The Merchant reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Merchant

Merchants function as professional traders, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves.

Merchants can be categorised into two types:

1. A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant. Some wholesale merchants only organise the movement of goods rather than move the goods themselves.
2. A retail merchant sells commodities to consumers (including businesses), commonly known as retailers. A shopowner is a retail merchant.

A merchant class characterises many pre-modern societies. Its status can range from high (even achieving titles like that of merchant prince or nabob) to low (note the soiling capabilities of "mere" trade).

See also: commerce, mercantilism, distribution

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