Knowing the terminology is difficult, especially when you’re just starting out. The four labels above refer to different parts of the supply chain, each serving a distinct function. You may not need all of them to be successful, though.
Supplier turns up two distinct places in the chain. First, there’s the supplier of raw ingredients. Second, there’s the creator of the product who does not sell it. In either case, the supplier tends not to have direct contact with the consumer.
At times, the manufacturer and supplier are the same entity. However, the manufacturer is responsible for creating the product that eventually gets to the consumer. Generally, the manufacturer does not sell the product themselves.
The distributor sells products from the manufacturer, typically in wholesale lots. Distributors typically contract with manufacturers so that there are a limited number of other distributors. Then distributors handle specific regions or accounts.
Lastly, vendors buy from distributors. A vendor then sells the product to someone else. Generally, that’s the individual consumer. However, nothing prevents a vendor from selling to another company.