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Electrical Distributors Key Terms

Whether you're involved in the retail or wholesale end of the electrical distribution industry, you've really got to understand all aspects of electrical distribution to help ensure your success. Not only must you understand different pieces of equipment, tools and supplies, but you've also got to be familiar with key terms specific to the industry to achieve your highest level of success.

This guide gets you started with six terms relating to electrical distributor resources that can help you get ahead: National Association of Electrical Distributors, TED, Energy Star Partnership, IDEA, NFPA and Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative.

NAED

The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), founded in 1908, is the electrical distribution industry's professional trade association. It offers members networking opportunities, training, research, meetings, conferences and its own trade magazine.
Try: Learn more about how the NAED got started at the NAED website. Bookmark the website and click on other links at your convenience to read more about different aspects and benefits of the 501(c)6 not-for-profit trade organization.

TED

TED stands for The Electrical Distributor, and it's the name of the online and print magazine published by the NAED. It's a primary information source for electrical distributors on current issues, markets and trends, sales, best practices, events, products and more.
Try: Click on various links to explore the many benefits gained by reading TED.

Energy Star Partnership

With regard to electrical distributors, the Energy Star Partnership refers to the NAED's partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy in the Energy Star program. The program promotes government-backed labeling of high-quality, energy-saving products that help contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. NAED member distributors can gain tangible benefits from linking their own businesses to the Energy Star brand.
Try: Read about the partnership between Energy Star and NAED at Supply House Times.

IDEA

IDEA is a company that's dedicated to ecommerce innovations. Its mission is to drive down costs throughout the electrical supply chain by helping electrical distributors become more efficient and effective in data sharing through replacement of manual business transactions with electronic data sharing. Additionally, IDEA serves as a standard-setting body for data.
Try: Check out the IDEA website here.

NFPA

Founded in 1896, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the organization that develops, publishes and distributes in excess of 300 codes and standards that help minimize fire risks. Important to electrical distributors, NFPA standards and codes affect most all buildings, electrical processes, designs and services.
Try: Refer frequently to the NFPA website to keep up with the latest NFPA codes and standards that affect the products you sell.

Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative

The Anti-Counterfeit Products Initiative is a relatively new program that kicked off in late 2008 with a mission to eliminate the sale and spread of counterfeit electrical products in the U.S. This $130 billion industry includes nearly all types of electrical products, including lighting, wiring, switches and pirated Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. labels. More than 90% of today's counterfeit electric products come from China.
Try: Read about the anti-counterfeit products initiative at Counterfeits Can Kill.

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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Electrical Distributors

Electrical distributors provide wholesale and retail supplies for the electrical industry. Working with a professional distributor can help you locate critical parts quickly. Distributors may be national chains or local businesses.

Grainger Industrial Supply provides both physical store locations and online sales worldwide. Graybar Electric Company began in 1872 as Western Electric Manufacturing Company. In 1941 it became a fully employee owned company. Graybar is an international distributor with over one million telecommunications and electrical products available. Individual distributors may supply items from one or two manufacturers or offer dozens of choices.

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