The Supply Chain at Work

It can be helpful to think of how others interact with the supply chain. As a potential e-tailer, you need to know who each player is in your supply chain and who is involved in THEIR supply chain as well. The last thing you need after going through all the steps to become a successful etailer is to have a supply/demand problem! Etailers have the opportunity to cut out the middle men in both directions.  Make sure to take advantage of the Internet’s ability to find suppliers with lower costs, as well as customers.

Click on the following interactive to identify where this etailer is in the supply chain. Are they a customer in someone else’s supply chain? Is there much variation in the supply chain? (seasonal, supply issues, outsourcing, etc.). Who is part of the informal supply chain?