Other Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of commercial and related machines and equipment (except photographic equipment and supplies; office equipment; and computers and computer peripheral equipment and software) generally used in restaurants and stores. Illustrative Examples: Balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers Commercial shelving merchant wholesalers Coin- or card-operated merchandising machine merchant wholesalers Electrical signs merchant wholesalers Commercial chinaware merchant wholesalers Partitions merchant wholesalers Commercial cooking equipment merchant wholesalers Store fixtures (except refrigerated) 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. |
| 42344 | Other Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 423440. |
| 423440 | Other Commercial Equipment Merchant Wholesalers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of commercial and related machines and equipment (except photographic equipment and supplies; office equipment; and computers and computer peripheral equipment and software) generally used in restaurants and stores. Illustrative Examples: Balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers Commercial shelving merchant wholesalers Coin- or card-operated merchandising machine merchant wholesalers Electrical signs merchant wholesalers Commercial chinaware merchant wholesalers Partitions merchant wholesalers Commercial cooking equipment merchant wholesalers Store fixtures (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers |
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Classification References
- 01Merchant wholesale distribution of photographic equipment and supplies--are classified in Industry 423410, Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers;
- 02Merchant wholesale distribution of office machines and related equipment--are classified in Industry 423420, Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers;
- 03Merchant wholesale distribution of computers, computer peripheral equipment, and packaged computer software--are classified in Industry 423430, Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers;
- 04Merchant wholesale distribution of laboratory scales and balances (except medical and dental)--are classified in Industry 423490, Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers; and
- 05Merchant wholesale distribution of refrigerated store fixtures--are classified in Industry 423740, Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers.
Index Items
Balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers
Bar equipment merchant wholesalers
Chinaware, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Coffee makers, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Coin- or card-operated merchandising machine merchant wholesalers
Coin- or card-operated phonographs and vending machines merchant wholesalers
Cooking equipment, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Cups, commercial (except paper and disposable plastics), merchant wholesalers
Dishes, commercial (except paper and disposable plastics), merchant wholesalers
Dishwashing equipment, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
Display cases (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
Electrical signs merchant wholesalers
Fixtures, store (except refrigerated), merchant wholesalers
Food service equipment (except refrigerated), commercial, merchant wholesalers
Garbage disposal units, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
Hotel equipment and supplies (except furniture) merchant wholesalers
Kitchen appliances, commercial (except refrigerated), merchant wholesalers
Kitchen utensils, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Lockers (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
Mannequins merchant wholesalers
Merchandising machines, coin- or card-operated, merchant wholesalers
Microwave ovens, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Ovens, commercial-type, merchant wholesalers
Pans, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Partitions merchant wholesalers
Phonographs, coin- or card-operated, merchant wholesalers
Restaurant equipment (except furniture) merchant wholesalers
Shelving, commercial, merchant wholesalers
Showcases (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
Signs, electrical, merchant wholesalers
Soda fountain fixtures (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
Store equipment (except furniture) merchant wholesalers
Store fixtures (except refrigerated) merchant wholesalers
Vending machines merchant wholesalers
Window display equipment merchant wholesalers
Woodenware, commercial, merchant wholesalers
How Item Can Help
Optimizes warehouse storage for bulky commercial equipment by implementing high-bay racking and automated guided vehicles to maximize vertical space and reduce manual handling costs.
Enables rapid cross-docking of multiple distinct equipment models, ensuring parts orders for different manufacturers are consolidated and shipped within 24 hours without long-term storage.
Predicts seasonal demand surges for specific machinery like HVAC units or forklifts by analyzing regional weather patterns and competitor inventory levels to adjust procurement strategies.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 423440.
International Trade Administration
US government page providing data and resources on commercial equipment warehousing and distribution.
National Association of Commercial Real Estate Investors
Trade association offering market research and networking for wholesale equipment distributors.
Commercial Equipment Manufacturers Association
Industry organization dedicated to manufacturers and distributors of commercial equipment.
