Retail is best described as what type of transaction?

Retail is best described as a face-to-face transaction selling goods directly to the customer because this definition encapsulates the traditional concept of retailing, where consumers purchase products in physical stores. In the retail setting, there is personal interaction between the salesperson and the customer, which can enhance the shopping experience through direct service, advice, and immediate gratification from the purchase. This interaction is a key characteristic that distinguishes retail transactions from other types, such as online transactions or business-to-business sales, which typically do not involve direct customer engagement in the same manner.

While online transactions and business-to-business sales are important in the broader context of commerce, they do not fit the definition of retail as closely as face-to-face transactions in a retail environment do. Sales involving multiple retailers may refer to wholesale transactions or cooperative selling but do not accurately describe the singular interaction between a retailer and a consumer. This makes the face-to-face transaction a defining hallmark of retail.