A more recent edition of NAICS is available.
2017 Edition

sector 44-45

Retail Trade

Overview

The Retail Trade sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise.

The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise; retailers are, therefore, organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public. This sector comprises two main types of retailers: store and nonstore retailers. 1. Store retailers operate fixed point-of-sale locations, located and designed to attract a high volume of walk-in customers. In general, retail stores have extensive displays of merchandise and use mass-media advertising to attract customers. They typically sell merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption, but some also serve business and institutional clients. These include office supply stores, computer and software stores, building materials dealers, plumbing supply stores, and electrical supply stores. Catalog showrooms, gasoline stations, automotive dealers, and mobile home dealers are treated as store retailers.

In addition to retailing merchandise, some types of store retailers are also engaged in the provision of after-sales services, such as repair and installation. For example, new automobile dealers, electronics and appliance stores, and musical instrument and supplies stores often provide repair services. As a general rule, establishments engaged in retailing merchandise and providing after-sales services are classified in this sector.

The first eleven subsectors of retail trade are store retailers. The establishments are grouped into industries and industry groups typically based on one or more of the following criteria:

(a) The merchandise line or lines carried by the store; for example, specialty stores are distinguished from general-line stores.

(b) The usual trade designation of the establishments. This criterion applies in cases where a store type is well recognized by the industry and the public, but difficult to define strictly in terms of merchandise lines carried; for example, pharmacies, hardware stores, and department stores.

(c) Capital requirements in terms of display equipment; for example, food stores have equipment requirements not found in other retail industries.

(d) Human resource requirements in terms of expertise; for example, the staff of an automobile dealer requires knowledge in financing, registering, and licensing issues that are not necessary in other retail industries. 2. Nonstore retailers, like store retailers, are organized to serve the general public, but their retailing methods differ. The establishments of this subsector reach customers and market merchandise with methods, such as the broadcasting of "infomercials," the broadcasting and publishing of direct-response advertising, the publishing of paper and electronic catalogs, door-to-door solicitation, in-home demonstration, selling from portable stalls (street vendors, except food), and distribution through vending machines. Establishments engaged in the direct sale (nonstore) of products, such as home heating oil dealers and home delivery newspaper routes, are included here.

The buying of goods for resale is a characteristic of retail trade establishments that particularly distinguishes them from establishments in the agriculture, manufacturing, and construction industries. For example, farms that sell their products at or from the point of production are not classified in retail, but rather in agriculture. Similarly, establishments that both manufacture and sell their products to the general public are not classified in retail, but rather in manufacturing. However, establishments that engage in processing activities incidental to retailing are classified in retail. This includes optical goods stores that do in-store grinding of lenses, and meat and seafood markets.

Wholesalers also engage in the buying of goods for resale, but they are not usually organized to serve the general public. They typically operate from a warehouse or office, and neither the design nor the location of these premises is intended to solicit a high volume of walk-in traffic. Wholesalers supply institutional, industrial, wholesale, and retail clients; their operations are, therefore, generally organized to purchase, sell, and deliver merchandise in larger quantities. However, dealers of durable nonconsumer goods, such as farm machinery and heavy-duty trucks, are included in wholesale trade even if they often sell these products in single units.

