Whether you are a banker, an insurer, a manufacturer of consumer goods, a telecoms operator, or any other company out there to reach a customer somewhere, your business is as good as your power of distribution. Without distribution, there is no point in producing your product or service in the first place. Without distribution, you simply do not exist in your marketplace.

So what is distribution?

Distribution is your ability to supply your products or services to consumers or other businesses. Distribution channels are the various methods and platforms used to distribute your products or services.
So why is our cover story about Distribution this month?

All of us use distribution channels to sell our products and services. Most of us would like to think so at least. Truth is however, many organizations have more products than distribution channels to distribute them. Many organizations believe spend big on advertising and promotion, and the distribution will take care of itself. Again wrong.

The Power of Distribution is the power to deliver your products wherever, whenever, and however your customers like. Without getting into the math, the more distribution channels, the more sales volumes that can be produced. From sales force to your cyber force, the question is, are your current distribution channels working for you and are there any new channels that should be explored?

In today’s rapidly changing economies of the world, new avenues to distribute product’s and services are increasing by the day some conventional some unconventional. From your store on the high street, to your store on the social networking scene. From Holbrook to Facebook, the more ways to reach your customers, the better you are prepared to compete in your marketplace.

There are several common distribution channels to distribute products and services. In this feature we thought we would highlight just a few:

Brick and Mortar

Many feel brick and mortar stores have lost their appeals in today’s cyber economy. That with the advent of e-commerce, that the need to distribute via physical stores has diminished. There is nothing further than the truth. Although virtual distribution channels are growing, without your stores, you would be operating removed from the actual market arena. Physical stores enable your customers to smell, touch, feel your product offerings, and interact with your staff. A classic. The more physical distribution locations, the more customers reached, the higher the sales.

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