Part A: Distribution Channels In this learning activity, you will develop skills related to explaining what is meant by a marketing channel and the value created by intermediaries. A product can take many routes on its journey from a producer to buyers and there are important differences between these marketing channels for consumer goods and those for industrial goods. The members of a marketing channel can contribute value in the form of transactional, logistical, and facilitating functions. Consider what you know about distribution channels to answer the following questions. 1. Historic clothing brand, Levi's has allowed consumers to purchase its products online via its website. If you were to purchase a Levi's product from its website: a) List all the intermediaries in this marketing channel. b) What specific marketing channel functions(s) does each intermediary serve? E.g. negotiating, sorting, financing, etc. 2. Levi's products are also available for sale from online retailers such as Amazon, eBay, and Overstock.com. If you were to purchase a Levi's product from an online retailer: a) List all the intermediaries in this marketing channel. b) What specific marketing channel functions(s) does each intermediary serve? E.g. negotiating, sorting, financing, etc. 3. Levi's also has its own Levi's branded stores. These retailer stores are often located in shopping malls in major metropolitan markets. If you were to purchase a Levi's product from this kind of store: a) List all the intermediaries in this marketing channel. b) What specific marketing channel functions(s) does each intermediary serve? E.g. negotiating, sorting, financing, etc. 4. Levi's has also established a relationship with major department stores around the world. These departments stores can range from discount retailers like Wal-Mart and Target to higher end stores like Hudson's Bay and Nordstrom's. Each store's layout is organized into departments. The clothing departments contains Levi's products and is staffed by department store employees. If you were to purchase a Levi's product from a department store: a) List all the intermediaries in this marketing channel. b) What specific marketing channel functions(s) does each intermediary serve? E.g. negotiating, sorting, financing, etc