Analysis
NAICS 423410 is the 2022 national industry for photographic equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers, part of 42341 (Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 22 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 25% and employment fell 38%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 485 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 6,620 people at an average annual payroll of $96,353 per employee (81st percentile of national industries). 55% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include camcorders (except household-type) merchant wholesalers, camera equipment and supplies, photographic, merchant…, cameras, television, merchant wholesalers and cameras, video (except household-type), merchant wholesalers, among 22 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423620, 423420 and 561621. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of household-type video cameras are classified in 423620 (Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
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
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of household-type video cameras | 423620 Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of office equipment, such as photocopy and microfilm equipment | 423420 Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
| Selling video security systems and providing system installation, repair, or monitoring services (except closed-circuit (CCTV)) | 561621 Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) |
Index entries (22)
- 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