what is vendor

A vendor is a person or company that sells goods or services for a profit. They can operate in a business-to-consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B) environment. Vendors may sell B2B, B2C, or B2G (business to government) . The terms "vendor" and "supplier" are often used interchangeably. Vendors can sell products, services, or a combination of the two to businesses and consumers. Vendors may manufacture inventoriable items and then sell those items to customers, while others offer services or experiences. Examples of vendors range from street vendors and market-stall holders to global corporations such as Amazon and Alibaba Group. All companies involved in supply chains act as vendors because they need to sell their goods and services to stay in business. Vendors can be a part of the supply chain, which is the network of individuals, organizations, and resources involved in the creation and delivery of a product or service to a customer. In information technology, vendors are commonly applied to suppliers of goods and services to other companies.