middlemen
Go-betweens in commerce
Middlemen are intermediaries in a transaction or supply chain—people or businesses who buy from producers and sell to retailers or consumers.
The term often carries negative connotations, suggesting unnecessary parties who add cost without adding value: Cut out the middlemen and buy direct from the manufacturer.
A middleman can also be any go-between or intermediary: He served as middleman in the negotiations.
Transaction intermediaries
- commissionsPayments for services rendered
- agentsThose who act for others
- dealersThose who sell merchandise
- tradersProfessional buyers and sellers
securities · stocks · bonds · equities · trading · exchange · portfolio · investment
Bulk goods merchants
- distributorsEntities that supply retailers
- resellersThose who retail others' goods
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
- vendorsThose who sell goods
dealers · suppliers · jobbers · stockists · importers · exporters · retailers · consignment
Those who aid progress
- coordinatorsThose who arrange activities
- liaisonsContacts bridging organizations
- enablersThose who facilitate harm
- streamlinersAerodynamic rail vehicles
catalysts · connectors · go-betweens · intermediation · deal-making · matchmakers · fixers · networkers
Entities that supply retailers
- couriersProfessional delivery personnel
- carriersEntities that transport
- shipping agentsCargo transport arrangers
- customs brokersLicensed import documentation handlers
3PL · fulfillment · warehousing · supply chain · haulage · consignees · dispatchers · delivery services
Those who arrange agreements
- mediatorsConflict resolution facilitators
- arbitratorsNeutral third-party deciders
- conciliatorsThose who restore harmony
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
diplomats · peacemakers · haggling · compromise · shuttle diplomacy · honest brokers · interlocutors · third parties
brokers
Transaction intermediaries
- commissionsPayments for services rendered
- agentsThose who act for others
- dealersThose who sell merchandise
traders · securities · stocks · bonds · equities · trading · exchange · portfolio · investment · transactions
wholesalers
Bulk goods merchants
- distributorsEntities that supply retailers
- resellersThose who retail others' goods
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
vendors · dealers · suppliers · jobbers · stockists · importers · exporters · retailers · consignment · markup
facilitators
Those who aid progress
- coordinatorsThose who arrange activities
- liaisonsContacts bridging organizations
- enablersThose who facilitate harm
streamliners · catalysts · connectors · go-betweens · intermediation · deal-making · matchmakers · fixers · networkers · introducers
distributors
Entities that supply retailers
- couriersProfessional delivery personnel
- carriersEntities that transport
- shipping agentsCargo transport arrangers
customs brokers · 3PL · fulfillment · warehousing · supply chain · haulage · consignees · dispatchers · delivery services
negotiators
Those who arrange agreements
- mediatorsConflict resolution facilitators
- arbitratorsNeutral third-party deciders
- conciliatorsThose who restore harmony
bargaining · diplomats · peacemakers · haggling · compromise · shuttle diplomacy · honest brokers · interlocutors · third parties · dispute resolution
- gray marketgray market, diversion, resellers, arbitrage, regional pricing
- mediatorsmediator, mediators, arbitrator, arbitrators, negotiator
- merchantstraders, merchant, merchants, retailers, vendors
- brokeragestock trading, brokers, bond trading, commissions, securities trading
- Silk Roadsilk, silk road, Silk Road, caravans, merchants
- back channelsback doors, intermediaries, go-betweens, proxies
middlemendirect-to-consumer
Selling without retail intermediaries
peer-to-peer · disintermediation · factory direct · primary sources · direct sales
middlemenproducers
Those who create goods
manufacturers · end consumers · makers · creators · buyers
- cut out the middlemanRemove unnecessary intermediaries