Finnish Electrotechnical Trade Association (STK)

The new name of Finnish Electrical Wholesalers´ Federation (SSTL) is since 1 Jan 2011 Finnish Electrotechnical Trade Association (STK). See the press release.

STK has 13 electrical wholesaler and 47 manufacturer or importer members. See members

STK 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 STK are provided by SKT-Tietopalvelut Oy  which is a limited company owned by the Association.

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

The electrical wholesales of the member wholesalers were 886 million euros in 2011. See statistics
The wholesaler members of STK have a market share of over 95 per cent of the whole Finnish electrical wholesale market, They have 120 outlets in Finland and circa 1.200 employees.

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

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

STK Services

Statistics

STK 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 STK 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

STK 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 215.000 products is used by manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, contractors and designers of electrical branch in Finland. This electrical number register is maintained by STK.

Sähkönumerot.fi (=electrical numbers.fi)

Sähkönumerot.fi-product data service includes over 215.000 electrical products of circa 400 suppliers with  circa 1.000 product brands. In addition to base data sähkönumerot.fi-product sheets include over 90.000 photos, 30.000 product descriptions and 100.000 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

STK has in co-operation with its members
• harmonized general names to be used for electrical products and developed guidelines for technical names and
• developed STK 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

STK sends a newsletter with 4-6 pages by email to circa 500 recipients on the third working date of the month.
Up-to-date information is available on http://www.stkliitto.fi/

External communication

STK creates co-operation in public relations between members in order to promote electrical branch. STK 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.stkliitto.fi/galleria.
There are photos of lighting fixtures, switches, plug sockets, heating equipment and smart housing solutions of STK members with links to the members´ own web pages aimed for consumers.

STK 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 STK Galleria.

Promotion and lobbying

Young people and training

STK is active in promoting electrical branch to competent people as lucrative choice of career. STK 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

STK 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 STK members