Element of marketing concerned especially with the sale of goods and services to customers.
One aspect of merchandising is advertising , which aims to capture the interest of the segment of the population most likely to buy the product. Merchandising also involves product display; companies provide retailers with display and promotional materials and negotiate shelf space for their products. The development of sales strategies includes the determination of pricing, discounts, and special offers; the invention of sales pitches; and the identification of avenues for sales, including store-based retailing and alternative means such as direct-mail marketing , telemarketing, commercial Web sites, vending machine s, and door-to-door sales.