What is the process of selling goods and services to consumers called?

The process of selling goods and services to consumers is defined as marketing. Marketing encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at promoting and selling products or services to end-users, which includes research, advertising, sales, and distribution. It focuses on understanding consumer needs and preferences to effectively communicate and deliver value.

Retailing, while closely related, specifically refers to the final steps in the distribution chain, where goods are sold directly to consumers. Therefore, retailing is a component of the broader marketing process. On the other hand, advertising is just one tactic used within marketing to promote products and services, while distribution refers to the logistics of delivering products to various sales channels.