Lapasar
Sourcing & Suppliers

Distributor

A distributor is a company that buys products from manufacturers and resells them to businesses or retailers, holding stock and handling logistics in between.

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Distributors sit between manufacturers and end buyers. They aggregate products from many makers, hold inventory, break bulk into smaller quantities and handle warehousing and delivery. This makes them convenient for buyers who want a single source for a range of goods without dealing with each manufacturer directly.

The trade-off is a margin layer: distributor pricing includes their handling and service. B2B marketplaces offer an alternative route to market, aggregating many suppliers digitally and giving buyers price transparency and choice across sources in one place rather than through a single distributor's catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

What is a distributor?
A distributor is a company that buys products from manufacturers and resells them to businesses or retailers, holding stock and handling logistics between the two.
What is the difference between a distributor and a marketplace?
A distributor resells goods it buys and stocks, usually from a set range of manufacturers. A B2B marketplace connects buyers to many independent suppliers digitally, offering broader choice and price comparison in one platform.

Go deeper

Marketplace vs distributor

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Operating model · diagram

  1. 01

    AI-first software

    AI-first procurement software for long-tail spend

  2. 02

    Live marketplace

    A live B2B marketplace

  3. 03

    Human services

    Human sourcing and support

  4. 04

    Optional add-on

    Fulfilment support for merchants