which of the following activities is a way that retailers help to lower the cost of distribution

teaching customers about products
accepting many forms of payment
making the shopping environment fun
combining shipments of products

combining shipments of products

Combining shipments of products is a way that retailers help to lower the cost of distribution.

Among the given options, combining shipments of products is the activity that retailers use to help lower the cost of distribution.

To understand this, let's break down each of the options and analyze their impact on distribution costs:

1. Teaching customers about products: While educating customers about products is crucial for driving sales, it does not directly impact the cost of distribution. It may indirectly impact sales and consumer behavior, but it doesn't directly contribute to lowering distribution costs.

2. Accepting many forms of payment: While accepting multiple forms of payment can enhance customer convenience and attract more sales, it generally does not have a direct impact on distribution costs. Payment processing is usually separated from distribution processes.

3. Making the shopping environment fun: Creating an enjoyable shopping experience is essential for customer satisfaction and repeat business. However, similar to teaching customers, making the environment fun does not directly impact distribution costs.

4. Combining shipments of products: This option directly affects distribution costs. When retailers combine shipments of products, they can increase the efficiency of transportation and reduce transportation expenses. By optimizing shipments, retailers can consolidate orders, reducing the number of deliveries required and maximizing truck capacity, which ultimately lowers distribution costs.

Therefore, out of the given options, combining shipments of products is the activity that retailers use to help lower the cost of distribution. Retailers often work with logistics providers to implement strategies like batch processing and consolidating shipments to achieve cost savings in transportation and distribution.