Distribution Channels

Distribution channel is a set of interdependent organisations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption by the consumer or business user.

The importance of channel members or intermediaries results from the greater efficiency in making goods available to the target markets through their contacts, experience, specialisation and scale of operation. The cost effectiveness, expertise and market standing of the intermediaries allow for value added services.

Number of channel levels depends on the strategies of the company; zero level/direct marketing to indirect marketing.

Oh gosh. I thought i studied this before. Instead of having straightforward questions testing the learnt concepts and models (like those in NUS), i ended up having to decipher the "coded" question. However, i must say that the marketing module is less deceptive than that of the organisation theory.

Sample question: Discuss the view that multi-national companies will always find their most profitable market opportunities in the large developed countries of North America, Europe and Japan.

So if you took a marketing module (introductory level) in NUS, would you be able to answer this question in a close book exam? Well, this module i'm taking is introductory indeed and candidates are expected to answer this relatively easy question eloquently with generous use of appropriate authentic examples. I love UOL.