Every intermediary you add to your distribution channel increases market reach but surrenders control over pricing, presentation, and customer experience. Slide to compare direct selling with multi-layer wholesale-retail chains and watch costs, control, and coverage shift.
Intensive distribution saturates the market by placing the product in every possible outlet—supermarkets, convenience stores, vending machines, online marketplaces. This strategy works for everyday items like soft drinks, newspapers, or batteries where customer convenience is paramount and brand differentiation happens through sheer visibility. The trade-off is minimal retailer support and fierce price competition, but for fast-moving consumer goods, accessibility outweighs everything else.
Channel choice balances control against coverage—direct channels preserve pricing power and customer relationships while intermediaries multiply market reach at the cost of margin and influence.