Other Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers
Description
This industry comprises (1) establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of manufactured homes (i.e., mobile homes) and/or prefabricated buildings and (2) establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of construction materials (except lumber, plywood, millwork, wood panels, brick, stone, roofing, siding, electrical and wiring supplies, and insulation materials). Illustrative Examples: Flat glass merchant wholesalers Prefabricated buildings (except wood) merchant wholesalers Ornamental ironwork merchant wholesalers Fencing and fencing accessories (except wood) merchant wholesalers Plate glass merchant wholesalers Storage bins merchant wholesalers
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Wholesale Trade 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Wholesale Trade sector comprises establishments engaged in wholesaling merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The merchandise described in this sector includes the outputs of agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and certain information industries, such as publishing. The wholesaling process is an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise. Wholesalers are organized to sell or arrange the purchase or sale of (a) goods for resale (i.e., goods sold to other wholesalers or retailers), (b) capital or durable nonconsumer goods, and (c) raw and intermediate materials and supplies used in production. Wholesalers sell merchandise to other businesses and normally operate from a warehouse or office. These warehouses and offices are characterized by having little or no display of merchandise. In addition, neither the design nor the location of the premises is intended to solicit walk-in traffic. Wholesalers do not normally use advertising directed to the general public. Customers are generally reached initially via telephone, in-person marketing, or by specialized advertising that may include Internet and other electronic means. Follow-up orders are either vendor-initiated or client-initiated, generally based on previous sales, and typically exhibit strong ties between sellers and buyers. In fact, transactions are often conducted between wholesalers and clients that have long-standing business relationships. This sector comprises two main types of wholesalers: merchant wholesalers that sell goods on their own account and agents and brokers that arrange sales and purchases for others generally for a commission or fee. (1) Establishments that sell goods on their own account are known as wholesale merchants, distributors, jobbers, drop shippers, and import/export merchants. Also included as wholesale merchants are sales offices and sales branches (but not retail stores) maintained by manufacturing, refining, or mining enterprises apart from their plants or mines for the purpose of marketing their products, and group purchasing organizations primarily purchasing and selling goods on their own account. Merchant wholesale establishments typically maintain their own warehouse, where they receive and handle goods for their customers. Goods are generally sold without transformation, but may include integral functions, such as sorting, packaging, labeling, and other marketing services. (2) Establishments arranging for the purchase or sale of goods owned by others or purchasing goods, generally on a commission basis are known as business-to-business electronic markets, agents and brokers, commission merchants, import/export agents and brokers, auction companies, group purchasing organizations (acting as agents), and manufacturers' representatives. These establishments operate from offices and generally do not own or handle the goods they sell. Some wholesale establishments may be connected with a single manufacturer and promote and sell the particular manufacturer's products to a wide range of other wholesalers or retailers. Other wholesalers may be connected to a retail chain, or limited number of retail chains, and only provide a variety of products needed by that particular retail operation(s). These wholesalers may obtain the products from a wide range of manufacturers. Still other wholesalers may not take title to the goods, but act as agents and brokers for a commission. Although, in general, wholesaling normally denotes sales in large volumes, durable nonconsumer goods may be sold in single units. Sales of capital or durable nonconsumer goods used in the production of goods and services, such as farm machinery, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and industrial machinery, are always included in wholesale trade. |
| 423 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods subsector sell capital or durable goods to other businesses. Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell; in other words, they buy and sell goods on their own account. Durable goods are new or used items generally with a normal life expectancy of three years or more. Durable goods merchant wholesale trade establishments are engaged in wholesaling products, such as motor vehicles, furniture, construction materials, machinery and equipment (including household-type appliances), metals and minerals (except petroleum), sporting goods, toys and hobby goods, recyclable materials, and parts. Agents and brokers primarily engaged in wholesaling durable goods, generally on a commission or fee basis, are classified in Subsector 425, Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers. |
