merchants
Sellers of goods
Merchants are people who buy and sell goods, especially those who trade in quantity or operate businesses.
The word suggests commerce at a meaningful scale—not someone selling a used lamp, but someone whose occupation is trade: The merchants of Venice grew wealthy on Eastern goods.
A merchant ship or merchant marine carries commercial cargo.
In compounds, merchant can specify what's sold: wine merchant, arms merchant.
The term sounds slightly formal or historical in everyday speech, where retailer or seller often substitutes.
Traditional Arab market
- stallsDelays or compartments
- vendorsThose who sell goods
- spicesAromatic food flavorings
- carpetsTextile floor coverings
textiles · silks · lanterns · haggling · bargaining · exotic · incense · pottery
Delays or compartments
- vendorsThose who sell goods
- produceMake or manufacture
- freshNewly made, not stale
- farmersLand-cultivating occupation holders
fishmonger · butcher · artisanal · flowers · organic · local · flea-market · hawkers
Exchange of commodities
- wholesaleBulk sales to merchants
- importObtain from overseas
- exportForeign-bound sale
- goodsThings for sale
distribution · logistics · procurement · inventory · economy · enterprise · entrepreneurship · commercialism
Retail sales venue
- storeRetail establishment
- boutiqueSmall specialized retail shop
- outletPoint of release
- mallEnclosed shopping center
supermarket · shopkeeper · counter · customer · sale · receipt · inventory · shelf
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- barterDirect goods-for-goods exchange
- pricingEstablishing monetary amounts charged
discount · markup · commission · terms · credit · consignment · installment · layaway
Professional mutual-aid society
- consortiumCooperative group for ventures
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- charterFounding organizational document
livery · apprentice · journeyman · master · company · league · association · burgher
souk
Traditional Arab market
carpets · textiles · silks · lanterns · haggling · bargaining · exotic · incense · pottery · handicrafts
stalls
Delays or compartments
farmers · fishmonger · butcher · artisanal · flowers · organic · local · flea-market · hawkers · peddlers
trade
Exchange of commodities
goods · distribution · logistics · procurement · inventory · economy · enterprise · entrepreneurship · commercialism · capitalism
shop
Retail sales venue
mall · supermarket · shopkeeper · counter · customer · sale · receipt · inventory · shelf · storefront
bargaining
Negotiating mutually acceptable terms
- hagglingNegotiating a lower price
- deal-makingNegotiating agreements between parties
- barterDirect goods-for-goods exchange
pricing · discount · markup · commission · terms · credit · consignment · installment · layaway · cash
guild
Professional mutual-aid society
- consortiumCooperative group for ventures
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
charter · livery · apprentice · journeyman · master · company · league · association · burgher · alderman
- Middle AgesMiddle Ages, medieval period, castles, knights, Dark Ages
- trade & commercetrade, exports, imports, tariffs, vendor
- America and Asia travelsSilk Road, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, sea routes, trade routes
- market scenesstreet vendors, hawkers, traders, carts, wares
- Renaissance Europenobility, peasants, artisans, clergy, guilds
- ancient economybarter, trade routes, coinage, currency, taxes
merchantsbuyers
Those who obtain goods
customers · consumers · purchasers · shoppers · clients
- The Merchant of VeniceCourtroom drama about debt
- traveling merchantMobile seller of wares
- merchant marineCivilian ships for commerce
- merchant shipsVessels for transporting goods
- fan merchandiseBranded goods for enthusiasts
- Merchant of VeniceShakespearean comedy about debt