Internal Trade — NCERT Solutions
CBSE · Class 11 · Business Studies
NCERT Solutions for Internal Trade, CBSE Class 11 Business Studies: 19 textbook questions solved step by step.
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Short Answer Questions
1What is meant by internal trade?Show solution
Given/Concept: Internal trade refers to trade conducted within the geographical boundaries of a nation.
Answer:
Internal trade refers to the buying and selling of goods and services within the boundaries of a nation. The payments for such trade are made in the domestic currency of the country. No custom duties or import duties are levied on such trade because the goods are part of domestic production and are meant for domestic consumption.
Internal trade can be categorised into two broad categories:
- Wholesale trade – Purchase and sale of goods in large quantities for the purpose of resale or intermediate use.
- Retail trade – Sale of goods and services directly to the ultimate consumers in small quantities.
Examples: A shopkeeper buying goods from a wholesaler in Mumbai and selling them to consumers in Delhi is engaged in internal trade.
2Specify the characteristics of fixed shop retailers.Show solution
Given/Concept: Fixed shop retailers are those retailers who operate from a fixed permanent place of business.
Characteristics of Fixed Shop Retailers:
- Permanent establishment: They operate from a fixed location and do not move from place to place in search of customers.
- Greater resources: They generally have more capital and resources compared to itinerant retailers.
- Wide variety of goods: They stock a wide range of goods to cater to the diverse needs of customers.
- Credit facilities: They are in a position to offer credit facilities to their regular customers.
- After-sales services: They provide after-sales services such as home delivery, repair, and exchange.
- Better storage: They have proper storage facilities to maintain adequate stock of goods.
- Customer confidence: Since they operate from a fixed place, customers can easily locate them, which builds trust and confidence.
- Larger scale of operations: They generally operate on a larger scale compared to itinerant traders.
Types: Fixed shop retailers include general stores, speciality shops, street stall holders, second-hand goods shops, single line stores, departmental stores, chain stores, supermarkets, etc.
3What purpose is served by wholesalers providing warehousing facilities?Show solution
Given/Concept: Warehousing is one of the key services provided by wholesalers to both manufacturers and retailers.
Purpose served by wholesalers providing warehousing facilities:
- Relief to manufacturers: Manufacturers produce goods in large quantities continuously. They cannot hold all the produced goods at their factory premises. Wholesalers purchase goods in bulk and store them in their warehouses, thereby relieving manufacturers of the burden of storage.
- Continuity of supply: By storing goods in warehouses, wholesalers ensure a continuous and regular supply of goods to retailers, even during periods when production may be low or disrupted.
- Stabilisation of prices: Warehousing helps in maintaining a steady supply of goods in the market, which prevents sudden price fluctuations due to shortage or excess supply.
- Time utility: Goods are stored when they are produced in abundance (e.g., seasonal goods) and released when demand arises, thereby creating time utility.
- Benefit to retailers: Retailers do not need to maintain large stocks. They can obtain goods from the wholesaler's warehouse as and when required, reducing their storage costs.
Conclusion: Thus, warehousing by wholesalers acts as a buffer between production and consumption, ensuring smooth flow of goods in the distribution channel.
4How does market information provided by the wholesalers benefit the manufacturers?Show solution
Given/Concept: Wholesalers are in direct contact with retailers and are therefore well-informed about market conditions, consumer preferences, and competitive trends.
Benefits of market information provided by wholesalers to manufacturers:
- Knowledge of consumer preferences: Wholesalers inform manufacturers about the changing tastes, preferences, and demands of consumers, helping manufacturers modify or improve their products accordingly.
- Information about competition: Wholesalers provide information about the products, prices, and strategies of competing manufacturers, enabling manufacturers to remain competitive.
- Demand forecasting: Based on the information provided by wholesalers, manufacturers can forecast future demand and plan their production schedules accordingly, avoiding overproduction or underproduction.
- New product development: Feedback from wholesalers about what consumers want helps manufacturers in developing new products or improving existing ones.
- Pricing decisions: Information about prevailing market prices and consumer willingness to pay helps manufacturers in setting appropriate prices for their products.
- Marketing strategies: Manufacturers can design better promotional and marketing strategies based on the market intelligence provided by wholesalers.
Conclusion: Thus, market information from wholesalers acts as a valuable feedback mechanism that helps manufacturers make informed production and marketing decisions.
5How does the wholesaler help the manufacturer in availing the economies of scale?Show solution
Given/Concept: Economies of scale refer to the cost advantages that a manufacturer obtains due to large-scale production.
How wholesalers help manufacturers avail economies of scale:
- Bulk purchasing: Wholesalers purchase goods from manufacturers in very large quantities. This ensures that manufacturers receive large orders, enabling them to produce on a large scale continuously.
