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merchant

A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as industry, commerce, and trade have existed. In 16th-century Europe, two different terms for merchants emerged: meerseniers referred to local traders (such as bakers and grocers) and koopman (Dutch: koopman) referred to merchants who operated on a global stage, importing and exporting goods over vast distances and offering added-value services such as credit and finance.
The status of the merchant has varied during different periods of history and among different societies. In modern times, the term merchant has occasionally been used to refer to a businessperson or someone undertaking activities (commercial or industrial) for the purpose of generating profit, cash flow, sales, and revenue using a combination of human, financial, intellectual and physical capital with a view to fueling economic development and growth.

Merchants have been known for as long as humans have engaged in trade and commerce. Merchants and merchant networks operated in ancient Babylonia and Assyria, China, Egypt, Greece, India, Persia, Phoenicia, and Rome. During the European medieval period, a rapid expansion in trade and commerce led to the rise of a wealthy and powerful merchant class. The European age of discovery opened up new trading routes and gave European consumers access to a much broader range of goods. From the 1600s, goods began to travel much further distances as they found their way into geographically dispersed market-places. Following the opening of Asia to European trade and the discovery of the New World, merchants imported goods over very long distances: calico cloth from India, porcelain, silk and tea from China, spices from India and South-East Asia and tobacco, sugar, rum and coffee from the New World. By the eighteenth century, a new type of manufacturer-merchant had started to emerge and modern business practices were becoming evident.

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  1. T

    Unvented cylinders - where's the best place to buy?

    Hi all, Former G3-qualified heating design engineer for new-build helping start up a new company. I'm currently looking at trying to gather a bit of information on whether installers are still predominantly using merchants to buy their cylinders or whether people mostly use online (at least for...
  2. P

    Independent Merchant

    Hi All, After being on the tools for 15 yrs i have recently opened an Independent Merchants, Our prices are very competitive and we are in the process of offering credit accounts. But as yet i am struggling to attract much if any trade interest. Does anybody have any suggestions as how to...
  3. D

    offset reducing nipple

    Hello everyone, I am struggling to find a 1/2" to 3/4" offset reducing nipple. It is male to male. Attached a photo. Would someone be able to message me where I can buy this item? Many thanks, david
  4. J

    Plumber Stats

    Hi there, new plumber from Australia here! Have been in the Trade for a few years now. Am doing some further study at a college here and am in the middle of a lengthy research paper. So just trying to gain some anecdotal info if you don't mind some questions First up, what percentage split...
  5. O

    30 mm thread on an old bath tap???

    soooooo mother dearest has bought an old tap and ive been given the task of fitting it, so i took it with me to a plumbers merchant to pick up what i thought was going to be a straight forward male/female coupling to connect it to the flexi, however it turns out the tap is an odd size, anyone...
  6. jtsplumbing

    Faulty Push-Fit Fittings !!!!

    Hi Guys, did a full house referb 3-4 mths ago using a leading brand of push fit materials, had 2 leaks one on first fill up ('O' ring ) missing, not a problem just replaced it, 2nd leak was 3mths after job was finished, Pipe came out of fitting (Faulty grab ring) House owner says its my fault...
  7. R

    Plumbing merchant branch managers required South East England

    We are currently advertising vacancies for branch managers in our existing branch in Hastings in East Sussex, and for a new branch in Romford in East London. We are also looking for potential managers in any of the Northern Home Counties - Oxfordshire, Bucks, Herts, Beds or Essex with a view...
  8. T

    Dumping baths ect

    Anyone no how much it is for a waste license to be able to go to a site to dump baths and other rip out
  9. L

    Plumber Merchant

    Hi, I a planning 4 bathroom renovations. The plumber we are thinking of using has asked us to supply the sanitaryware. I have a list of the products we want (i.e. Hansgrohe, Catalano, Laufen, Bette and Matki) could you please recommend a good plumber merchant that offers good customer service...
  10. quality

    Best Merchant

    Come on fellow members who is yours. I could complain about a the odd few but could compliment 1000`s more
  11. H

    Worst merchant

    Who in your opinion is the worst merchant and branch you have had dealings with? Mine is Plumb Center, Chippenham, Wiltshire. Should give them an award... The Golden Turd.
  12. J

    Boiler parts - Ebay Vs Local merchant

    I've been shopping around for boiler parts, I don't want to go into specifics but I'm finding my local Pts or Plumb centre is charging around 3x more for the same part on ebay! Before you think the worst... the part on ebay is new and sealed and looks exactly the same. Further shopping around...
  13. S

    How to become a merchant?

    Say you had the buying power does anyone know if there is any criteria you need to meet to be able to buy directly from people like magna clean/Adey, grasslin, Drayton etc? do you have to have a shop/unit?
  14. H

    Toilet handle help

    i have been to fix a mates toilet handle today but there is only 1 part that needs changing now and iv not seen where you can get them from What it is, is a little chrome plated fitting that sits behind the handle, the toilet is a curved toilet on the sides so has a fitting inside and out to...
  15. AlexGas

    Five men charged over ram raid at Redditch plumbers' merchant...

    Five men charged over ram raid at Redditch plumbers' merchant - Birmingham Mail
  16. S

    Software Packages

    Hi Can anyone recommend a software package that can assist us with quoting for work, Central Heating & Bathrooms. I've had a look and theres loads online available just would be nice to know what other people are using as they all say they're good, but in practice are they??
  17. D

    22mm fittings to old 3/4 pipework.

    Ey up. Im looking at a job to replace the old and siezed gate style valves on the cold feed pipework from a CWSC and was wondering if 22mm compression fittings, replacing with full bore lever valves, can be fitted to old pipework or will I need to cut the pipes back and use 22 to 3/4...
  18. S

    Keeping track of merchants

    Just wondered if anyone has a good system for making sure all the fittings/parts you use actually get invoiced to a customer e.g if your employees pick them up. also does anyone have a good system for price checking fittings and material costs every month?
  19. jonnyswamp

    300mm K1's?

    Anyone know if any of the rad manu's make/supply a 300 x 2000 (ish) single rad I need 16 and these are the only height that are suitable They are to fit on the back of church pews so need to be singles (only space available) Swampy
  20. B

    Williams,above and beyond a normal merchant

    big thanks to ray and Ian for sorting out TNT and getting our boiler to us today,this is service you would not get of any other merchant Williams really do go the extra mile Ian even ringing us 9 o'clock last night to make sure the boiler got with us today,there is a big difference who you buy...
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