noun
retail trade; retail business
Refers to the business of selling goods directly to consumers, as opposed to wholesale. Often used in economic or business contexts.
小売商は景気の影響を受けやすい。
The retail trade is easily affected by the economy.
卸売 means 'wholesale', the opposite of 小売商.
Compound of 小 (small) + 売 (selling) + 商 (trade, commerce). The term directly describes small-scale selling to end consumers.