Nonretail

Nonretail is a term used to describe economic activities, channels, and transactions that do not involve direct sales to the general public. It encompasses a broad range of B2B interactions and operations that support the delivery of goods and services to end users indirectly.

Key components include wholesale distribution, manufacturing, logistics, procurement, and business services. It also covers government and institutional purchasing, as well as nonconsumer-facing segments of the supply chain, such as warehousing, freight, and packaging. Some analyses include business-to-business e-commerce as nonretail when the buyer is another business.

Retail, by contrast, focuses on direct sales to individual consumers, often featuring smaller quantities, shorter lead times, and consumer-oriented pricing. Nonretail emphasizes intermediaries, bulk quantities, longer sales cycles, negotiated terms, and formal contracts.

Economic significance: Nonretail activities are essential for the functioning of supply chains, affecting productivity, inventory management, and pricing dynamics. They are often subject to different regulatory frameworks and performance metrics than retail sectors, and data on nonretail activity is reported separately in some statistical systems.

Examples include wholesale distributors supplying retailers, manufacturers selling to other businesses, independent logistics providers, and government procurement offices.

See also: retail, wholesale, supply chain, business-to-business.