Manufacturers' and retailers' branches and offices

Wholesaling operations conducted by buyers and sellers themselves instead through independent wholesalers. Separate branches and offices might be dedicated to either purchasing or sales.

Sales branches and offices: Set up by manufacturers to pick up selling, inventory control and promotion. Branches of sales  carry  inventory  and  are  found  in  industries  like  lumber  and automotive equipment and parts. Sales offices do not carry inventory and most prominent in dry-goods and notions industries. Purchasing offices: Perform a role same to that of agents or brokers but are part of the buyer's organization. Various retailers set up purchasing offices in chief market centres Brokers and agents vary from merchant wholesalers in two ways: They do not take title to goods, and they perform just a few functions. Like merchant wholesalers, generally they specialize by customer type or product line.  A broker brings sellers and buyers together and assists in negotiation. Agents represent sellers or buyers on a more permanent basis. Manufacturers' agents (also called as manufacturers' representatives) are the most common agent wholesaler. The third major type of wholesaling is that which done in manufacturers' sales offices and branches by or buyers or sellers themselves instead through independent wholesalers.