(a) Explain five features of itinerant trading. (b) State five features of a supermarket.

Answer Details

(a) Five features of itinerant trading

Itinerant traders are small-scale retailers who move about from place to place with their goods instead of trading from a fixed shop. Their features include:

1. Mobility: The trader moves from place to place, taking goods to where customers are found.
2. Small capital: The business is started and run with very little money.
3. No fixed premises: The trader operates without a permanent shop, so no rent or rates are paid.
4. Small stock of goods: Only a limited quantity and variety of goods is carried at a time.
5. Direct dealing with consumers: The trader sells directly to the final consumer, usually for cash.

(Sale of mainly convenience/everyday goods and one-man operation are also acceptable.)

(b) Five features of a supermarket

1. Self-service: Customers pick goods from open shelves themselves and pay at the checkout, so few sales assistants are needed.
2. Wide variety of goods: It sells a large range of items, mainly groceries and household goods, all under one roof.
3. Fixed prices and price labelling: Goods are pre-priced and sold at fixed prices, so there is no bargaining.
4. Large-scale operation: It requires large capital, operates from large premises and buys in bulk.
5. Payment at a central checkout point: All purchases are paid for at a single cash point before leaving the store.

(Sale of pre-packaged goods and cash-only sales are also acceptable.)