Vermont is a small state but has a lot in revenue generation through manufacturing. Electrical and computer components, small arms, and some food products are produced in the state. Tourism has also become a currency earner for the state through the several ski trips that are taken in the state. With new people coming into the state and some even becoming permanent residents, there is an increasingly wide market for retail trade and distribution.

Vermont has well over 600,000 residents and it is the 49^thlargest state in the United States. This may not seem much to a retail distributor but those with exclusive distribution license to the state would see clearly the potentials of trade in the state. With the movement of tourists into the state, there is a dynamic market that can be tapped into. Tourists would hardly carry everything they need along with them. This is a market that would need its own supply chain.

Just like every other American state, there are essentials that are needed daily by Americans. Food, shelter, toiletries, clothes, electronic gadgets, transportation, and a whole lot of essentials are needed by the average human being for existence in the 21^stcentury world.

The retail trade is one that connects directly to the consumers. It is the trade that lays emphasis on how to get the consumer to get the product from a particular retailer and to establish a relationship with that retailer. However, a retailer, most times, does not get the goods directly from the manufacturers or get the goods produced herself. There is the existence of the retail distributor in the supply chain.

Retail distributors are essential links in the supply chain. When manufacturers produce their products, they need distribution for the product. There are several situations where the manufacturer does the distribution to retailers. This is direct store delivery. However, not all manufacturers have the capacity to do their own distribution to retail outlets. For instance, a new brand still seeking market recognition does not have a name in the market and will need to be significantly promoted and pushed. A retail distributor can do a better job of getting the product to several hundred or even thousands of stores.

With about 18% of the working population in Vermont into retail and wholesale trade, there is an impressive amount working in the supply chain. However, there is more to the supply chain than the number involved. There are general goods everyone is interested in but there are specialized products like adult goods, sports goods, smoking goods, and some others.