Descendants

  1. 441 - Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
    1. 4411 - Automobile Dealers
      1. 44111 - New Car Dealers
        1. 441110 - New Car Dealers
      2. 44112 - Used Car Dealers
        1. 441120 - Used Car Dealers
    2. 4412 - Other Motor Vehicle Dealers
      1. 44121 - Recreational Vehicle Dealers
        1. 441210 - Recreational Vehicle Dealers
      2. 44122 - Motorcycle, Boat, and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers
        1. 441222 - Boat Dealers
        2. 441228 - Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers
    3. 4413 - Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores
      1. 44131 - Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
        1. 441310 - Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
      2. 44132 - Tire Dealers
        1. 441320 - Tire Dealers
  2. 442 - Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores
    1. 4421 - Furniture Stores
      1. 44211 - Furniture Stores
        1. 442110 - Furniture Stores
    2. 4422 - Home Furnishings Stores
      1. 44221 - Floor Covering Stores
        1. 442210 - Floor Covering Stores
      2. 44229 - Other Home Furnishings Stores
        1. 442291 - Window Treatment Stores
        2. 442299 - All Other Home Furnishings Stores
  3. 443 - Electronics and Appliance Stores
    1. 4431 - Electronics and Appliance Stores
      1. 44314 - Electronics and Appliance Stores
        1. 443141 - Household Appliance Stores
        2. 443142 - Electronics Stores
  4. 444 - Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers
    1. 4441 - Building Material and Supplies Dealers
      1. 44411 - Home Centers
        1. 444110 - Home Centers
      2. 44412 - Paint and Wallpaper Stores
        1. 444120 - Paint and Wallpaper Stores
      3. 44413 - Hardware Stores
        1. 444130 - Hardware Stores
      4. 44419 - Other Building Material Dealers
        1. 444190 - Other Building Material Dealers
    2. 4442 - Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores
      1. 44421 - Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
        1. 444210 - Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
      2. 44422 - Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores
        1. 444220 - Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores
  5. 445 - Food and Beverage Stores
    1. 4451 - Grocery Stores
      1. 44511 - Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores
        1. 445110 - Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores
      2. 44512 - Convenience Stores
        1. 445120 - Convenience Stores
    2. 4452 - Specialty Food Stores
      1. 44521 - Meat Markets
        1. 445210 - Meat Markets
      2. 44522 - Fish and Seafood Markets
        1. 445220 - Fish and Seafood Markets
      3. 44523 - Fruit and Vegetable Markets
        1. 445230 - Fruit and Vegetable Markets
      4. 44529 - Other Specialty Food Stores
        1. 445291 - Baked Goods Stores
        2. 445292 - Confectionery and Nut Stores
        3. 445299 - All Other Specialty Food Stores
    3. 4453 - Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
      1. 44531 - Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
        1. 445310 - Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
  6. 446 - Health and Personal Care Stores
    1. 4461 - Health and Personal Care Stores
      1. 44611 - Pharmacies and Drug Stores
        1. 446110 - Pharmacies and Drug Stores
      2. 44612 - Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Stores
        1. 446120 - Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Stores
      3. 44613 - Optical Goods Stores
        1. 446130 - Optical Goods Stores
      4. 44619 - Other Health and Personal Care Stores
        1. 446191 - Food (Health) Supplement Stores
        2. 446199 - All Other Health and Personal Care Stores
  7. 447 - Gasoline Stations
    1. 4471 - Gasoline Stations
      1. 44711 - Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
        1. 447110 - Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
      2. 44719 - Other Gasoline Stations
        1. 447190 - Other Gasoline Stations
  8. 448 - Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores
    1. 4481 - Clothing Stores
      1. 44811 - Men's Clothing Stores
        1. 448110 - Men's Clothing Stores
      2. 44812 - Women's Clothing Stores
        1. 448120 - Women's Clothing Stores
      3. 44813 - Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
        1. 448130 - Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
      4. 44814 - Family Clothing Stores
        1. 448140 - Family Clothing Stores
      5. 44815 - Clothing Accessories Stores
        1. 448150 - Clothing Accessories Stores
      6. 44819 - Other Clothing Stores
        1. 448190 - Other Clothing Stores
    2. 4482 - Shoe Stores
      1. 44821 - Shoe Stores
        1. 448210 - Shoe Stores
    3. 4483 - Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
      1. 44831 - Jewelry Stores
        1. 448310 - Jewelry Stores
      2. 44832 - Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
        1. 448320 - Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
  9. 451 - Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores
    1. 4511 - Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores
      1. 45111 - Sporting Goods Stores
        1. 451110 - Sporting Goods Stores
      2. 45112 - Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
        1. 451120 - Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
      3. 45113 - Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Stores
        1. 451130 - Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Stores
      4. 45114 - Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
        1. 451140 - Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
    2. 4512 - Book Stores and News Dealers
      1. 45121 - Book Stores and News Dealers
        1. 451211 - Book Stores
        2. 451212 - News Dealers and Newsstands
  10. 452 - General Merchandise Stores
    1. 4522 - Department Stores
      1. 45221 - Department Stores
        1. 452210 - Department Stores
    2. 4523 - General Merchandise Stores, including Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
      1. 45231 - General Merchandise Stores, including Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
        1. 452311 - Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
        2. 452319 - All Other General Merchandise Stores
  11. 453 - Miscellaneous Store Retailers
    1. 4531 - Florists
      1. 45311 - Florists
        1. 453110 - Florists
    2. 4532 - Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
      1. 45321 - Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
        1. 453210 - Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
      2. 45322 - Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
        1. 453220 - Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
    3. 4533 - Used Merchandise Stores
      1. 45331 - Used Merchandise Stores
        1. 453310 - Used Merchandise Stores
    4. 4539 - Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers
      1. 45391 - Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
        1. 453910 - Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
      2. 45392 - Art Dealers
        1. 453920 - Art Dealers
      3. 45393 - Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
        1. 453930 - Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
      4. 45399 - All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers
        1. 453991 - Tobacco Stores
        2. 453998 - All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco Stores)
  12. 454 - Nonstore Retailers
    1. 4541 - Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
      1. 45411 - Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
        1. 454110 - Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
    2. 4542 - Vending Machine Operators
      1. 45421 - Vending Machine Operators
        1. 454210 - Vending Machine Operators
    3. 4543 - Direct Selling Establishments
      1. 45431 - Fuel Dealers
        1. 454310 - Fuel Dealers
      2. 45439 - Other Direct Selling Establishments
        1. 454390 - Other Direct Selling Establishments

History

The NAICS editions in which this code was present are indicated below. In the event that a code was changed from the prior edition the equivalent value in that edition is provided for reference.

Edition Existed Equivalent Value
2002 44-45
2007 44-45
2012 44-45
2017 44-45
2022 44-45

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Mappings

SIC Mappings are not available at the sector level, a more specific code is required.

SIC mappings are available for 6 digit national industry codes and their sub-descriptions only. For detailed mappings choose the most appropriate six-digit code from the list of descendants.

Insurance Industry Mappings

Mappings are not available at the sector level, a more specific code is required.

Insurance industry mappings are available for 6 digit national industry codes and their sub-descriptions only. For detailed mappings choose the most appropriate six-digit code from the list of descendants.

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