What type of business buys goods from wholesalers or manufacturers to sell to consumers?

The correct answer identifies retailers as the type of business that purchases goods from wholesalers or manufacturers and subsequently sells those goods directly to consumers. Retailers serve as the intermediary between the producer and the consumer, facilitating the final step in the supply chain. They play a crucial role in making products available to the public, often providing a physical location or an online platform for consumers to shop.

Distributors, while also involved in the supply chain, typically focus more on the distribution of products and may not directly engage with end consumers. Manufacturers create goods but do not sell them directly to the public; their primary function is production. Service providers, on the other hand, offer services rather than physical goods, thus falling outside the scope of buying and selling tangible products to consumers. Retailers, therefore, are distinctly positioned as the point of sale for consumers looking to purchase merchandise.