| 4233 | Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of lumber, plywood, millwork, and wood panels; brick, stone, and related construction materials; roofing, siding, and insulation materials; and other construction materials, including manufactured homes (i.e., mobile homes) and/or prefabricated buildings. |
| 42339 | Other Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 423390. |
| 423390 | Other Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises (1) establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of manufactured homes (i.e., mobile homes) and/or prefabricated buildings and (2) establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of construction materials (except lumber, plywood, millwork, wood panels, brick, stone, roofing, siding, electrical and wiring supplies, and insulation materials). Illustrative Examples: Flat glass merchant wholesalers Prefabricated buildings (except wood) merchant wholesalers Ornamental ironwork merchant wholesalers Fencing and fencing accessories (except wood) merchant wholesalers Plate glass merchant wholesalers Storage bins merchant wholesalers |
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Classification References
- 01Merchant wholesale distribution of products of the primary metals industries--are classified in Industry 423510, Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers;
- 02Merchant wholesale distribution of lumber; plywood; reconstituted wood fiber products; wood fencing; doors, windows, and their frames; wood roofing and wood siding; and other wood or metal millwork--are classified in Industry 423310, Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers;
- 03Merchant wholesale distribution of stone, cement, lime, construction sand and gravel; brick; asphalt and concrete mixtures (except ready-mix concrete); and/or concrete, stone, and structural clay products--are classified in Industry 423320, Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers;
- 04Merchant wholesale distribution of nonwood roofing and nonwood siding and insulation materials--are classified in Industry 423330, Roofing, Siding, and Insulation Material Merchant Wholesalers;
- 05Merchant wholesale distribution of electrical supplies and wiring supplies--are classified in Industry 423610, Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers; and
- 06Selling ready-mix concrete--are classified in Industry 327320, Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing.
Index Items
Architectural metalwork merchant wholesalers
Awnings (except canvas) merchant wholesalers
Bailey bridges merchant wholesalers
Bins, storage, merchant wholesalers
Building materials, fiberglass (except insulation, roofing, siding), merchant wholesalers
Building paper merchant wholesalers
Buildings, prefabricated nonwood, merchant wholesalers
Ceiling tile merchant wholesalers
Countertops (except wood, wood fiber, stone, concrete) merchant wholesalers
Culvert pipe, metal and plastics, merchant wholesalers
Fencing and fencing accessories (except wood) merchant wholesalers
Fiberglass building materials (except insulation, roofing, siding) merchant wholesalers
Flat glass merchant wholesalers
Gate and fence hardware merchant wholesalers
Glass, block and brick, merchant wholesalers
Glass, plate, merchant wholesalers
Gypsum building products merchant wholesalers
Iron and steel architectural shapes merchant wholesalers
Manufactured (i.e., mobile) homes merchant wholesalers
Mastics, construction, merchant wholesalers
Metal buildings merchant wholesalers
Ornamental ironwork merchant wholesalers
Paper, building, merchant wholesalers
Plate glass merchant wholesalers
Prefabricated buildings (except wood) merchant wholesalers
Septic tanks (except concrete) merchant wholesalers
Silt fence and other fabrics (e.g., for erosion control) merchant wholesalers
Storage bins merchant wholesalers
Structural assemblies, prefabricated (except wood), merchant wholesalers
How Item Can Help
This tool optimizes inventory levels by consolidating construction materials across multiple warehouses, reducing carrying costs for bulky items like lumber and steel. It also automates replenishment orders to ensure high-demand supplies arrive exactly when needed for customer projects.
OMS streamlines the complex ordering process for construction material wholesalers by integrating with construction professionals' procurement needs and large-scale job sites. It provides real-time visibility into order status, allowing businesses to prioritize high-value shipments and improve delivery reliability.
Advanced analytics identify shifting trends in material demand, enabling wholesalers to forecast shortages for specific projects or regions before they occur. This intelligence supports strategic buying decisions, helping inventory managers avoid overstocking slow-moving items and understocking fast-selling products.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 423390.
National Association of Home Builders
Leading trade association providing resources and advocacy for the construction and home building industry.
US Census Bureau NAICS Code 423390
Government page detailing statistical data and definitions for construction material wholesale merchants.
Construction Materials Suppliers Directory
Directory listing global suppliers and distributors of construction materials and related components.
