Hardware Wholesaling in Australia - Industry Market Research Report

Out the window: Wholesale bypass has been sanding down revenue and profit

Trends in building construction heavily influence hardware wholesalers. Intense competition has been associated with structural change across the hardware and building supplies industries, which has put pressure on wholesalers. Escalating wholesale bypass trends have also affected hardware wholesalers, as more retailers have been sourcing products directly from manufacturers or import agents. Large hardware wholesalers, like Bunnings and Mitre 10, have undertaken strategic acquisitions to extend their wholesale operations. Market share concentration is low, as most hardware wholesalers are small-scale establishments that must contend with both wholesaler bypass and stiff competition from larger wholesalers. Leading hardware distributors are increasingly leveraging digital technology to build, deliver and sustain new and meaningful customer experiences to avoid wholesale bypass trends.

Industry firms primarily wholesale a range of hardware products including building supplies, tools, doors and windows. The industry does not include firms that wholesale timber and plumbing products.

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.