Explain why companies use marketing channels and discuss the functions these channels perform.

Companies try to forge a marketing channel, a set of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption by the consumer or business user. Information, promotion, contact, matching, and negotiation help to complete transactions. Physical distribution, financing, and risk taking help to fulfill the completed transactions. Explain why companies use marketing channels and discuss the functions these channels perform.