Variant of NAICS 1997 - Labour Force Survey (LFS) Industries

7 - Services-Producing Sector

8 - Trade

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.

414 - Personal and Household Goods Wholesaler-Distributors

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling textiles, clothing, footwear, home entertainment equipment, household appliances, home furnishings, personal articles, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, cosmetics and sundries.

4143 - Home Furnishings Wholesaler-Distributors

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling home furnishings, such as furniture, china, glassware, crockery and pottery, floor coverings, linens and draperies.

41439 - Other Home Furnishings Wholesaler-Distributors

This industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industy, primarily engaged in wholesaling furniture and other home furnishings, such as window accessories, blinds, pictures and picture frames, mirrors and decorative ware. Establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling a combination of home furnishings with none predominating are also included.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • wholesaling china and glassware, kitchen and tableware (See 41431 China, Glassware, Crockery and Pottery Wholesaler-Distributors)
  • wholesaling carpets and other floor coverings (See 41432 Floor Covering Wholesaler-Distributors)
  • wholesaling bedding, draperies and other textile furnishings (See 41433 Linen, Drapery and Other Textile Furnishings Wholesaler-Distributors)

414390 - Other Home Furnishings Wholesaler-Distributors

This Canadian industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industy, primarily engaged in wholesaling furniture and other home furnishings, such as window accessories, blinds, pictures and picture frames, mirrors and decorative ware. Establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling a combination of home furnishings with none predominating are also included.

• Example Activities:

  • Art and decorative ware, household, wholesale
  • Bamboo furniture, wholesale
  • Baskets, boxes, cans and bags, household, wholesale
  • Bedroom furniture, wholesale
  • Blinds, window, wholesale
  • Box springs and mattresses, wholesale
  • Decorative window accessories, wholesale
  • Dining room furniture, wholesale
  • Frames and pictures, wholesale
  • Furnishings, household, wholesale
  • Furniture, household, office, restaurant and public building, wholesale
  • Furniture, household, wholesale
  • Household furniture, wholesale
  • Lawn furniture, wholesale
  • Mattresses and box springs, wholesale
  • Mirrors (except automotive), wholesale
  • Patio furniture, wholesale
  • Public building furniture, wholesale
  • Wall decorations, household, wholesale
  • Window shades and blinds, wholesale