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12.1.2 So, Why is Retailing So Important?
When we talk about a small commodity as trivial as a pack of butter, there is a long chain of activ-
ities from the point of production of the commodity to the point that it reaches the consumer.
This chain of activity is also known as supply chain. The illustration as depicted in Figure 12.2
resembles a typical retail supply chain.
So, what is this supply chain all about? A commodity is produced by a manufacturer using its
own resources like the manufacturing plant, manpower, ingredients needed, and so on. But can it
be directly sold to the consumers? ...