Variant of NAICS 1997 - Goods and services

41-91 - Services

41 - Wholesale Trade

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling merchandise and providing related logistics, marketing and support services. The wholesaling process is generally an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise; many wholesalers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in large quantities to retailers, and business and institutional clients. However, some wholesalers, in particular those that supply non-consumer capital goods, sell merchandise in single units to final users.

This sector recognizes two main types of wholesalers, that is, wholesale merchants and wholesale agents and brokers.

Wholesale Merchants

Wholesale merchants buy and sell merchandise on their own account, that is, they take title to the goods they sell. They generally operate from warehouse or office locations and they may ship from their own inventory or arrange for the shipment of goods directly from the supplier to the client. In addition to the sale of goods, they may provide, or arrange for the provision of, logistics, marketing and support services, such as packaging and labelling, inventory management, shipping, handling of warranty claims, in-store or co-op promotions, and product training. Dealers of machinery and equipment, such as dealers of farm machinery and heavy-duty trucks, also fall within this category.

Wholesale merchants are known by a variety of trade designations depending on their relationship with suppliers or customers, or the distribution method they employ. Examples include wholesale merchants, wholesale distributors, drop shippers, rack-jobbers, import-export merchants, buying groups, dealer-owned cooperatives and banner wholesalers.

The first eight subsectors of wholesale trade comprise wholesale merchants. The grouping of these establishments into industry groups and industries is based on the merchandise line or lines supplied by the wholesaler.

Wholesale Agents and Brokers

Wholesale agents and brokers buy and sell merchandise owned by others on a fee or commission basis. They do not take title to the goods they buy or sell, and they generally operate at or from an office location.

Wholesale agents and brokers are known by a variety of trade designations including import-export agents, wholesale commission agents, wholesale brokers, and manufacturer's representatives and agents.

417 - Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling farm, lawn and garden machinery and equipment; construction, forestry, mining and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies; computers and communication equipment and supplies; and other machinery, equipment and supplies.

4179 - Other Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling office, store, service industry, professional and other machinery, equipment and supplies.

41791 - Office and Store Machinery and Equipment Wholesaler-Distributors

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling new and used office and store machinery and equipment furniture and fixtures

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • wholesaling computers and other data processing machines (See 41731 Computer, Computer Peripheral and Pre-Packaged Software Wholesaler-Distributors)
  • wholesaling stationery and office supplies (See 41821 Stationery and Office Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors)
  • retailing new office furniture (See 44211 Furniture Stores)

417910 - Office and Store Machinery and Equipment Wholesaler-Distributors

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling new and used office and store machinery and equipment furniture and fixtures.

• Example Activities:

  • Business machines, wholesale
  • Commercial cooling and refrigeration equipment and supplies, wholesale
  • Coolers, beverage and drinking water, mechanical, wholesale
  • Desk calculators (including electric and electronic), wholesale
  • Dictating machines, wholesale
  • Display cases and fixtures, for office and store, wholesale
  • Drinking fountains, refrigerated, wholesale
  • Duplicating machines, wholesale
  • Facsimile machinery, sales and service, wholesale
  • Fixtures, refrigerated, wholesale
  • Furniture and fixtures, office and store, wholesale
  • Ice making machines, wholesale
  • Machines, commercial (except electronic computers), wholesale
  • Machines, office, wholesale
  • Mail handling machines, wholesale
  • Mannequins, wholesale
  • Microfilm equipment and supplies, wholesale
  • Office furniture, wholesale
  • Office machines and equipment (except electronic data processing equipment), wholesale
  • Partitions, wholesale
  • Photocopy machines, wholesale
  • Refrigeration and cooling equipment and supplies, commercial, wholesale
  • Scales, wholesale
  • Shelving, wholesale
  • Show cases, refrigerated, wholesale
  • Soda fountain fixtures, refrigerated, wholesale
  • Store equipment (except furniture), wholesale
  • Typewriters, wholesale
  • Vaults and safes, wholesale