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Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2012-2027)

Evan Jozkowski Evan Jozkowski New York, United States Last Updated: June 2022 NAICS 42432

Revenue

$44.7bn

2022

$44.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

55,290

Businesses

8,349

Wages

$X.Xbn

Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

The Men's and Boys' Apparel Wholesaling industry has experienced significant operating challenges over the five years to 2022. Operators have been continually phased out as manufacturers opt for direct-to-consumer (DTC) selling via e-commerce platforms. Similarly, the highly discretionary nature of clothing purchases leaves industry demand vulnerable to economic cycles, particularly those that affect national household income levels and consumer spending. Moreover, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has generated the most significant revenue contraction in recent industry history, with declines from reduced consumer spending exacerbated by restrictions on brick-and-mortar retail shopping. Overall, total revenue has decreased an annualized 6.5% over the five years to $44.7 billion in 2022. Additionally, profit is expected to decline during the same period. Despite an economic recovery, revenue is expected to decrease 0.6% in 2022, as operators continue to experience pressure from external competition.The pandemic affected industry demand in terms of consumer spending, supply and sales channels. In terms of consumer spending, the pandemic and ensuing economic fallout have precipitated a substantial increase in national unemployment, tapering general discretionary purchases and increasing the proportion of price-sensitive consumers. Since industry products experience competition in terms of substitutes and price, a substantial portion of demand is expected to be lost due to these dynamics. Similarly, federal social-distancing guidelines have forced many retail outlets to cease operations to limit in-person interactions. As a result, e-commerce platforms currently represent the most viable channel for retail purchases, further exacerbating external competition for wholesale.Following the pandemic, demand for the industry is expected to decline, albeit at a slower rate, as the overall economy recovers. Overall, total revenue is expected to decrease an annualized 0.2% over the five years to 2027, totaling $43.3 billion. With expected growth in consumer spending, disposable income and declining unemployment, IBISWorld expects an increase in discretionary purchases among consumers. Despite the recovery from macroeconomic indicators, the rise of e-commerce platforms will be too much to handle, as it will continue to encroach on wholesale revenue. Furthermore, demand from major retailers is expected to slow down, hindering revenue.

Trends and Insights

  • The pandemic proved ruinous for Men’s and Boy’s Apparel Wholesalers. Formal wear was especially susceptible after most gatherings were halted.
  • Casual wear has outstripped formal clothing, necessitating a shift in the products wholesalers provide. Wholesalers that rely on formal wear are set to see their demand suffer.
  • Wholesalers flock to serve affluent and highly populated regions. New York and California have dominated the market.
  • Wholesalers have faced heavy competition from direct, low-cost overseas manufacturers. In fact, men’s and boy’s apparel wholesalers are being phased out in favor of online and direct-to-consumer sales.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2012-2027)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $44.7bn in 2022.

Trends and Insights

Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US
Revenue (2012-2027)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2022
Revenue ($m)
2022
Profit ($m)
2022
Profit Margin (%)
2022
Hanesbrands Inc.
2,638.1
375.6
14.2

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Products & Services Segmentation

Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Suits, coats and formal wear, Underwear and sleepwear and Other. Suits, coats and formal wear is the largest segment of the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry purchase men’s and boys’ clothing from apparel manufacturers and sell these products to retailers, generally with minimal or no further product development. Most wholesalers in this industry undertake sales and administrative activities, such as establishing relationships with manufacturers and retailers, marketing and advertising their products, and storing and transporting stock.

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling men's and boys' glovesWholesaling men's and boys' hats and capsWholesaling men's and boys' neckwearWholesaling men's and boys' outerwearWholesaling men's and boys' sportswearWholesaling suitsWholesaling men's and boys' swimwearWholesaling office attire

Companies

Hanesbrands Inc.

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Related Terms

THE AMERICAN APPAREL & FOOTWEAR ASSOCIATION (AAFA)EXTENSIBLE MARKUP LANGUAGE (XML)RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)WHOLESALE BYPASS

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42432 - Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The pandemic proved ruinous for Men’s and Boy’s Apparel Wholesalers. Formal wear was especially susceptible after most gatherings were halted.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2012-2021) and forecast (2022-2027)
  • Employees, including historical (2012-2021) and forecast (2022-2027)
  • Businesses, including historical (2012-2021) and forecast (2022-2027)
  • Profit, including historical (2012-2022)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Casual wear has outstripped formal clothing, necessitating a shift in the products wholesalers provide. Wholesalers that rely on formal wear are set to see their demand suffe...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2022
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2022
  • Major market segmentation in 2022

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers flock to serve affluent and highly populated regions. New York and California have dominated the market.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2022

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2022
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2022
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2022
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2022

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers have faced heavy competition from direct, low-cost overseas manufacturers. In fact, men’s and boy’s apparel wholesalers are being phased out in favor of online an...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2017-2022
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Only one company has accumulated more than 1.0% of the total market share. Hanes Brands has a strong portfolio of casual wear, sleepwear and underwear brands.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2018 through 2022
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2022
  • Overview of Hanesbrands Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2016 through 2022

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Hanesbrands Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry remains heavily dependent on unskilled labor. Larger wholesalers have a higher capital intensity since they maintain larger inventories and integrate newer techn...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2012-2027) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2012-2027) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchase prices skyrocketed as the industry’s supply chain contracted amid the pandemic. Many wholesalers have lowered costs by purchasing overseas.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2022
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2022
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2015-2020)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2015-2020)
  • Income Statement (2015-2020)
  • Balance Sheet (2015-2020)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2015-2020)
  • Coverage Ratios (2015-2020)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2015-2020)
  • Operating Ratios (2015-2020)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2012-2027)
  • Revenue per Employee (2012-2027)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2012-2027)
  • Employees per Establishment (2012-2027)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2012-2027)
  • Average Wage (2012-2027)
  • Wages/Revenue (2012-2027)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2012-2027)
  • IVA/Revenue (2012-2027)
  • Imports/Demand (2012-2027)
  • Exports/Revenue (2012-2027)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2012-2027)
  • IVA (2012-2027)
  • Establishments (2012-2027)
  • Enterprises (2012-2027)
  • Employment (2012-2027)
  • Exports (2012-2027)
  • Imports (2012-2027)
  • Wages (2012-2027)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $44.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in 2022?

There are 8,349 businesses in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2017 and 2022.

Has the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 6.5 % between 2017 and 2022.

What is the forecast growth of the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling market in United States is Hanesbrands Inc.

What does the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

Wholesaling men's and boys' gloves and Wholesaling men's and boys' hats and caps are part of the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Hanesbrands Inc..

How competitive is the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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