45521 Warehouse Clubs, Supercenters, and Other General Merchandise Retailers

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new general merchandise (except department stores). These establishments retail a general line of new merchandise, such as apparel, automotive parts, dry goods, hardware, groceries, housewares, and home furnishings, with no one merchandise line predominating. Establishments generally known as warehouse clubs, superstores, or supercenters, and retailing a general line of merchandise in combination with a significant amount and variety of perishable groceries, are included in this industry. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in retailing a general line of new and used merchandise on an auction basis.

Examples Census gives

• Dollar stores
• General merchandise (new and used) auction houses
• General merchandise showrooms
• General merchandise trading posts
• General stores
• Home and auto supply stores
• Superstores (i.e., food and general merchandise)
• Variety stores
• Warehouse clubs (i.e., food and general merchandise)

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Auctioning on the location of others as independent auctioneers are classified in Industry 56199, All Other Support Services.
• Retailing a general line of groceries, such as supermarkets and grocery stores are classified in Industry 44511, Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers).
• Retailing automotive parts are classified in Industry 44133, Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers.
• Retailing a general line of new merchandise, generally known as department stores are classified in Industry 45511, Department Stores.
• Retailing farm supplies are classified in Industry 44424, Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers.
• Retailing a general line of new home repair and improvement materials and supplies, generally known as home centers are classified in Industry 44411, Home Centers.
• Retailing used merchandise, including by auction are classified in Industry 45951, Used Merchandise Retailers.
• Providing warehousing services for goods owned by others are classified in Industry Group 4931, Warehousing and Storage.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Codes in 45521

• 455211Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
• 455219All Other General Merchandise Retailers