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 establishments, such as office supply stores, computer and software stores, building materials dealers, plumbing supply stores, and electrical supply stores. Catalog showrooms, gasoline services 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, electronic and appliance stores, and musical instrument and supply 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 commodity 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 establishments, such as 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.
Retail Trade has a two-digit code of 44 & 45. Its subcategories are as follows:
| 2002 NAICS Code |
2002 NAICS Title |
| 441110 | New Car Dealers |
| 441120 | Used Car Dealers |
| 441210 | Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
| 441221 | Motorcycle Dealers |
| 441222 | Boat Dealers |
| 441229 | All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers |
| 441310 | Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
| 441320 | Tire Dealers |
| 442110 | Furniture Stores |
| 442210 | Floor Covering Stores |
| 442291 | Window Treatment Stores |
| 442299 | All Other Home Furnishings Stores |
| 443111 | Household Appliance Stores |
| 443112 | Radio, Television, and Other Electronics Stores |
| 443120 | Computer and Software Stores |
| 443130 | Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
| 444110 | Home Centers |
| 444120 | Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
| 444130 | Hardware Stores |
| 444190 | Other Building Material Dealers |
| 444210 | Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
| 444220 | Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Stores |
| 445110 | Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores |
| 445120 | Convenience Stores |
| 445210 | Meat Markets |
| 445220 | Fish and Seafood Markets |
| 445230 | Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
| 445291 | Baked Goods Stores |
| 445292 | Confectionery and Nut Stores |
| 445299 | All Other Specialty Food Stores |
| 445310 | Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
| 446110 | Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
| 446120 | Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Stores |
| 446130 | Optical Goods Stores |
| 446191 | Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
| 446199 | All Other Health and Personal Care Stores |
| 447110 | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores |
| 447190 | Other Gasoline Stations |
| 448110 | Men's Clothing Stores |
| 448120 | Women's Clothing Stores |
| 448130 | Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
| 448140 | Family Clothing Stores |
| 448150 | Clothing Accessories Stores |
| 448190 | Other Clothing Stores |
| 448210 | Shoe Stores |
| 448310 | Jewelry Stores |
| 448320 | Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
| 451110 | Sporting Goods Stores |
| 451120 | Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
| 451130 | Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Stores |
| 451140 | Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
| 451211 | Book Stores |
| 451212 | News Dealers and Newsstands |
| 451220 | Prerecorded Tape, Compact Disc, and Record Stores |
| 452111 | Department Stores (except Discount Department Stores) |
| 452112 | Discount Department Stores |
| 452910 | Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
| 452990 | All Other General Merchandise Stores |
| 453110 | Florists |
| 453210 | Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
| 453220 | Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
| 453310 | Used Merchandise Stores |
| 453910 | Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
| 453920 | Art Dealers |
| 453930 | Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
| 453991 | Tobacco Stores |
| 453998 | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco Stores) |
| 454111 | Electronic Shopping |
| 454112 | Electronic Auctions |
| 454113 | Mail-Order Houses |
| 454210 | Vending Machine Operators |
| 454311 | Heating Oil Dealers |
| 454312 | Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bottled Gas) Dealers |
| 454319 | Other Fuel Dealers |
| 454390 | Other Direct Selling Establishments |
Information courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
