Furniture & Home Furnishings Wholesalers

The 10,000 furniture and home furnishings wholesalers in the US resell furniture and home furnishings to retailers, builders, and other commercial customers. Major product categories include flooring and floor coverings; office and business furniture; household and lawn furniture; and linens, domestics, curtains, and draperies. Most companies are small, independent operators that serve a local market.

Competition From Alternative Sources

Furniture and home furnishings wholesalers face competition from a variety of alternative sources, including manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and other channels which allow customers to buy direct.

Dependence On Housing And Construction

The furniture and home furnishings wholesale industry is highly dependent on downstream demand from the housing and construction markets, which is influenced by economic factors.

Sep 28, 2026 - Customs Scrutiny Raises Wholesale Costs

• New US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) verification requirements implemented in September are raising costs and supply-chain risks for furniture and home furnishings wholesalers that rely on imports, according to a Furniture Today report. According to the article, CBP has increased verification of importer identities, country of origin, product classifications and valuations, with particular attention to transshipment concerns. Importers that cannot meet the requirements risk shipment delays or losing their ability to bring goods into the US. For wholesalers, the biggest impacts are higher compliance and customs-broker costs, greater inventory and stockout risk if shipments are held, and more extensive supplier verification. Smaller importers may also find the added burden difficult to absorb, potentially shifting business toward larger wholesalers with stronger compliance capabilities.
• According to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor for July 2026, furniture and home furnishings store sales rose just 2.71% year over year, well below the 5.15% increase in overall retail sales, pointing to relatively soft downstream demand for US furniture and home furnishings wholesalers. Sales also slipped 0.04% month over month, while total retail sales rose 0.32%. For wholesalers, slower retail growth may translate into more cautious ordering from furniture stores and tighter inventory management, particularly for discretionary and higher-priced products. Continued year-over-year sales growth still provides some support for shipments, but weaker category performance relative to overall retail suggests limited near-term momentum. Wholesalers may face added pressure to compete on pricing, product mix, and reliable inventory availability until furniture demand strengthens.
• New tariff actions announced in July by the Trump administration could significantly increase costs and complexity for US furniture and home furnishings wholesalers that rely on imported products, according to Furniture Today reports. A new 10% to 12.5% tariff on imports from 60 economies stacks with many existing duties, including Section 301 and antidumping tariffs, requiring wholesalers to evaluate products by classification, country of origin, and existing trade rules rather than relying on headline rates alone. A separate announcement imposing a 50% tariff on many Canadian imports, including furniture, beginning August 19, could further disrupt sourcing and raise costs even for products previously eligible for duty-free treatment under USMCA. Together, the measures may accelerate supplier diversification, complicate inventory planning and pricing, and pressure wholesalers' margins while increasing costs for downstream retailers and customers.
• Low brand loyalty among furniture shoppers could increase competition for US furniture and home furnishings wholesalers, as retailers and consumers remain willing to switch brands based on price, quality, and convenience, according to a Furniture Today report. Only one-third of consumers consider brand names important when purchasing furniture, and nearly half (47%) would buy a similar unbranded product if it were priced lower. Quality remains the primary driver of loyalty, while declining quality and price increases are the leading reasons consumers abandon brands. For wholesalers, the findings suggest that maintaining product quality, value, and reliable service may be more important than brand recognition alone. The survey also indicates continued furniture demand, with 12% of consumers reporting a furniture purchase in the past month, led by parents, Millennials, and Hispanic shoppers, providing opportunities for wholesalers that can align offerings with these customer segments.

Industry size & Structure

The average furniture and home furnishings wholesaler operates out of a single location, employs about 11 workers, and generates $14.3 million in annual revenue.

• The furniture and home furnishings wholesale industry consists of about 10,000 companies that employ 110,800 workers and generate about $157 billion annually.
• The industry is fragmented; the top 50 companies account for 36% of industry revenue.
• Most companies are small, independent operators that serve a local market. Large companies include Arc International North America (subsidiary of Arc International SA, glassware and tableware distributor), Global Furniture USA, Furniture Wholesale Group, AAA Furniture Wholesale, and Building Plastics, Inc. (floor coverings).
• Some large furniture and home furnishings manufacturers are vertically-integrated and operate wholesale distribution warehouses that sell direct to commercial customers.