Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of office machines and related equipment (except computers and computer peripheral equipment). Illustrative Examples: Automated teller machines (ATM) merchant wholesalers Calculators and calculating machines merchant wholesalers Cash registers merchant wholesalers Security safes merchant wholesalers Copying machines merchant wholesalers Point of sale terminals merchant wholesalers Paper shredders 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. |
| 42342 | Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 423420. |
| 423420 | Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of office machines and related equipment (except computers and computer peripheral equipment). Illustrative Examples: Automated teller machines (ATM) merchant wholesalers Calculators and calculating machines merchant wholesalers Cash registers merchant wholesalers Security safes merchant wholesalers Copying machines merchant wholesalers Point of sale terminals merchant wholesalers Paper shredders merchant wholesalers |
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Classification References
- 01Merchant wholesale distribution of office furniture--are classified in Industry 423210, Furniture Merchant Wholesalers;
- 02Merchant wholesale distribution of computers and computer peripheral equipment (including printers)--are classified in Industry 423430, Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers;
- 03Merchant wholesale distribution of office supplies--are classified in Industry 424120, Stationery and Office Supplies Merchant Wholesalers; and
- 04Merchant wholesale distribution of facsimile (fax) machines, modems, and communications equipment--are classified in Industry 423690, Other Electronic Parts and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers.
Index Items
Accounting machines merchant wholesalers
Addressing machines merchant wholesalers
Automated teller machines (ATM) merchant wholesalers
Bank equipment merchant wholesalers
Blueprinting equipment merchant wholesalers
Bookkeeping machines merchant wholesalers
Business machines and equipment (except computers) merchant wholesalers
Calculators and calculating machines merchant wholesalers
Cash registers merchant wholesalers
Check handling machines merchant wholesalers
Coin sorting machines merchant wholesalers
Copying machines merchant wholesalers
Currency handling machines merchant wholesalers
Dictating machines merchant wholesalers
Forms handling machines merchant wholesalers
Labeling machines merchant wholesalers
Letter and envelope handling machines merchant wholesalers
Machines, office, merchant wholesalers
Mailing machines merchant wholesalers
Microfilm equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
Office equipment merchant wholesalers
Office machines merchant wholesalers
Paper shredders merchant wholesalers
Perforating machines merchant wholesalers
Point of sale terminals merchant wholesalers
Postage meters merchant wholesalers
Safes, security, merchant wholesalers
Security safes merchant wholesalers
Stapling machines merchant wholesalers
Tape dispensing machines merchant wholesalers
Time recording machines merchant wholesalers
Typewriters merchant wholesalers
How Item Can Help
The Warehouse Management System provides real-time inventory visibility for diverse office equipment like computers and printers, ensuring accurate stock levels across multiple distribution centers to prevent stockouts or overstocking.
The Order Management System streamlines order fulfillment by automatically matching orders to the nearest inventory location, reducing shipping costs and delivery times for wholesale clients requiring urgent equipment.
Advanced analytics tools identify sales trends and demand patterns for specific office supply categories, allowing businesses to optimize procurement, manage supplier relationships, and forecast future inventory needs accurately.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 423420.
National Association of Manufacturers
A US government-backed platform providing data and analysis on manufacturing sectors including office equipment.
North American Industry Classification System
The official US Census Bureau directory defining the specific industry code 423420 for office equipment merchant wholesalers.
WholesaleClub
A major online directory of wholesale office equipment suppliers serving the B2B market for this sector.
