Analysis
NAICS 424120 is the 2022 national industry for stationery and office supplies merchant wholesalers, part of 42412 (Stationery and Office Supplies Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 44 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 22% and employment fell 22%. 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 3,190 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 54,346 people at an average annual payroll of $62,086 per employee (37th percentile of national industries). 58% 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 albums, photo, merchant wholesalers, binders, looseleaf, merchant wholesalers, blankbooks merchant wholesalers and books, sales or receipt, merchant wholesalers, among 44 in all.
For example, the merchant wholesale distribution of bulk printing and/or writing paper are classified in 424110 (Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Census lists 1 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 424110. 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.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of stationery, office supplies, and/or gift wrap.
Illustrative Examples:
Photocopy supplies merchant wholesalers Envelopes merchant wholesalers Social stationery merchant wholesalers File cards and folders merchant wholesalers Greeting cards merchant wholesalers Office paper (e.g., printer, copier) merchant wholesalers Writing pens merchant wholesalers Pencils merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| The merchant wholesale distribution of bulk printing and/or writing paper | 424110 Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (44)
- Albums, photo, merchant wholesalers
- Binders, looseleaf, merchant wholesalers
- Blankbooks merchant wholesalers
- Books, sales or receipt, merchant wholesalers
- Cards, greeting, merchant wholesalers
- Cartridge toner merchant wholesalers
- Cellophane tape merchant wholesalers
- Commercial stationery supplies merchant wholesalers
- Computer paper supplies merchant wholesalers
- Desk accessories, office, merchant wholesalers
- Envelopes merchant wholesalers
- File cards and folders merchant wholesalers
- Filler paper, looseleaf, merchant wholesalers
- Folders, file, merchant wholesalers
- Forms, paper (e.g., business, office, sales), merchant wholesalers
- Gift wrapping paper merchant wholesalers
- Greeting cards merchant wholesalers
- Gummed tapes, cellophane, merchant wholesalers
- Ink, writing, merchant wholesalers
- Inked ribbons merchant wholesalers
- Inks, pastes, and solvents, office, merchant wholesalers
- Looseleaf binders merchant wholesalers
- Manifold business forms merchant wholesalers
- Marking devices merchant wholesalers
- Notebooks merchant wholesalers
- Office supplies (except furniture, machines) merchant wholesalers
- Paper, office (e.g., printer, copier), merchant wholesalers
- Pencils merchant wholesalers
- Pens, writing, merchant wholesalers
- Photo albums merchant wholesalers
- Photocopy supplies merchant wholesalers
- Postcards merchant wholesalers
- Printing paper (except bulk) merchant wholesalers
- Receipt books merchant wholesalers
- Ribbons, inked, merchant wholesalers
- Rubber stamps merchant wholesalers
- Sales books merchant wholesalers
- Scrapbooks merchant wholesalers
- Social stationery merchant wholesalers
- Stationery supplies merchant wholesalers