Legal Definitions - jobber

A jobber is an individual or business that acts as an intermediary in the supply chain. They typically purchase goods in large quantities directly from manufacturers or primary producers and then resell those goods, often in smaller batches, to retailers, other businesses, or sometimes directly to large consumers, rather than to the general public. Essentially, a jobber facilitates the distribution of products by bridging the gap between producers and the points of sale or use.

• A technology components distributor buys thousands of microprocessors and memory modules directly from a semiconductor manufacturer. They then sell these components in smaller, customized lots to various computer assembly companies and electronics repair shops.

  This distributor acts as a jobber because they acquire goods in bulk from the original producer and then redistribute them to other businesses that need these components for their own products or services, without manufacturing the components themselves.

• A specialty food importer purchases large shipments of exotic spices and unique olive oils from international farms and producers. They then supply these ingredients to gourmet restaurants, high-end catering services, and independent grocery stores within a specific region.

  Here, the importer functions as a jobber by buying large volumes of specialized food items from their source and then breaking down those bulk purchases into smaller, more manageable orders for various food service and retail businesses.

• A building materials supplier acquires lumber by the truckload, pallets of bricks, and large quantities of plumbing fixtures directly from mills and factories. They store these materials in a large warehouse and then sell them in appropriate amounts to local construction companies, independent contractors, and renovation firms for their projects.

  This supplier is a jobber because they purchase raw and finished construction materials in bulk from primary manufacturers and then resell them in smaller, project-specific quantities to businesses involved in building and renovation.