NAICS 424310 Quarterly Industry Report
Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 424310Sector: Wholesale Trade (42)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 424310 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and Small Business Administration[6] to profile the piece goods and dry goods wholesale sector. Our research team analyzes textile trade flow data and fabric market patterns to provide accurate intelligence for business valuation purposes. The report covers SBA size standards, related NAICS classifications, and import sourcing dynamics affecting fabric distribution. Fair Market Value updates this NAICS 424310 profile quarterly to reflect new Census releases and textile trade developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the piece goods, notions, and other dry goods merchant wholesalers industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 424310) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of piece goods (fabrics), knitting yarns (except industrial), thread, sewing notions, and hair accessories. Product lines include woven and knit fabrics sold by the bolt or roll, fashion trims, buttons, zippers, elastic, ribbon, sewing patterns, embroidery supplies, and decorative textiles. This industry connects textile mills and imported fabric sources with garment manufacturers, craft retailers, upholstery shops, and institutional buyers.
The industry has contracted significantly as domestic garment manufacturing moved offshore, reducing the customer base for wholesale fabric distribution in the United States. Surviving wholesalers have adapted by serving the home sewing and craft market, small-batch fashion designers, costume makers, and commercial upholstery operations. Import sourcing has become central to the business, with wholesalers acting as intermediaries for fabrics produced in Asia, South America, and Europe. Hair accessories and fashion notions distribution represents a growing segment, serving beauty supply stores and fashion accessory retailers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], merchant wholesalers take title to textile goods before distributing them, distinguishing them from fabric converters who have goods finished on contract.
The SBA[6] sets the size standard at 100 employees for this industry. Import tariffs and trade policy changes directly affect sourcing economics for fabric wholesalers who rely on offshore production. Fashion cycles create demand volatility, with trend-driven fabrics requiring quick inventory turns while basic textiles generate steadier reorder business. Los Angeles and New York remain the primary domestic centers for fabric wholesale distribution, supported by their garment district infrastructure and proximity to fashion design communities.
What's Included in This Industry
- Wholesale distribution of woven fabrics and piece goods
- Distribution of knitting yarns and craft fibers
- Wholesale of thread, sewing notions, and trims
- Distribution of buttons, zippers, and fasteners for apparel
- Wholesale of elastic, ribbon, and decorative textiles
- Distribution of hair accessories and fashion notions
- Wholesale of upholstery fabrics and drapery materials
- Distribution of sewing patterns and craft supplies
- Wholesale of imported textiles and fashion fabrics
- Distribution of embroidery supplies and needlework materials
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Wholesale Trade | 42 |
| Subsector | Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 424 |
| Industry Group | Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | 4243 |
| NAICS Industry | Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 42431 |
| National Industry | Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers | 424310 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 424340 | Footwear Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes footwear through wholesale channels, sharing apparel industry customer relationships and fashion-driven demand cycles with fabric and notions wholesalers |
| 424350 | Clothing and Clothing Accessories Merchant Wholesalers | Handles clothing and clothing accessories wholesale distribution, representing the downstream finished goods channel for fabrics distributed by piece goods wholesalers |
| 424990 | Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers | Covers other miscellaneous nondurable goods wholesalers including industrial yarns, which are specifically excluded from this piece goods and notions classification |
| 313110 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | Operates fiber, yarn, and thread mills that produce raw textile materials flowing into wholesale distribution channels for garment manufacturers and craft retailers |
| 313210 | Broadwoven Fabric Mills | Manufactures broadwoven fabric that represents a core product category distributed through piece goods wholesale channels to garment and upholstery customers |
| 313220 | Narrow Fabric Mills and Schiffli Machine Embroidery | Produces narrow fabric and schiffli machine embroidery that wholesalers distribute as trims and decorative textiles to fashion and craft industry buyers |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 33.4% | 972 |
| 2 | New York | 15.8% | 459 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.2% | 180 |
| 4 | Florida | 5.5% | 161 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 5.1% | 149 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 5.0% | 144 |
| 7 | Georgia | 2.9% | 83 |
| 8 | Illinois | 2.2% | 65 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 1.9% | 54 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 1.6% | 47 |
% Of Establishments
0%
33%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
248
Total SBA Loans
$163.3M
Total Loan Volume
$659K
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.15%
Average Interest Rate
1,792
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[6] classifies NAICS 424310 under merchant wholesale trade with a size standard of 100 employees. Businesses at or below this threshold qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Fabric wholesalers can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for inventory financing and import purchasing. Distributors expanding showroom or warehouse space may qualify for 504 loans[9]. International trade financing needs make SBA programs particularly relevant for wholesalers importing fabrics from overseas manufacturing sources.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CalPrivate Bank | 16 | $76.8M | $4.8M |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 24 | $23.6M | $983K |
| 3 | SouthState Bank, National Association | 16 | $18.2M | $1.1M |
| 4 | East West Bank | 8 | $15.7M | $2.0M |
| 5 | Northeast Bank | 48 | $8.3M | $173K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 424310?
NAICS 424310 includes merchant wholesalers distributing fabrics (piece goods), knitting yarns, thread, sewing notions, trims, buttons, zippers, hair accessories, and embroidery supplies. These firms buy from textile mills and import sources, then resell to garment manufacturers, craft retailers, and upholstery shops. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[5]
How is NAICS 424310 different from textile manufacturing?
NAICS 424310 covers wholesale distribution of finished textiles, not manufacturing. Textile mills fall under NAICS 313xxx codes. Fabric converters who buy greige goods and have them finished on contract are classified under NAICS 313310, not wholesale distribution. The distinction separates distribution from production and finishing.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 424310?
The SBA sets the size standard at 100 employees for piece goods, notions, and other dry goods merchant wholesalers. Businesses at or below this level qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA financing. Source: SBA Size Standards[6]
What NAICS codes are related to fabric wholesaling?
Related codes include 424340 (footwear wholesalers), 424350 (clothing wholesalers), 313110 (fiber and thread mills), 313210 (broadwoven fabric mills), and 313310 (textile finishing mills). These cover upstream manufacturing and parallel distribution channels. Source: Census NAICS[5]
What industries work closely with fabric wholesalers?
Primary customers include garment manufacturers, home sewing enthusiasts through craft stores, fashion designers, upholstery and drapery shops, costume makers, and quilting retailers. Upstream partners include domestic textile mills and international fabric producers. Fashion trend forecasting services help wholesalers anticipate demand patterns.
What products are included in NAICS 424310?
Products include woven and knit fabrics, knitting yarns (non-industrial), thread, buttons, zippers, elastic, ribbon, trims, hair accessories, sewing patterns, upholstery fabrics, embroidery supplies, and imported textiles. Industrial yarns are excluded and classified separately. Source: Census Bureau[5]
Can fabric wholesalers get SBA loans?
Yes, small businesses under NAICS 424310 can access SBA 7(a) loans for inventory financing and working capital, 504 loans for warehouse or showroom facilities, and international trade loans for import purchasing. Fashion season inventory buildups create peak financing needs. Source: SBA Loan Programs[10]
Where are fabric wholesalers concentrated geographically?
Fabric and notions wholesalers concentrate heavily in New York City (Manhattan's Garment District and surrounding areas) and Los Angeles. Secondary markets include Miami, Dallas, and Atlanta. Import-focused distributors locate near major container ports for efficient sourcing from Asian and European textile producers. Source: BLS QCEW[11]
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]SBA sba.gov
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
- [10]SBA Loan Programs sba.gov
- [11]BLS QCEW bls.gov
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