one that has always operated offline. Distribution needs to be created, at times with sheer force combined with strategic planning and a deep understanding of customers’ needs or desire generation. We spend a lot of time researching and writing our articles and strive to provide accurate, up-to-date content.

Assorting function – This consists of combining products purchased from several manufacturers to create assortments. Bulk accumulating Junction – This consists of buying small quantities of a participating product from many small producers and then selling the assembled large quantity. Bulk breaking function – This consists of buying products in relatively large quantity and selling in smaller quantities. This is the longest channel, where the goods pass through four intermediaries before they reach the end-user. Intensive distribution involves maximising the number of outlets where a product is available.