A merchant is any individual that is involved in some form of commerce in particular buying and selling products that they do not manufacture themselves. They undertake such activity with the motive to earn profit. They are divided into two broad categories- wholesale merchants and retail merchants. The former functions as the link between the manufacturer and the retail merchant while the latter, acts as the link between the wholesale merchant and the customer. Any shop keeper like a grocer, for example is a retail merchant.
In pre modern societies the merchant class was an important and often influential stratum of society. Its status varies rather drastically like for instance in some regions they are referred to a 'merchant princes' in others like China they are despised. In America the Uniform Commercial Code or the UCC a merchant is defined as any person who is engaged in a business or a dealer who sells goods on a regular basis.
In pre modern societies the merchant class was an important and often influential stratum of society. Its status varies rather drastically like for instance in some regions they are referred to a 'merchant princes' in others like China they are despised. In America the Uniform Commercial Code or the UCC a merchant is defined as any person who is engaged in a business or a dealer who sells goods on a regular basis.