What does retailer mean?
A retailer is a person or company that sells goods directly to consumers. The term covers many kinds of sellers, including shopkeepers, independent traders, online stores, and large chains. Retailers commonly purchase products from manufacturers or wholesalers and resell them in quantities appropriate to individual buyers, although the word does not require a particular business model. In ordinary English, “retailer” is associated with selling to the public, while “wholesaler” usually denotes a business supplying other sellers rather than consumers. The word is especially common in discussions of commerce, consumer spending, retail prices, competition, and business conditions. It can sound broadly neutral, although political and economic contexts sometimes give it implications concerning market power, local shops, or the effect of large chains on smaller businesses. Overall, “retailer” is a precise and useful term for identifying the part of the distribution chain that completes sales to individual customers.
nounA person or business that sells goods directly to consumers, typically in small quantities.
- A person or business that sells goods directly to consumers.
- A business that operates a store, shop, or other retail outlet.
"The independent retailer negotiated better terms with local suppliers."
"The retailer offers a wide range of products at discounted prices."
"As a small retailer, she buys directly from growers and craftspeople."
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one retailer.
"The policy applies equally to online retailers and physical stores."
“Retail” grew out of the French trade in cutting cloth into small pieces, so the word “retailer” began in the world of textiles.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does retailer come from?
Retailer was formed in English by adding the agentive suffix -er to retail. Retail entered English in the Middle English period from Anglo-French retail, ultimately derived from Old French renteillier, meaning “to cut into pieces,” which was related to tailler, “to cut.” Related English words include detail and tailor.
How retailer is actually used
This is a neutral and widely used commercial term. It may refer to an individual proprietor, a small business, or a large company selling to the public.
Easily confused with retailer
A retailer sells goods to individual consumers, whereas a wholesaler primarily sells them in bulk to retailers or other businesses.