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Business Word/Phrase of the Day

word-phrase-descEvery day we publish a business word or phrase together with audio pronunciation, phonetics, definition and example sentences. This is a great way to improve your workplace vocabulary as well as your pronunciation. To receive 'Business Word/Phrase of the Day' by email, just subscribe to our newsletter from the link above. 

WHOLESALE PRICE /ˈhoʊlˌseɪl prīs/

16 Apr 2024

phrase

  • the price of goods charged to shops and businesses for buying large quantities of the goods
Example Sentences:The wholesale price of goods is always cheaper than the retail price.
If you buy this bed in a shop, you’ll pay around $600. However, the wholesale price is only $400.
 

IMPORT LICENSE /ɪmˈpɔrt lahy-suh ns/

15 Apr 2024

phrase

  • An import license is a document issued by a national government authorizing the importation of certain goods into its territory.
Example Sentences:You won’t be able to import wood products into the country unless you have an import license to do so.
Although I had the correct import license, customs did not allow my shipment out of the port of entry.
 

CUSTOMS /kuhs-tuh mz/

14 Apr 2024

noun

  • Government agency entrusted with enforcement of laws and regulations to collect and protect import-revenues, and to regulate and document the flow of goods in and out of the country.
Example Sentences:I was searched by customs when I entered China on business last month.
Customs calculated that the necessary duty to be paid on the shipment was $9,560.
 

LEAD TIME /lēd tīm/

13 Apr 2024

phrase

  • the time from when an order is sent from a customer to a supplier until the ordered products arrive at the customer
Example Sentences:Our lead time is between 7 and 10 days depending on the customer’s location.
Is there anything you can do to shorten your lead time? We need the delivery within a week.
 

DISCOUNT /dis′ko̵unt′/

12 Apr 2024

noun

  • a reduction in price from the original sale price
Example Sentences:The company is offering a discount of 30% on their standard price for all goods purchased before the end of the month.
We offered them a further discount of 5% but they rejected it.
 

STANDING ORDER /stan′diŋ ôr′dər/

11 Apr 2024

phrase

  • Purchase order covering repeated deliveries of goods or services in specified quantities, at specified prices, and according to a specified schedule.
Example Sentences:We have a standing order for 100 reams of A4 paper each month.
Since we’re ordering regularly from this supplier, I suggest we set up a standing order with them.
 

REGULAR CUSTOMER /reg′yə lər kus′tə mər/

10 Apr 2024

phrase

  • a customer who often buys a product or service from the same company
Example Sentences:We generally give better sales terms to our regular customers.
As I’m a regular customer, can you offer me a bigger discount?
 

SALES FORCE /seɪlz fôrs/

09 Apr 2024

phrase

  • all the employees of a company whose job is persuading customers to buy their company's products or services
Example Sentences:The company has a worldwide sales force of around 3,000 people.
The company’s sales force has just been cut by 20% due to falling demand for the company’s products.
 

SALES COMMISSION /seɪlz kəˈmɪʃ ən/

08 Apr 2024

phrase

  • payment to a salesperson for their efforts in marketing and selling something, usually calculated as a percentage of the total sales
Example Sentences:All our sales staff earn a 2.5% commission on their sales.
He’s moving to a company that pays a much better sales commission.
 

CONFIRM AN ORDER / kən fʉrm′ ən ôr′dər/

07 Apr 2024

phrase

  • say by phone or in writing that the order can be processed
Example Sentences:We can deliver the goods between two to five days after you confirm the order.
Once an order is confirmed, an invoice is issued and emailed to the client.
 

CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT  

06 Apr 2024

phrase

  • department within a company responsible for customer care, including complaints
Example Sentences:All complaints are handled by the customer service department.
Sheila Tam has been head of the customer service department for 5 years.
 

CONTRACT OF SALE / kän′trakt′ ʌv sāl/

05 Apr 2024

phrase

  • Formal contract by which a seller agrees to sell and a buyer agrees to buy, under certain terms and conditions spelled out in writing in the document signed by both parties. An invoice, for example, is a contract of sale. Also called agreement of sale, contract for sale, sale agreement, or sale contract.
Example Sentences:An invoice is an example of a contract of sale.
Another term for contract of sale is agreement of sale.
 

AVAILABLE BALANCE /ə vāl′ə bəl bal′əns/

04 Apr 2024

phrase

  • The available balance is the portion of a customer's bank account balance on which the bank has placed no restrictions, making it available for immediate withdrawals.
Example Sentences:Would you like to transfer all your available balance into your fixed deposit account, sir?
My available balance is the same as my ledger balance so those cheques must have cleared.
 

LEDGER BALANCE /lej′ər bal′əns/

03 Apr 2024

phrase

  • The Ledger Balance is the balance in a bank account at the beginning of each day, also known as the current balance. It includes all deposits and withdrawals that were posted from the previous night, whether or not funds have been collected.
Example Sentences:Although my ledger balance looks quite healthy, my available balance is only $10. I have to wait a couple more days for those cheques to clear.
 

GO BANKRUPT /goʊ baŋk′rupt/

02 Apr 2024

phrase

  • If a person or company goes bankrupt, they are unable to pay what you owe, and have control of your financial matters given, by a court of law, to a person who sells your property to pay your debts.
Example Sentences:He went bankrupt after only a year in business.
The recession has led to many small businesses going bankrupt.
 
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