Defining the term "Vendor"

What is a Vendor?

A vendor is typically a person or a business that provides services or products to consumers, generally vendors deal directly with individual clients.

Vendors can provide their services through a physical store for example a barbershop or a salon, they can also sell things online via platforms like Shopify and other ECommerce platforms.

When it’s not a physical product that needs to be shipped but instead it’s a service that needs to be done in person, there are platforms like Vendorfront, ActuityScheduling, Fresha which can provide a “virtual” storefront, where you can list your services and have clients book, negating the need for discovery via local word of mouth, but instead leveraging the power of the internet to have a wider reach, making it easier for clients and vendors alike.

I keep hearing the term supplier, is that different from a vendor?

Yes, in broad terms a supplier generally deals with businesses & wholesalers and not individual clients. Furthermore, they have larger volumes. A good example of a supplier would be a timber company that provides wood to companies like Ikea & Structube for their distribution line.

Here is a handy chart that has examples of both

It’s good to point out that this is the general definition of what a vendor and a supplier is, and that there could be vendors that resemble suppliers and vice-versa.