i. less consumption of time
ii. no salesman required therefore cost is reduced

Retailing is the process of selling the goods and services directly to the ultimate consumers in small quantities.

(i) The mail-order houses are retail trading houses, which sell their merchandise through mail.
(ii) They receive orders from the public through post. They deliver the articles by post.
(iii) So, mail order business is selling and buying of goods through post.

The important characteristics of Super Market are listed below :
(i) Supermarkets are generally situated at the main shopping centres 
(ii) The goods kept on racks with clearly labelled price and quality tags in such stores.
(iii) The customers move into the store to pick up goods of their requirements, bring them to the cash counter, make payment and take home delivery.
(iv) The goods are sold on cash basis only. No credit facilities are made available.

General Stores sell a wide variety of products under one roof, most commonly found in a local market and residential areas to satisfy the day-to-day needs of the customers residing in nearby localities. They remain open for long hours at convenient, timings and often provide credit facilities to their regular customers.

1. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an association of business and industrial houses like merchants, financiers, manufacturers, etc. in a locality, region, or state.
2. The main objective of these associations is to promote and protect the interest and goals of Indian commerce and industry.
3. These associations are non-profit making organisation and its members are institutional members.
Functions:
1. They act as national guardians of trade, commerce and industry.
2. They act as a catalyst in strengthening the internal trade of the country.
3. Interact with Government with regard to formulation and implementation related policies.
Associations or Chambers in India:
1. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), New Delhi.
2. Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM)
3. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
4. Madras Chamber of Commerce, Chennai.
5. Tamil Nadu Traders Associations.
Role of Associations or Chambers:
(i) Transportation or inter-state movement of goods:
The chamber facilitates registration of vehicles, surface transport- facilities, construction of highways and roads in promoting interstate movement of goods.
(ii) Harmonisation of CGST and SGST:
The Chamber of Commerce constantly interact with the Government to harmonise the CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax) and SGST (State goods and Services Tax) in different states. According to Governments, new policy value added Tax is being imposed.
(iii) Marketing of Agro products and related Issues:
The association of agriculturists and other federations interact with farming co-operatives to streamline local subsidies and formulate marketing policies for selling Agro products.
(iv) Weights and measures and duplication of brands:
They help the government in formulation and implementation of uniform policies in weights and measures and prevention of duplication of brands.
(v) Promoting Sound infrastructure:
They interact with Government to construct roads, ports, electricity, railways, etc.
(vi) Labour Legislation:
They interact with the Government on regular basis the issues related to labour laws, retrenchments, compensation, etc. So that the industry can run efficiently, generate employment and achieve maximum productivity.

A Departmental Store is a large retail establishment offering a wide variety of products, classified into well defined departments
Features:
(i) Large Size:
1. A Departmental store is a large scale retail showroom requiring large capital investment by forming a joint stock company managed by a board of directors.
2. There is a Managing Director assisted by a general manager and several department managers.
(ii) Wide Choice :
It acts as a universal provider of a wide range of products from low priced to very high expense goods e.g. pin to Car to satisfy all the expected human needs under one roof.
(iii) Departmentally organised:
1. Goods offered for sale are classified into various departments.
2. Each department specialises in one line of product and operates as a separate unit.
(iv) Facilities provided:
It provides a number of facilities and services to the customers such as restaurant, rest rooms, recreation, packing, free home delivery, parking, etc.
(v) Centralised purchasing:
All the purchases are made centrally and directly from the manufacturers and operate separate warehouses whereas sales are decentralised in different departments.