SKU

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a distinct product or service - that is offered for sale. Usually it refers to a unique code in an inventory used by merchants to permit the systematic tracking of products and services offered to customers. SKU is a billable entity, not necessarily associated with actual physical items. Extended warranties, delivery fees, and installation fees are not physical, but have SKUs because they are billable.

Stockist

An individual or business that acts under distributor/C&F Agent, storing a particular product for supply to retailers. Stockist usually gets paid for 100% of his stock holding.

Super Stockist

Super Stockist is sort of mini C&F Agent, who stocks company\'s product to further supply to the stockists. Stockists supply to the retailers. Super stockists are usually paid for whole inventory they carry.

Supermarket

Large retail store operated on a self-service basis, selling wide varieties of food and non-food products from groceries, apparel, vegetables to household consumer goods. Main attraction of supermarkets are wide variety, convenience and cheap price.

Supply Chain

A supply chain is the network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product, from the supply of raw materials from supplier to the manufacturer to eventual delivery of finished products to end user. The supply chain segment involved with getting the finished product from the manufacturer to the consumer is known as the distribution channel.

Warehouse

A commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas, usually have loading docks to load and unload goods from trucks. Sometimes warehouses are designed for the loading and unloading of goods directly from railways, airports, or seaports. They often have cranes and forklifts for moving goods.

Wholesaler

A wholesaler is a person or firm that buys large quantity of goods from manufacturers / producers / vendors and resell these to retailers. While a distributor also does pretty much same function, there is a fundamental difference between the ways a wholesaler and a distributor works. Wholesalers are independent resellers, give producers little control over the distribution channel. However, distributors act as an extension of the manufacturer and operates exclusively within a specified territory.