To easily retrieve stores which have articles in stock and are suitable to consumers without increasing the burdens on the stores and consumers.

When the respective stores A to C order articles to a maker 11, the maker 11 delivers the articles to the stores. A consumer 14 accesses an article Web page of the maker 11 through the Internet 19 and refers to information on the stores A to C which sell the articles in the article Web page. The consumer 14 selects a store suitable for the purchase of an article according to the store information. The consumer 14 goes to the store and buys the article when the consumer likes.