SIC 5193 Flowers, Nursery Stock, and Florists' Supplies

SIC 5193

This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of flowers, nursery stock, and florists' supplies.

NAICS CODE(S)

424930

Flower, Nursery Stock and Florists' Supplies Wholesalers

444220

Nursery and Garden Centers

According to the D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions 2006 industry report, there were 9,126 businesses in this industry with annual sales of $9.1 billion. The total number of employees also increased to 86,292. The average sales per establishment totaled about $1 million.

In the Floriculture and Nursery Crop Outlook report released by the USDA, the estimated total sales for floriculture crops in 2006 was valued at $5.4 billion; nursery crops were estimated at $11 billion; and floriculture and nursery were estimated to be $16.5 billion. Floriculture crop sales were growing fastest in the South and Northeast, while the Midwest and West saw sales decline in 2005. Bedding and garden plants and flowers were the largest groups in the floriculture crops and made up approximately 66 percent of annual floriculture sales in the Midwest. It accounted for 56 percent in the Northeast; 43 percent in the South; and 38 percent in the West.

The industry is divided into two general categories: Wholesalers primarily engaged in the distribution of flowers and florists' supplies, and wholesalers engaged in the distribution of nursery stock. Flowers and florists' supplies contributed about 28 percent of its sales, and nursery stock generated about 26 percent of its sales. Combined they generated approximately $3.8 billion.

The majority of companies in this classification were small, employing fewer than five persons. In 2004, 2,201 companies had fewer than five employees; 900 had between five and nine employees; 771 had between 10 and 19; 604 had between 20 and 99; 63 had between 100 and 499; and eight had 500 or more employees. Like other industries of its kind, the wholesale flowers, nursery stock, and florists' supplies industry continue to experience a decline in the number of establishments. However, averages sales per grower increased 28 percent from 2000 to 2005.

The largest group, which had 4,300 units, reported sales between $100,000 and $249,000 in 1997, according to Dun's Census of American Business. The next biggest category included slightly larger operations with gross revenues between $250,000 and $499,000 that year with 1,754 wholesalers. More than 1,500...