The types of wholesalers are: 
(i) Manufacturer wholesaler:
Manufacturer wholesaler undertakes manufacturing of goods in addition to wholesale business. He sells not only the goods manufactured by him on wholesale business, but also goods manufactured by other producers.
(ii) Retail wholesaler:
This type of wholesaler carries on both wholesale and retail trade. He purchases goods in bulk from manufacturers and sells them directly to consumers through his own retail outlets. Eg. Super Bazaar.
(iii) Merchant wholesaler:
A merchant wholesaler neither manufactures goods nor sells them directly consumers. He is the 'wholesaler proper' or 'pure wholesaler'. He buys goods in bulk from manufacturers and sells them in small lots to retailers. Merchant wholesalers can be further classified into three categories on the basis of degree of specialization. 
(a) General merchandise wholesalers
(b) Single line wholesalers
(c) Speciality wholesalers
(a) General merchandise wholesalers:
This type of wholesaler deals in a wide range of goods such as groceries, electrical equipment, medicines, cloth etc. The importance of this type of wholesaler has heightened due to increasing specialisation in trade.
(b) Single line wholesalers:
This type of wholesaler deals in only one line of goods and distributes different brands and variety of the particular line. For example, a wholesaler may deal in refrigerators produced by different manufacturer.
(c) Speciality wholesalers:
This wholesaler specialises in a single product. For example, a wholesaler may deal only in Tata tea and nothing else.

The channels based on the type of goods and services are: 
(i) Consumer goods distribution channels:
Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) like provision items, clothes, etc. every Customer buys to utilize and exhaust them. Next day or week or month fresh purchases need to be made. There are durable goods used by consumers like refrigerator, television, LED bulbs, fan, laptop etc. They are used continuously for years together. Next purchase is made after some years. Further, they need to be installed, serviced and spare parts for replacement. The retail stores for FMCG goods are far more in number than durable goods retailers. But the distribution channels are the same for both of them.
(ii) Industrial goods distribution channels:
Industrial machinery and equipment need shorter channel of distribution. The industries that use the products are less in number. Technical support from producer or dealer is required for installation, operation, and maintenance of the machinery. The producer sells the machinery through his salesmen or authorized dealers. MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner used in hospitals to produce images of body structures are sold through authorized dealers or wholesalers to customers.

The direct channels based on the middlemen are:
(i) No middlemen:
The producer takes up the task of distributing the goods either through his own company showrooms or branches or through his sales team. Producer himself exercises direct control over the distribution. Some producers sell goods right from the doors of their factory directly to the consumers.
(ii) Mail-order business or phone order business:
The manufacturer collects orders from the consumers through post or mail or phone and delivers the products themselves. Some producers send the catalog of their products directly to the consumers and receive orders over post or phone. Then they distribute goods to the demanding consumers.
(iii) E-Commerce:
This is also a direct channel where there is no middleman. A website is created by the producer and through internet, the product order is received and delivery of goods is made from the nearest godown of the producer
(iv) Direct marketing or multi-level marketing:
The manufacturer establishes branches all over the country or in other countries also. The producer first enrolls few consumers. These consumers are asked to bring in more consumers. Various commissions are paid to the senior and junior consumers according to their turnover. All consumers directly purchase from the producer's branches.

Auctioneers are agents who sell goods by auction on behalf of their principals. Auction sale is made through a notification to the public. The notice clearly mentions the date, time, place and details of goods which will be widely published through newspapers, posters, leaflets and announcements etc., Auction sale may be "WITH RESERVE" and "WTIHQUT RESERVE". In case of auction "WITH RESERVE" no sale can take place below the miriimum price fixed by the seller, which is known as "Reserve Price". In case of auction "WITHOUT RESERVE" the auctioneer is bound to sell the product to the highest bidder. The price for which the bid is accepted is called "knocked down price". Striking a hammer on the desk indicates the acceptance of a bid by auctioneer. After the highest bid is accepted, the auctioneer becomes the agent for both the seller and the buyer. For his services, the auctioneer, is entitled to receive a commission; which is a certain percentage of the sale proceeds.

The types of channel of distribution are as follows;
1. Channels based on the middlemen
2. Channels based on the type of goods and services
3. Channel based on national and international market