Suppliers and manufacturers

Do you use lots of different suppliers and manufacturers? Are they relevant to your product offering? What do I mean by this? As an example, if you sell technology gadgets, then the manufacturer is very important: Apple iPod, Nintendo Wii, Sony Vaio, and so on. The manufacturer and the name is a part of the product. Another example of where the manufacturer is important relates to the many sorts of components. For example, PC components, bicycle, or motor-spares are often relevant. Also, think about brand names. Sometimes brand names are synonymous with manufacturers but often they are not, albeit still important. Think about clothing and other fashion accessories.

What I am getting at is this: Is it important to distinguish, in some way, between the different brands/manufacturers of the products you sell, other than just a simple mention in the product description? Would it be beneficial for you or your customers to be able to sort by brand or manufacturer? In...