- Facilitating large-scale production: Since wholesalers assemble orders from many retailers and place bulk orders with manufacturers, manufacturers can plan and carry out large-scale production without worrying about finding individual buyers.
- Reduction in per-unit cost: Large-scale production leads to better utilisation of machinery, labour, and raw materials, thereby reducing the cost of production per unit.
- Uninterrupted production: Wholesalers buy goods regularly and in large quantities, ensuring that manufacturers do not have to stop or slow down production due to lack of buyers.
- Relieving storage burden: By purchasing and storing goods in bulk, wholesalers relieve manufacturers of the need to maintain large warehouses, allowing manufacturers to focus their resources on production.
Conclusion: By placing large and regular orders, wholesalers enable manufacturers to produce continuously at a large scale, thereby helping them enjoy economies of scale such as lower production costs, better resource utilisation, and higher profitability.
6Distinguish between single line stores and speciality stores. Can you identify such stores in your locality?Show solution
Given/Concept: Both single line stores and speciality stores are types of fixed shop small retailers, but they differ in their scope and depth of merchandise.
Distinction between Single Line Stores and Speciality Stores:
| Basis | Single Line Stores | Speciality Stores |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Stores that deal in a single product line such as readymade garments, watches, or shoes. | Stores that specialise in the sale of a specific category within a product line, e.g., children's garments or ladies' shoes. |
| Variety | They keep a variety of items within the same product line. | They offer an even narrower and deeper assortment within a specific segment of a product line. |
| Scope | Relatively broader within one product line. | Very narrow and highly specialised. |
| Examples | A shoe store selling all types of shoes for men, women, and children. | A store selling only ladies' footwear or only school uniforms. |
| Location | Usually situated at a central location. | May be located in commercial areas catering to specific customer segments. |
| Customer base | Caters to a wider range of customers. | Caters to a specific segment of customers. |
Identification in locality: Yes, such stores can be identified in most localities. For example:
- A store selling only readymade garments is a single line store.
- A store selling only children's clothing or only bridal wear is a speciality store.
7How would you differentiate between street traders and street shops?Show solution
Given/Concept: Street traders are itinerant retailers while street shops (street stall holders) are fixed shop small retailers. Both operate on streets but differ significantly.
Distinction between Street Traders and Street Shops (Street Stall Holders):
| Basis | Street Traders | Street Shops / Street Stall Holders |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | They are itinerant (mobile) retailers who do not have a fixed place of business. | They are fixed shop retailers who operate from a fixed stall or location. |
| Location | They move from place to place or street to street in search of customers. | They are found at fixed locations such as street crossings or busy traffic areas. |
| Place of business | No fixed place; they operate wherever they find customers. | They have a fixed stall at a specific location. |
| Goods dealt in | They deal in a variety of low-priced consumer goods. | They deal mainly in cheap variety goods like hosiery, toys, cigarettes, soft drinks, etc. |
| Customer base | They go to the customers. | Customers come to them due to their fixed location. |
| Capital required | Very little capital is required. | Slightly more capital than street traders as they maintain a fixed stall. |
| Examples | Hawkers, peddlers who move with goods on carts or heads. | Vendors at street crossings selling newspapers, snacks, etc. |
Conclusion: The key difference is that street traders are mobile and move in search of customers, whereas street stall holders operate from a fixed location on the street.
8Explain the services offered by wholesalers to manufacturers.Show solution
Given/Concept: Wholesalers act as an important link between manufacturers and retailers. They provide several valuable services to manufacturers.
Services offered by Wholesalers to Manufacturers:
- Facilitating large-scale production: Wholesalers purchase goods in bulk quantities from manufacturers. This enables manufacturers to produce on a large scale without worrying about selling to individual buyers, thereby enjoying economies of scale.
- Bearing risk: Wholesalers purchase goods in large quantities and store them. By doing so, they bear the risk of price fluctuations, damage, spoilage, and changes in demand, thereby relieving manufacturers of these risks.
- Providing financial assistance: Wholesalers often make advance payments or prompt payments to manufacturers. This provides manufacturers with the necessary working capital to continue production without financial strain.
- Expert advice: Wholesalers are in close contact with retailers and consumers. They provide manufacturers with valuable information and expert advice regarding consumer preferences, market trends, and competitive conditions.
- Help in marketing function: Wholesalers take over the marketing and distribution function from manufacturers. They reach out to a large number of retailers spread over a wide geographical area, saving manufacturers the effort and cost of marketing.
- Facilitating continuity: By purchasing goods regularly and in large quantities, wholesalers ensure that manufacturers can maintain continuous and uninterrupted production throughout the year.
