Supplier vs. Distributor — What's the Difference?

A source for raw materials or finished goods.

Engages in both B2B and B2C transactions.

An entity involved in the manufacturing or production phase.

A business that purchases products from suppliers and sells them to retailers or consumers.

Can be a wholesaler or manufacturer.

Operates warehouses and transportation networks to manage product flow.

Primarily operates in a B2B framework.

Provides value-added services like marketing and customer support.

A person or organization that provides something needed such as a product or service

Often responsible for a product’s market reach and availability.

To make available for use; provide

A distributor, also commonly known as a dizzy, is an enclosed rotating shaft used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route secondary, or high voltage, current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order, and for the correct amount of time.

To provide something necessary or desired to; furnish or equip

An agent who supplies goods to retailers

To have as a necessary or desirable feature

A device in a petrol engine for passing electric current to each spark plug in turn.

To fill sufficiently; satisfy

One that distributes, especially a device that applies electric current in proper sequence to the spark plugs of an engine.

To make up for (a deficiency, for example); compensate for.

One that markets or sells merchandise, especially a wholesaler.

The act of supplying

One who or that which distributes.

An amount available or sufficient for a given use; stock

A device that distributes electric current, especially to the spark plugs in an internal combustion engine.

Often supplies Materials or provisions stored and dispensed when needed.

A machine for distributing type.

(Economics) The amount of a commodity available for meeting a demand or for purchase at a given price.

An appliance, such as a roller, in a printing press, for distributing ink.

One who supplies; a provider.

One that distributes; a distributer;

(soccer) Someone who assists (sets up) a goal.

Someone who markets merchandise

One who supplies.

A person with authority to allot or deal out or apportion

Someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity

A company that markets merchandise;

A party that provides goods or services to another entity.

Electrical device that distributes voltage to the spark plugs of a gasoline engine in the order of the firing sequence

Suppliers typically deal directly with businesses and have minimal consumer interaction, while distributors often support and interact with both businesses and consumers.

A supplier is an entity that provides goods or services, usually directly from production or manufacturing processes.

Suppliers sell products in bulk to distributors, who then market these products to smaller businesses or end-users.

Yes, some companies handle both supplying raw materials or products and distributing them to other businesses or consumers.

Businesses often prefer buying from distributors because they offer smaller quantities, broader product ranges, and additional services like after-sales support and quicker delivery times.

Being a supplier has benefits such as establishing long-term B2B relationships, potentially larger bulk orders, and direct influence over the manufacturing and quality control processes.

A distributor buys products from suppliers and sells them to retailers or directly to consumers, managing logistics like storage and transportation.

Suppliers impact product pricing by setting the initial cost of goods based on production expenses, which influences the entire supply chain pricing.

Distributors face challenges such as managing logistics efficiently, keeping inventory costs down, and adapting to changes in demand and market conditions.

Distributors can influence market trends by deciding which products to distribute more widely, thereby affecting their availability and popularity in the market.