IDCO

What IDCO does

IDCO (legal name: Hosernetwork) is a member-owned cooperative founded in 1993 and headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, that serves independent industrial distributors in the United States specializing in hose, fittings, gaskets, and rubber materials. The organization aggregates a fragmented channel of independent distributors and connects them to a network of more than 900 brand suppliers through a structured 'IDCO 1st' preferred-partner program, providing collective buying power, supplier access, and peer-to-peer commerce that the members could not achieve independently.

The cooperative delivers its value through an integrated digital platform of eight member-facing tools: IDCO PIM (a product information database containing hundreds of thousands of SKUs from 900+ brands), IDCO Connect (a member portal and communications hub), a shared Inventory Management platform enabling buy-and-sell transactions between members, IDCO University (an expert-led training platform), member-led committees, supplier-hosted webinars, a members-only job board, and IDCO Events (Expo and Principal's Conference). The platform is supplemented by structured governance including a Supplier Advisory Council and member-led committees that drive product evaluation and innovation.

IDCO operates as a non-profit cooperative and generates revenue through two recurring streams: membership fees paid by independent distributors and supplier partnership fees paid by brands participating in the IDCO 1st program. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated on a quote basis. The organization is member-owned with no parent company, private equity, or institutional investor disclosed, and operates with a small (1-10) employee base led by a Director of Co-op Operations. The offering is exclusively U.S.-domestic with no disclosed international expansion.

Name

IDCO

Legal name

Hosernetwork

Website

https://idco.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IDCO (Hosernetwork) is a U.S. member-owned cooperative that connects independent industrial distributors of hose, fittings, gaskets, and rubber materials to a network of 900+ brand suppliers through shared technology, training, and peer-to-peer inventory tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Independent distributors pay membership fees to join the cooperative and gain access to member tools, supplier relationships, and the IDCO network.
2. Supplier Partnership Fees: Suppliers pay to participate as 'IDCO 1st' partners, gaining preferred status and channel access to the member distributor network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IDCO is a non-profit cooperative that provides independent industrial distributors with access to a shared suite of member tools - including a product information management database (PIM), a peer-to-peer inventory management platform, a member portal (IDCO Connect), training (IDCO University), and member-led committees - together with preferred supplier partnerships (the 'IDCO 1st' program) for hose, fittings, gaskets, rubber materials, and related industrial products. Members pay recurring fees to access the network, while suppliers partner to become the preferred vendor for the member base.

