Business markets have several characteristics that contrast sharply with those of consumer markets. Name and briefly characterize five of those characteristics.
Answer: The characteristics of business markets as compared to consumer markets are: (1) fewer, larger buyers, (2) close supplier-customer relationship, (3) professional purchasing, (4) multiple buying influences, (5) multiple sales calls, (6) derived demand, (7) inelastic demand, (8) fluctuating demand, (9) geographically concentrated buyers, and (10) direct purchasing. See chapter section for brief characterizations.