Boston’s growth has never been as explosive as the fast-track markets of the Sunbelt, but when business is good, the Hub City and its suburbs enjoy a very solid business climate. On the flip side, when the economy turns sour, Boston distributors and reps feel the same pain as their brethren in more cyclical regions of the United States.

On the acquisition front, New England wasn’t seeing as many acquisitions as the Sunbelt until the past few years. But recent acquisitions have changed the market, with several national and large players acquiring strong independents. Northeast Electrical/Eagle Electric Supply, Canton, Mass., a subsidiary of Sonepar USA, most recently bought Ralph Pill Electric Supply, Boston, one of New England’s largest independent electrical distributors (see Electrical Marketing, June 29, 2007), after Sonepar bought Eagle Electric years ago and renamed it into NorthEast Electrical/Eagle Electric Supply. Last year, Consolidated Electrical Distributors Inc., Westlake Village, Calif., bought US Electrical Services (USESI), Exton, Pa. CED also owns Standard Electric Supply, Wilmington, Mass., which it purchased in November 2002 and runs as a stand-alone operation. Rexel’s purchase last year of GE Supply, Shelton, Conn., has also had an impact. Boston area distributors and reps agree the recent surge of acquisition activity is changing the Boston electrical distribution landscape.

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