The Unknown World of Wholesale Distribution

Wholesale distribution is a relatively unknown part of the supply chain. Most would not be aware that wholesale distribution contributes approximately $6 Trillion to the US economy, annually. Agriculture, alcoholic beverage, automotive parts, department stores, electrical and electronics, groceries, landscaping and nursery, lumber and building materials, medical, office paper, oil and gas, plants and floral, plumbing, power transmission, and restaurant and food are among the many industries served by wholesale distribution networks.
Limitless Opportunities

As large as the wholesale distribution industry is, few know about the tremendous opportunities for quality career employment in the industry. According to the National Association of Wholesalers (NAW), the wholesale distribution industry employs 5.93 million Americans, of which 4.77 million are production and non-supervisory. Even though more than 80% of these jobs are production and non-supervisory, the wages for the wholesale industry, in total, average more than $31.60 per hour (the average wage of the production and non-supervisory group is more than $26.30 per hour).

In spite of the fact that most of these positions do not require a four-year college education, they are non-shift work, Monday through Friday positions (for the most part), and they are not labor intensive, the industry still struggles to find quality individuals to join the industry.

At Stanion Wholesale Electric Co., we have the same problems. We offer good jobs and a trainee program for individuals to get on-the-job training for management, sales, or high-tech support positions. However, in today’s economy, we are unable to consistently attract the quality applicants needed.

Modern Distribution Sales and Management (MDSM)

In the last few years, Stanion Wholesale Electric Co. has partnered with Pratt Community College (PCC) to start and continue a program called Modern Distribution Sales and Management (MDSM) to ready candidates to enter the wholesale distribution industry. In turn, PCC has partnered with Kansas companies in the wholesale distribution industries to start an organization to promote the wholesale distribution industry in Kansas. Learn more about the Keep Kansas Running initiative from the Kansas Distribution Alliance at the following link:

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/09/25/2099338/0/en/Kansas-Distribution-Alliance-Launches-New-Initiative-to-Meet-High-Demand-for-Qualified-Candidates-in-Distribution-Careers.html

The wholesale distribution industry offers many career opportunities for individuals, with or without a college education. Those with a solid work ethic and a drive to succeed can find lifelong careers within the wholesale distribution industry.

Reference: https://www.naw.org