Finding and Selecting Wholesalers

Scott's National Industrial Selectory
Product information for approximately 81,000 Canadian companies - focus is on manufacturers, but also includes wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers' agents. Includes the following: contact information, products, line of business, size (revenue, number of employees & square meterage), executives, export indicator.  Limit of 30 records available per client.

Limited information is available through the Scott’s National Industrial Selectory Web site.

Canadian Business Disc
Brief information on approximately two million Canadian "businesses" (includes institutions such as churches, hospitals, libraries, colleges and schools).  For each company the information provided is: company name, address, telephone, type of business, company size (by number of employees and sales volume), and key contact individual.

Limit of 50 records available per client.  If you require in excess of 50 records, contact the company at 1-800-565-7224 in regard to the purchase of mailing lists.

Frasers Canadian Trade Directory         
A directory of over 40,000 manufacturers and distributors with over 30,000 product and service categories. Search by company name, product/service or brand name and further refine by geographic region.

Thomas Registry
This database includes both private and public company data for approximately 194,000 predominantly U.S. (and some Canadian) manufacturers and food service companies, classified under more than 50,000 product classes and over 110,000 brand names.

Limited information is available through the Thomas Register Web site. 

Recommended Internet Sites

Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Saskatchewan Manufacturers Guide    
Search manufacturer's in Saskatchewan by product, company, community, or NAICS code.

Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority, Buy Saskatoon  - Saskatoon Region Online Supplier Database

E-source, Canada's Online Industrial Directory & Buyers' Guide

Recommended Books in Our Library

Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre Saskatoon Reference Library search engine - once you have located a particular resource you think might be useful, please contact us at the CSBSC office and we will discuss the material with you.

International Directory of Agents Distributors and Wholesalers - 2 volumes
Shelf location:  SECTOR WHOLE/DIST .007S

Directory of Manufacturers' Sales Agencies 2000-2001 Members
Shelf location:  SECTOR MAN .010S

We have a number of trade journals (magazines specifically published for specific business types) in our library.  Search the library on our web site or contact a Business Information Specialist to assist you.

Dealing Directly with the Manufacturer

Where the Centre is unable to locate listings of wholesalers for various products or types of products, a list of manufacturers can be supplied.  Some manufacturers simply aren't able to handle small orders and don't sell products in small lots.  Their minimum lot policy may render it economically impossible for a retailer to deal with them directly.  While not all manufacturers will sell directly to retail levels, they will provide you with information on their products and refer you to their wholesalers/distributors who handle their products.

Other Sources of Information

• ASSOCIATIONS

Check with the association or the chamber of commerce you belong to or to which the product manufacturer would belong to.  In many cases, wholesalers/distributors are also members.

Many associations publish newsletters, magazines, buyer's guides and suppliers guides for the convenience of their members and directories to promote their members' products/services to potential customers.

For more information on the services provided by Associations or Chambers of Commerce see the document Selecting a Business Association.

• TRADE JOURNALS

Trade Journals (magazines specifically published for specific business types) are an invaluable resource. Many produce a special who's who issue once a year - or publish a separate buyer's guide.  The buyer's guide (sometimes called the Buyer's Directory or the Suppliers Guide or Directory) or a copy of the special back issue are often available without subscribing to the magazine.

For more information on trade journals and periodicals see the document
Magazines and Trade Journals.

• TRADE SHOWS

For some product lines, trade or industry shows are the best (if not only) way of locating products.  An example of this could be the gift, craft & novelty items -- often hand-made by artisans.  A retailer can spend years developing the "perfect" inventory and finding the suppliers for each and every item.  The Centre carries directories of trade/industry shows -- listings are available for regional, national and international events.  Check with the organizer before booking a trip to an out-of-town show.  If you are not already in the business (and able to prove it), or a member of the association sponsoring the trade show, check about admittance.  Some trade shows are closed to the general public.

For more information on dealing with wholesalers and some common wholesaler services see our Business Fact Sheets on:

       Selecting Your Supplier  
       Profit By Your Wholesaler's Services

For other business related information contact the:

Canada Business Service Centres are bound by the Official Languages Act and relevant Treasury Board policies. Therefore all information related to federal programs, services and regulations is available in both French and English. However, users should be aware that information from other levels of government and external sources is available only in the language(s) in which it was provided.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Links Policy
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.