This document discusses factors that affect the selection of marketing channels. It defines marketing channels as the set of organizations involved in making a product available to customers. Channel members perform functions like distribution, promotion, financing, and risk taking. Channels can have zero to three levels depending on the number of intermediaries between producer and consumer. Selection of channels is influenced by product characteristics, market factors, company capabilities, and middlemen attributes. Product considerations include perishability and customization level. Market considerations involve customer concentration and geography. Company factors relate to financial strength and experience. Middlemen criteria comprise availability, services offered, and financial strength.