While I await Mikey's sincere apology, I'll try to answer David's question that is also a constant frustration for me as a supply store owner: Duplicate products.
When I was shipping products for our supply business after school in the mid 70's, we had one traffic lane cleaner, two detergents for carpet (liquid and powder), two deodorizers (perfume one and liquid oxidizer......yes way back then), a soil retardant, an antistatic spray, browning treatment, upholstery shampoo, dry cleaning solvent, a few spotters, and that was about it for the entire supply business.
Over time, manufacturers introduce new products that SHOULD replace their old ones, but the long time users of those products resist changing, so you have an "old" product and a "new product". About the only thing that kills an "old" product anymore is lack of available raw ingredients; although some manufacturers change the formula and not the name and label. Then there is a "newer" product to replace the last "new product", but those users won't change using the first new product, so now you have three products.
Of course then there are new products for new problems: Olefin cleaners, Haitian Cotton Cleaners (dying out as I type this) Red Dye Removers, safer "wet side" upholstery products, enzyme deodorizers, "Green Products" etc.
Now remember, this is all within one brand.
Add to the fact that very few distributors are "single brand" companies, but strive to carry the most popular "name brands" for their customers, and sometimes a few cutting edge brands that are not well known, but represent new technology not otherwise available.
This all adds up to high inventory costs, difficult training for sales people,and confusion in the marketplace.
Few things make me as happy as when a manufacturer tells me they've discontinued a product.
