DISTRIBUTION.

Postponement.

• Bucklin’s theory of channel structure is based in concepts of postponement and speculation. Costs can be reduced by:
• Postponing changes in the form and identity of a product to the last possible point in the marketing process
• Postponing inventory location to the last possible point in time since risk and uncertainty costs increase as the product becomes more differentiated

Speculation.

• Speculation is the opposite of postponement.
• Channel institution assumes risk rather than shifting.
• Speculation can reduce marketing costs through:
  1. Economies of scale production
  2. Placement of large orders that reduce the costs of order
  processing and transportation
  3. Reduction of stockouts and their associated costs
  4. Reduction of uncertainty
  

ASSOBIYYAH

Rasulullah SAW telah bersabda…"Bukan dari kalangan kami, mereka yang menyeru kepada asobiyyah. Bukan dari kalangan kami, mereka yang berperang atas dasar asobiyyah. Bukan dari kalangan kami, mereka yang mati atas dasar asobiyyah." (Sunan Abu Daud)

Al-Imam Yusuf al Qardhawi menjelaskan bahawa yang dimaksudkan dengan perkauman, kenegaraan atau assobiah itu ialah wala' (taat setia) seseorang muslim itu hanya kepada sesuatu kawasan sahaja atau kepada jenis bangsa tertentu sahaja. Dengan itu hubungan kenegaraan dan puak didahulukan (dilebihkan) daripada unsur lain.