ALSO CALLED: IT Vendors
DEFINITION: A vendor (pronounced VEHN-duhr, from French vendre, meaning to sell) is any person or company that sells goods or services to somone else in the economic production chain. Parts manufacturers are vendors of parts to other manufacturers that assemble the parts into something sold to wholesalers or retailers. Retailers are vendors of products to consumers. (When you have  … 
Definition continues below.

VENDORS DEFINITION (continued): … A vendor (pronounced VEHN-duhr, from French vendre, meaning to sell) is any person or company that sells goods or services to somone else in the economic production chain. Parts manufacturers are vendors of parts to other manufacturers that assemble the parts into something sold to wholesalers or retailers. Retailers are vendors of products to consumers. (When you have a street fair, the people who set up booths and tables are often referred to as vendors.) In information technology as well as in other industries, the term is commonly applied to suppliers of goods and services to other companies.

A machine that takes your money and gives you a product is known as a vending machine.
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