Final answer:
B2B customers categorized by Manufacturers, Resellers, Institutions, and Government, are distinct from B2C as they purchase for operations, manufacturing, or resale. Technology and globalization have significantly shaped market dynamics, introducing broader competition and changing business interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
B2B (Business-to-Business) customers include various entities that purchase goods not for personal consumption, but to use in their operations, for manufacturing, or for resale to other entities. In contrast, B2C (Business-to-Consumer) markets cater to the direct consumer of the product for personal use. Within B2B markets, distinct categories include: Manufacturers, Resellers, Institutions, and Government. Here's how you might categorize the mentioned entities:
- Manufacturers: These businesses create products. Examples include U.S. Steel (i) and Procter & Gamble (h).
- Resellers: Entities involved in selling products to end-users or other intermediates, like Walmart (d) and Automobile Dealerships (j).
- Institutions: Organizations such as Hospitals (c), Washington, DC, Public Schools (e), and the Red Cross (k) that may provide services but also need to procure goods for operations.
- Government: Includes various levels of government organizations that purchase goods and services for public use, including California State (a), U.S. Federal Government (b).
The landscape of B2B and B2C markets has evolved greatly in recent decades due to shifts towards globalization and improvements in technology, like the internet, amplifying competition and changing the way businesses interact and transact.