The National Industrial Distributors Association (NIDA) was a trade organization representing wholesalers of industrial supplies and hardware that attempted to address some of the problems which stemmed from their relationship with manufacturers, whom they accused of excessive price cutting and attempting to deal directly with retailers. Founded in 1905, NIDA began with thirty-eight members.

The Southern Industrial Distributors Association (SIDA) was established two years prior. At first, separately, and later jointly, these two organizations considered issues such as the value of education relevant to the industries, new tools, pricing, the impact of fair trade laws, competition, and other topical concerns.

Recognizing the political and commercial success of SIDA and NIDA, suppliers formed their own associations in 1905 for similar purposes. Manufacturers followed and joined the suppliers to form the American Supply & Machinery Manufacturers Association (ASMMA).

The New Deal's National Recovery Act (NRA) was designed to bring about economic recovery by countering the general deflation, which many economists believed was responsible for the Depression. The NRA thus recognized that the distributors could play a significant role in keeping prices at a stable level. The NRA thus recognized the NIDA, and its codes received the stamp of the "Blue Eagle."

During World War II, distributors played an important role in the Lend-Lease program and, later, indirect war production. The War Production Boards thus gave distributors priority status.

The distributors' association continued to prosper in the 1950s and early 1960s. However, when inflation became a problem in the 1970s, much of the New Deal legislation was repealed. The Wright-Patman law, which exempted distributors from the Sherman Antitrust Act, was repealed in 1978, and this was a severe blow to the NIDA.

In 2004 two trade associations merged to form the Industrial Supply Association. These associations were the Industrial Distribution Association (IDA) and the Industrial Supply Manufacturers Association (ISMA), formed from several earlier mergers.

Today, the Industrial Supply Association maintains its past goals and has added additional services for the membership of trade associations. The organization has added lobbying, health care education, analysis of small business legislation, lobbying, excellent communication among all associations, the introduction of new products, and education for new technologies.