Distribution

​DISTRIBUTION

By Márta Fábián

Word Cloud

1. Brainstorm
Question: How do goods travel from the producer to the consumer?
Write down as many ways of transport as you can

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1. DISTRIBUTION

Distribution is the process of physically satisfying the need or demand for goods and services. It is a process by which both industrial and consumer goods or services are transferred from the producer to the final consumer or user. The transfer of possession mostly involves physically moving, or transporting goods, for which the commercial term is "visibles". The vast majority of transfers of goods and services are carried out using the normal means of transport, by land, sea or air.

Match

Task 1 – Matching. Match the words with their Hungarian equivalents.

• consumer

• producer

• goods

• services

• transport

fogyasztó

termelő

áruk

szolgáltatások

szállítás

• fogyasztó

• termelő

• áruk

• szolgáltatások

• szállítás

​CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION – Read the text.
Channels of distribution are used to bring goods to the market. There are two types of channel: INDIRECT CHANNEL: goods are marketed from the manufacturer to the wholesaler, from the wholesaler to the retailer, from the retailer to the consumer. DIRECT CHANNEL: this means moving goods directly from the manufacturer or producer to the consumer.

Multiple Choice

1. In an indirect channel, goods go directly from the producer to the consumer.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

A direct channel means the producer sells to the consumer without middlemen.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

1. A wholesaler buys in small quantities.

• true

• false

Transport

Transport is first used to move raw materials to where production processes are located and then again to move semi-finished goods. In the final stage, transport moves goods from a producer's final production location to either the wholesaler's, or direct to the consumer's home.

MEANS OF TRANSPORT

Each type of transport has its special uses. Transport users will take the following factors into account when choosing the form of transport to use:

1. The nature of the goods.

2. How urgently the consignment is needed.

3. The value of each item.

4. Cost of transport.

5. Distance the consignment must be transported.

6. The size and weight of the load.

7. Convenient position of terminals (e.g. station, docks, airport).

8. Possibility of combining loads to reduce costs.

9. The reputation of the carrier.

Task 4 – Discussion (pair work)
Which factor is the most important in your opinion? Why?

​3. ROAD TRANSPORT

Road transport includes the seller’s own vehicle, local, national and international carriers. It is often referred to as "road haulage". The advantage of road transport is that the goods are taken directly from the sender to the receiver without moving the goods. Today road transport vehicles have become more flexible than ever, with specialist vehicles such as refrigerated carriers, containers, tankers and many others.  A company can use its own transport services, such as vans for local deliveries, or can use the services of a courier or a road haulage firm which can deliver goods both nationally and internationally

Open Ended

Write other advantages.

Open Ended

Write other disadvantages.

​Transport International Routier (TIR system)

​A TIR lorry (from the French Transports Internationaux Routiers) is normally used when transporting goods across multiple borders. The goods are loaded into containers which are sealed at their point of departure and therefore do not need to be inspected by customs officials until the final destination.

The TIR system operates in international road transport. For example: clothes are sent from a factory in Manchester to Switzerland. The container is packed and sealed by UK Customs, then checked in France, finally opened in Switzerland where duties are paid.

Reorder

Put these sentences in the correct order (1–4):

• Clothes are packed into the container.

• UK Customs inspect and seal the container.

• The lorry enters France and Customs check the seal.

• The Swiss Customs open the container and inspect the goods.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

​RAIL TRANSPORT

​Although the use of rail as a method of transport has declined in favour of road transport, it is a very efficient and cost-effective way of transporting heavy and bulky goods over long distances. It is less flexible than road transport, operating to fixed time schedules, and goods need to be transferred at both ends of the journey. Container trains have solved this problem for some goods since containers can easily be loaded to ships or lorries to continue on to their destination.

Rail includes passenger, freight or special trains. Items carried include coal, timber, wheat and heavy machinery.

Multiple Choice

1. Rail is faster than road over long distances.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Rail is always cheaper than road.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Rail is suitable for heavy and bulky goods.

• true

• false

Open Ended

Task 8 – Work in pairs and answer to these questions.

1. Which factors can influence the choice of transport?

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1.     The nature of goods, urgency, value, cost, distance, size, weight, and position of terminals.

Open Ended

2. Which is the most common form of transport by land?

​Road transport

Open Ended

3. Why is road transport flexible?

​

3.     Becaus it offers door-to-door service and is not tied to timetables.

Open Ended

4. What is a TIR lorry and when and how is it used?

​

4.     A TIR lorry carries sealed containers across borders. Customs check the seals at each border.

Open Ended

5. Which is the most suitable form of land transport for long distances? Why?

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5.    Rail transport, because it is faster and cheaper for long distances and heavy goods.

Open Ended

6. What is a container train?

​A train that carries standard containers, which can be moved easily between ships, lorries and trains.

Open Ended

7. What are advantages and disadvantages of rail?

  → Advantages: fast for long distances, economical in fuel, good for containers.
→ Disadvantages: limited routes, expensive equipment, less economical under 200 miles.

Open Ended

8. What is the major disadvantage of road transport's a impact on the environment?

​Road transport causes pollution and uses a lot of fuel.