Finnish Electrical Wholesalers' Federation (SSTL)

Finnish Electrical Wholesalers´ Federation (SSTL) is the federation
of electrical wholesalers, manufacturers and importers who sell their products through wholesalers.

SSTL with active and initiative approach
- delivers information services that increase the efficiency of the supply chain
- provides information about the benefits of modern electrical solutions and
- otherwise promotes the development of the electrical branch.

All commercial services of SSTL are provided by SSTL-Palvelu Oy which is a limited company owned by the Federation.

SSTL belongs to the European Union of Electrical Wholesalers. See www.euew.org

SSTL has 13 electrical wholesalers and 48 manufacturer or importer members. See members

The electrical wholesales of the member wholesalers were 878,9 million euros in 2008. See statistics
The wholesaler members of SSTL have a market share of over 95 per cent of the whole Finnish electrical wholesale market, They have 125 outlets in Finland and circa 1.230 employees.

The Finnish Federation has an office with three employees in Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

The Board of the Federation consists of nine members, of whom five represent electrical wholesalers and four manufacturers. According the rules of the Federation the majority of the board members must represent electrical wholesalers.

SSTL Services

Statistics

SSTL collects every month data of the sales of the electrical wholesalers divided in 45 groups. These statistics are published within 3-4 working days from the end of the follow-up month and they are the fastest sales statistics in Finland.

In addition SSTL produces quarterly statistics of sales of manufacturers and importers and their sales to wholesalers and separate statistics of light fittings, lamps, heating apparatus, profitability analysis of electrical wholesales and wholesale price index of electrical products.

Product data services

SSTL product data services serve all levels of the distribution chain of electrical products in transfer of product data in uniform, fast, easy and cost-effective way.

Electrical numbers and product database

A common product numbering system and database including over 200.000 products is used by manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, contractors and designers of electrical branch in Finland. This electrical number register is maintained by SSTL.

Sähkönumerot.fi (=electrical numbers.fi)

Sähkönumerot.fi-product data service includes over 200.000 electrical products of 350 suppliers with 800 product brands. In addition to base data sähkönumerot.fi-product sheets include over 43.000 photos, 32.000 product descriptions and 75.000 links to documents on manufacturer´or importers´own webpages. Electrical contractors, designers and webshop customers of electrical wholesalers can browse sahkonumerot.fi-product sheets directly with only one click from their operational systems. The register can also be browsed free of charge at www.sahkonumerot.fi.

Development of product data processes

SSTL has in co-operation with its members
• harmonized general names to be used for electrical products and developed guidelines for technical names and
• developed SSTL Talotekniikkastandard which is a format for transfer of product data between the manufacturers/importers and wholesalers.
More information at www.sahkonumerot.fi (In English).

Communication services

Internal communication

SSTL sends a newsletter with 4-6 pages by email to over 400 recipients on the third working date of the month.
Up-to-date information is available on www.sstl.fi

External communication

SSTL creates co-operation in public relations between members in order to promote electrical branch. SSTL publishes quarterly press releases and articles to electrical branch magazines and organizes meetings with journalists.

Consumer communication

A photo gallery of electrical products for consumers is available at www.sstl.fi/galleria.
There are photos of lighting fixtures, switches, plug sockets, heating equipment and smart housing solutions of SSTL members with links to the members´ own web pages aimed for consumers.

SSTL finances and produces information about advanced electrical product solutions for family houses and summer villas published in “Build and Repair” books, internet portal and weekly web magazines. There are also direct links from ”Build and Repair” –pages and web-magazine articles to SSTL Galleria.

Promotion and lobbying

Young people and training

SSTL is active in promoting electrical branch to competent people as lucrative choice of career. SSTL organizes together with colleges commercial courses for technical students, together with technical trade and services branch associations organizes tailored training programs for future leaders and technical sales personel, participates in trade expos where careers of electrical branch are introduced and gives financial support to the Institute of Housing technology at Helsinki Technical University.

General lobbying

SSTL guards the interests of its members in relations with authorities, trade associations etc. and otherwise promotes development of its members and the whole electrical branch.

See SSTL members