- Storage: Wholesalers maintain large warehouses where they store the goods purchased from manufacturers. This relieves manufacturers of the burden and cost of maintaining large storage facilities.
Conclusion: Thus, wholesalers play a crucial role in supporting manufacturers by taking care of storage, finance, risk, and distribution, allowing manufacturers to focus on production.
9What are the services offered by retailers to wholesalers and consumers?Show solution
Given/Concept: Retailers are the last link in the chain of distribution. They provide valuable services to both wholesalers/manufacturers and consumers.
Services offered by Retailers to Wholesalers and Manufacturers:
- Helping in distribution of goods: Retailers purchase goods from wholesalers and make them available to consumers in convenient locations, completing the distribution process.
- Personal selling: Retailers interact directly with consumers and use personal selling techniques to promote the sale of goods, reducing the promotional burden on manufacturers and wholesalers.
- Enabling large-scale operations: By purchasing goods regularly from wholesalers, retailers enable wholesalers and manufacturers to operate on a large scale and enjoy economies of scale.
- Collecting market information: Retailers are in direct contact with consumers and collect valuable information about consumer preferences, complaints, and demands, which they pass on to wholesalers and manufacturers.
- Help in promotion: Retailers display goods attractively, use point-of-purchase displays, and participate in promotional schemes, thereby assisting manufacturers in promoting their products.
Services offered by Retailers to Consumers:
- Regular availability of products: Retailers maintain adequate stocks of goods and make them available to consumers whenever required.
- New product information: Retailers inform consumers about new products, their features, uses, and prices through personal interaction and display.
- Convenience of buying: Retailers are located in residential areas and neighbourhoods, making it convenient for consumers to purchase goods without travelling long distances.
- Wide selection: Retailers stock goods of different varieties, brands, sizes, and price ranges, giving consumers a wide choice.
- After-sales services: Retailers provide after-sales services such as home delivery, installation, repair, and exchange of goods.
- Credit facilities: Many retailers extend credit facilities to their regular customers, enabling them to buy goods even when they do not have ready cash.
Conclusion: Thus, retailers serve as a vital bridge between producers and consumers, adding value to the distribution process.
Long Answer Questions
1Itinerant traders have been an integral part of internal trade in India. Analyse the reasons for their survival in spite of competition from large scale retailers.Show solution
Given/Concept: Itinerant traders are mobile retailers who do not have a fixed place of business. Despite the growth of large-scale retailers like departmental stores, supermarkets, and chain stores, itinerant traders continue to survive and thrive in India.
Reasons for the survival of Itinerant Traders:
- Doorstep delivery: Itinerant traders bring goods directly to the doorstep of consumers. This is extremely convenient for housewives, elderly people, and those who cannot travel to shops. Large retailers cannot replicate this personalised doorstep service.
- Low prices: Itinerant traders have very low overhead costs — they do not pay rent, electricity bills, or other establishment charges. This allows them to sell goods at lower prices than fixed shop retailers.
- Catering to lower income groups: A large section of India's population belongs to the lower income group. Itinerant traders cater specifically to this segment by selling goods in small quantities at affordable prices.
- Personalised service: Itinerant traders develop personal relationships with their customers. They know the preferences and needs of individual customers and provide personalised attention, which large retailers often fail to offer.
- Flexibility: Itinerant traders can move to locations where demand exists. They can shift from one area to another depending on the season, festivals, or local demand, making them highly adaptable.
- Sale of perishable goods: Itinerant traders specialise in selling perishable goods like vegetables, fruits, fish, and dairy products. Consumers prefer to buy such goods fresh from mobile vendors rather than travelling to a distant store.
- Availability at odd hours: Itinerant traders often operate early in the morning or late in the evening, making goods available at times when fixed shops may be closed.
- Limited capital requirement: Since itinerant trading requires very little capital investment, it serves as a source of livelihood for a large number of people, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
- Cultural and traditional acceptance: In India, buying from hawkers and peddlers is a deeply ingrained cultural practice. Consumers, especially in smaller towns and villages, are accustomed to and comfortable with this form of trade.
- Reach in rural areas: Large-scale retailers are mostly concentrated in urban areas. Itinerant traders reach rural and remote areas where no fixed retail shops exist, filling an important gap in the distribution network.
Conclusion: The survival of itinerant traders despite competition from large-scale retailers can be attributed to their low cost structure, personalised service, doorstep convenience, and ability to cater to the needs of lower income groups. They continue to play an indispensable role in India's internal trade.
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- NCERT Official — ncert.nic.in
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- CBSE Official — cbse.gov.in
- National Education Policy 2020 — education.gov.in
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