Exam 15: Retailers, Wholesalers, and Direct Marketers

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The different types of direct marketing are:
1)Direct mail: It is the use of mail to deliver promotional materials to potential customers and to then take their orders by return mail,phone,or fax.
2)Direct selling: Through direct selling,manufacturers completely bypass retailers and wholesalers.Instead,they set up their own channels to sell their products directly to consumers.
3)Direct-response retailing: In direct-response retailing,customers can order merchandise by mail or telephone,by visiting a mail-order desk in a retail store,or by computer or fax machine.The retailer then ships the merchandise to the customer's home or to a local retail store for pickup.
4)Telemarketing: Telemarketing refers to direct marketing conducted entirely by telephone.It is the most frequently used form of direct marketing.It provides marketers with a high return on their expenditures,an immediate response,and the opportunity for personalized two-way conversations.
5)Internet Retailing: Internet-based retailers sell directly to customers via virtual storefronts on the Web.They usually maintain little or no inventory,ordering directly from vendors to fill customer orders received via their websites.
6)Automatic merchandising: Automatic merchandising is the use of vending machines to sell products.It is primary used to sell items such as snacks,soft drinks,lottery tickets.But today,most items can be sold through vending machines.The ability to accept credit cards has enabled vending machines to sell high-end items such as iPods,headphones,and Sony PlayStation games.