Indirect exporting can also involve selling to an intermediary in the country where you wish to transact business, who in turn sells your products directly to customers or other importing distributors (wholesalers). Besides, it avoids the hassle of handling logistics. That is why a large portion of the economy uses indirect distribution to sell products. After its components are in place, however, a direct channel is likely to be more economical and efficient in operation than an indirect channel. Indirect Distribution. The biggest plus is that you can concentrate more on the main activity of your operation. With indirect distribution, companies gain a significant competitive advantage. This grants them more time to focus on their product, their customer base and increasing the range of their target consumer. As a producer, you will be able to take advantage of your intermediary’s workforce, infrastructure, and experience. Indirect channels of distribution may be classified as follows: 1. Different firms specialize in different categories; it is very difficult to specialize in all the aspects of the product cycle. They gain access to an increased consumer base without the challenge of getting the customer through the door. Direct channels tend to be expensive to establish, sometimes demanding substantial capital investment in warehouses, logistics, transport vehicles, and driving staff. There is no direct contact between the producers and the customers. Indirect Distribution. for sales). Indirect distribution has many advantages. Under these circumstances, you will not know who your ultimate consumers are. A mathematical model is created to determine the cost of lost quality associated with changing distribution strategies. The primary advantage of direct is having control and the ability to give direction to the sales team. Direct Distribution Channels. As promised, let us look at the indirect model (via reseller, distributors, etc. Manufacturer -> Retailer -> Consumer: In this channel, the manufacturer sells goods to consumer through retailers. This grants them more time to focus on their product, their customer base and increasing the range of their target consumer. Indirect Distribution. There are plenty of good reasons to Incorporate wholesalers, retail stores and other indirect distribution channels into your business. In indirect channels of distribution there are one or more middlemen between the manufac­turer and consumers. Indirect distribution enables a producer to share both storage and distribution expenses. Advantages such as lowering the costs of establishing or scaling distribution, expanding your reach to more customers, and gaining access to a pre-established distribution channel’s experience, infrastructure, and sales expertise all deserve to be considered. However, under an indirect distribution strategy this safety net is removed as product departs the manufacturing process prior to arriving at the later test station. My last post talked about the direct model of distribution (one’s own sales force). The potentially major disadvantage is overall cost. They gain access to an increased consumer base without the challenge of getting the customer through the door. With indirect distribution, companies gain a significant competitive advantage.