Product overview

IDCO (Industrial Distributor Co-op) is a cooperative organization serving independent distributors in the industrial community with hose, fittings, gaskets, rubber materials, and related products. The offering is a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of eight integrated member tools: IDCO University (training and education), IDCO PIM (product information database with 900+ brands), Inventory Management (peer-to-peer buy-sell platform), IDCO Connect (communication hub), Committees (collaboration), IDCO Events (expos and conferences), Job Board (recruitment), and Webinars (supplier education). These tools work together to provide a comprehensive ecosystem for member distributors to manage products, collaborate, train, and grow their businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IDCO University Exclusive training platform offering expert-led courses for member distributors to strengthen industry knowledge and professional skills in the hose, fittings, gaskets, and rubber materials distribution sector.
• IDCO PIM (Product Information Management) Expansive product database containing hundreds of thousands of industry-specific items from over 900 brands, continuously growing with millions of additional items, available to member distributors for product sourcing and information lookup.
• Inventory Management Platform Shared inventory platform enabling member distributors to source or sell products to fellow members, facilitating seamless buy-and-sell transactions within the cooperative network.
• IDCO Connect Member portal providing access to IDCO tools, news updates, and business resources needed to drive efficient operations.
• IDCO Member-Led Committees Collaborative program enabling members to join committees and share specialized knowledge, drive technological innovation, and evaluate product quality with peer distributors.
• IDCO Events (Expo and Principal's Conference) Event program hosting the targeted IDCO Expo and Principal's Conference, designed to unlock business growth and provide actionable insights for members.
• IDCO Job Board Members-only job board providing access to qualified, industry-specific candidates exclusively for IDCO member companies.
• IDCO Webinars Webinar platform featuring supplier-hosted sessions designed to expand member skills and industry knowledge.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American BiltritecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican Biltrite is listed as a supplier partner within the IDCO network, providing rubber materials and related industrial products to member distributors through the cooperative.
• ASC Engineered SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASC Engineered Solutions is a supplier partner within the IDCO network, offering engineered industrial solutions to member distributors.
• Brennan IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrennan Industries provides industrial fittings and related products to IDCO member distributors through the cooperative supplier network.
• Campbell FittingscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampbell Fittings supplies fittings products to IDCO member distributors through the cooperative.
• DixoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDixon is a supplier partner providing industrial hose fittings and connections to IDCO member distributors.
• FlexaustcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlexaust supplies flexible hose and ducting products to IDCO member distributors.
• FlexfabcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlexfab provides flexible fabric and rubber products to the IDCO cooperative network.
• Kuriyama of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKuriyama of America is a supplier partner serving IDCO member distributors with industrial hose and related products.
• Midland IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMidland Industries provides industrial products to IDCO member distributors through the cooperative.
• CoxreelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoxreels supplies hose reels and related equipment to IDCO member distributors.
• PT (possibly Process Technology)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPT is listed as a supplier partner within the IDCO network.
• ThermoidcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThermoid supplies rubber products and hose to IDCO member distributors.
• MTO HosecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMTO Hose provides industrial hose products to IDCO member distributors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Fastenal: Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST) operates the most extensive U.S. industrial supply network with vending, on-site, and direct channels covering fasteners, fittings, and fluid-handling categories. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose scale and on-site programs directly compete for share of industrial MRO spend at customer facilities served by IDCO members.
• W.W. Grainger: W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) operates North America's largest industrial MRO distribution network via catalog, e-commerce, and branch channels covering hoses, fittings, gaskets, and related consumables. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose end-customer reach competes for procurement spend at accounts served by IDCO distributors.
• Genuine Parts Company: Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) is the parent of Motion Industries, one of the largest industrial MRO distributors in North America serving many of the same end customers as IDCO's distributor members. Comparable as the scale incumbent whose acquisitions and direct contracts compete for the very accounts IDCO members service.
• Würth Group: Würth is a global industrial supply and fastener distribution group combining direct, franchise, and cooperative-style channel models. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose multi-model distribution strategy in fasteners, tools, and consumables overlaps with the IDCO verticals and supplier base.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson (NYSE:FERG) is a major U.S. distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial supplies with a national footprint and customer base overlapping significantly with IDCO distributor members serving mechanical and fluid-handling trades. Comparable as a broad incumbent in industrial and mechanical supply distribution.
• Industrial Supply Association (ISA): ISA is the leading U.S. trade association serving industrial distributors, providing advocacy, education, conferences, and networking to a similar stakeholder base. Comparable to IDCO as a membership-driven organization serving independent industrial distributors, though focused more on advocacy and education than transactional commerce.
• MSC Industrial Direct: MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) is a publicly traded industrial MRO distributor marketing cutting tools, fasteners, and fluid-handling products directly to end customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose direct-to-customer model competes with the independent distributor channel that IDCO exists to support.
• National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED): NAED is the trade association for electrical distributors, using an association/cooperative structure to deliver industry coordination, training, and channel services to independent distributors. Comparable to IDCO in organizational form and member-base dynamics, though narrower in vertical focus (electrical only).

Direct peers

• Affiliated Distributors (A-D): Affiliated Distributors is a major North American buying group that aggregates independent industrial distributors to negotiate preferred supplier terms. It is the closest functional peer to IDCO, operating a near-identical cooperative/buying-group model in overlapping MRO categories.
• ECHO Group: ECHO Group is a leading HVACR distributor-owned buying group/cooperative that aggregates independent wholesalers to negotiate supplier programs. Comparable to IDCO because of the shared distributor-owned cooperative structure, revenue mechanics from membership and supplier fees, and similar mix of digital services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/idcocoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idco-coop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IDCO