Plural of retailer, businesses or individuals who sell goods directly to consumers in small quantities. They form the final link in the distribution chain between manufacturers and end users.
From Old French 'retaillier' meaning 'to cut up' or 'to divide into pieces'. The term evolved from the practice of buying goods in bulk and then cutting or dividing them into smaller portions for individual sale.
The word 'retailer' literally means 'one who cuts again,' reflecting the ancient practice of merchants who would buy large quantities and then cut them into smaller, consumer-friendly portions. This cutting concept survives today in how retailers break down wholesale quantities into individual purchases.
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