Buying goods in large quantities from the manufacturer and selling them in small quantities to the retailer to cater the needs of the consumer is termed as wholesale trade. The person who undertakes such a trade is known as wholesaler. The wholesaler acts as an intermediary between the producer and the retailer. He is known as the first intermediary in the channel of distribution. The wholesaler distributes business works amongst the members of the staff in such a way that the whole enterprise may work as a complete unit. The distribution of work should be done in such a manner as to yield maximum efficiency at minimum troubles.
To Manufacturers
1. The wholesaler provides valuable information to the producers regarding the needs and the requirements of the consumer.
2. As the wholesaler takes the responsibility of collecting order from retailers, he relieves the producers from this task and thereby encourage producers to concentrate on production.
3. The wholesaler provides finance to the producers at the time of need.
4. The wholesaler helps the producers in determining the quality and quantity of goods to be produced as he is in direct contact with the retailers.
5. The producers are helped to maintain steady prices for the product because wholesaler buys when prices are low and sell when prices are high.
General Service
1. There are certain goods which are to be assembled or graded before they pass to the retailer or the consumer. For these goods the presence of wholesaler is a must.
2. Wholesaler helps in standardisation and grading of the products.
3. For marketing of food grains the services of the wholesalers cannot be dispensed with because they help in packing and re-packing of goods.
