Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of photographic equipment and supplies (except office equipment). Illustrative Examples: Photofinishing equipment merchant wholesalers Television cameras merchant wholesalers Photographic camera equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers Video cameras (except household-type) merchant wholesalers Photographic film and plates 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. |
| 4234 | Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of photographic equipment and supplies; office, computer, and computer peripheral equipment; and medical, dental, hospital, ophthalmic, and other commercial and professional equipment and supplies. |
| 42341 | Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 423410. |
| 423410 | Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of photographic equipment and supplies (except office equipment). Illustrative Examples: Photofinishing equipment merchant wholesalers Television cameras merchant wholesalers Photographic camera equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers Video cameras (except household-type) merchant wholesalers Photographic film and plates merchant wholesalers |
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Classification References
- 01Merchant wholesale distribution of household-type video cameras--are classified in Industry 423620, Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers;
- 02Merchant wholesale distribution of office equipment, such as photocopy and microfilm equipment--are classified in Industry 423420, Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers; and
- 03Selling video security systems and providing system installation, repair, or monitoring services (except closed-circuit (CCTV))--are classified in U.S. Industry 561621, Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths).
Index Items
Camcorders (except household-type) merchant wholesalers
Camera equipment and supplies, photographic, merchant wholesalers
Cameras, television, merchant wholesalers
Cameras, video (except household-type), merchant wholesalers
Charged coupled devices (CCD) merchant wholesalers
Developing apparatus, photographic, merchant wholesalers
Film developing equipment merchant wholesalers
Film finishing equipment merchant wholesalers
Film, camera, merchant wholesalers
Film, photographic, merchant wholesalers
Identity recorders merchant wholesalers
Motion picture cameras, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers
Photofinishing equipment merchant wholesalers
Photographic equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
Photographic film and plates merchant wholesalers
Printmaking apparatus, photographic, merchant wholesalers
Processing and finishing equipment, photographic, merchant wholesalers
Projection equipment (e.g., motion picture, slide), photographic, merchant wholesalers
Television cameras merchant wholesalers
Theater equipment (except seats) merchant wholesalers
Video cameras (except household-type) merchant wholesalers
Wearable video cameras (except household-type) merchant wholesalers
How Item Can Help
The Warehouse Management System optimizes inventory levels for diverse photographic equipment by tracking serial numbers and expiration dates, reducing shrinkage and ensuring fast access to high-value items.
The Order Management System streamlines the fulfillment of complex customer orders requiring specialized packaging or immediate shipping to local photographers, cutting delivery times and enhancing service quality.
Data Intelligence provides predictive analytics on emerging camera technologies and lens trends, enabling wholesalers to adjust their inventory mix proactively and identify lucrative sourcing opportunities before competitors.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 423410.
Photographers Association of America
Industry association representing photographers, vendors, and suppliers in the photographic equipment market.
U.S. Census Bureau Trade Data
Official government dataset providing annual economic statistics for wholesale trade of photographic equipment and supplies.
Wholesale Camera and Photo Supply Association
Directory and information portal for independent wholesale distributors of camera and photo equipment.
