455219 All Other General Merchandise Retailers

Official definition

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new and used general merchandise (except department stores, warehouse clubs, superstores, and supercenters). These establishments retail a general line of new and used merchandise, such as apparel, automotive parts, dry goods, groceries, hardware, housewares or home furnishings, and other lines in limited amounts, with none of the lines predominating. 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
• Variety stores

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 561990, All Other Support Services.
• Retailing automotive parts are classified in Industry 441330, Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers.
• Retailing a general line of new merchandise, generally known as department stores are classified in Industry 455110, Department Stores.
• Retailing a general line of merchandise in combination with a significant amount and variety of perishable groceries, generally known as warehouse clubs, superstores, or supercenters are classified in U.S. Industry 455211, Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters.
• Retailing farm supplies are classified in Industry 444240, 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 444110, Home Centers.
• Retailing used merchandise, including by auction are classified in Industry 459510, 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.

Businesses that use this code

• Online store (e-commerce)

Activities listed under 455219

The Census index assigns these 11 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Auctions, general merchandise (new and used), Internet retail
• Dollar stores
• Electronic auctions, general merchandise (new and used), retail
• General merchandise (new and used) auction houses
• General stores
• Home and auto supply stores
• Internet auctions, general merchandise (new and used), retail
• Internet retail sales sites (except department store, warehouse club, and supercenter sites), new general merchandise
• Limited price variety stores
• Trading posts, general merchandise
• Variety stores

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 455219

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 455219, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $40 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 4530, 4719, 2396, 4752, 4759, 4773, 4774, 4791, 4781, 4782, 4789, 4799), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 47190Other retail sale in non-specialised storesUK SIC
• 47520Retail sale of hardware, paints and glass in specialised storesUK SIC
• 47591Retail sale of musical instruments and scoresUK SIC
• 47599Retail of furniture, lighting, and similar (not musical instruments or scores) in specialised storeUK SIC
• 47730Dispensing chemist in specialised storesUK SIC
• 47741Retail sale of hearing aidsUK SIC
• 47749Retail sale of medical and orthopaedic goods in specialised stores (not incl. hearing aids) n.e.c.UK SIC
• 47810Retail sale via stalls and markets of food, beverages and tobacco productsUK SIC
• 47820Retail sale via stalls and markets of textiles, clothing and footwearUK SIC
• 47890Retail sale via stalls and markets of other goodsUK SIC
• 47910Retail sale via mail order houses or via InternetUK SIC
• 47990Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or marketsUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

• 455211Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters