SIC 5211 Lumber and Other Building Materials Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments engaged in selling primarily lumber or lumber and a general line of building materials to the general public. While these establishments may sell primarily to construction contractors, they are known as retail in the trade.
SIC 5231 Paint, Glass, and Wallpaper Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments engaged in selling primarily paint, glass, and wallpaper, or any combination of these lines, to the general public. While these establishments may sell primarily to construction contractors, they are known as retail in the trade.
SIC 5251 Hardware Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of a number of basic hardware lines, such as tools, builders' hardware, paint, glass, cutlery, housewares, and household appliances. Establishments primarily engaged in the sale of lumber and other building materials are classified in SIC 5211: Lumber & Other Building Materials.
SIC 5261 Retail Nurseries, Lawn and Garden Supply Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in selling trees, shrubs, other plants, seeds, bulbs, mulches, soil conditioners, fertilizers, pesticides, garden tools, and other garden supplies to the general public. These establishments primarily sell products purchased from others, such as plant wholesalers, but may sell some plants that they grow themselves.
SIC 5271 Mobile Home Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of new and used mobile homes and their parts and equipment. This classification excludes companies selling travel trailers or campers; these companies are discussed in SIC 5561: Recreational Vehicle Dealers.
SIC 5311 Department Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes retail stores carrying a general line of apparel, such as suits, coats, dresses, and furnishings; home furnishings, such as furniture, floor coverings, curtains, draperies, linens, and major household appliances; and housewares, such as table and kitchen appliances, dishes, and utensils. These stores must carry men's and women's apparel and either major household appliances or other home furnishings.
SIC 5331 Variety Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of a variety of merchandise in the low and popular price ranges. Sales usually are made on a cash-and-carry basis, with the open-selling method of display and customer selection of merchandise.
SIC 5399 Miscellaneous General Merchandise Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry classification includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of a general line of apparel, dry goods, hardware, housewares or home furnishings, groceries, and other lines of limited amounts. Stores selling commodities covered in the definition for department stores, but normally having less than 50 employees, and stores usually known as country general stores are also included in this industry.
SIC 5411 Grocery Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes supermarkets, food stores, and grocery stores, primarily engaged in the retail sale of all sorts of canned goods and dry goods (such as tea, coffee, spices, sugar, and flour), fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh and prepared meats, fish, and poultry.
SIC 5421 Meat and Fish (Seafood) Markets, Including Freezer Provisioners - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of fresh, frozen, or cured meats, fish, shellfish, and other seafood. Also included are establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale, on a bulk basis, of meat for freezer storage and in providing home freezer plans.
SIC 5431 Fruit and Vegetable Markets - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of fresh fruits and vegetables. They are frequently found in public or municipal markets or as roadside stands.
SIC 5441 Candy, Nut, and Confectionery Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of candy, nuts, popcorn, and other confections.
SIC 5451 Dairy Product Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of packaged dairy products to over-the-counter customers. Ice cream and frozen custard stands are classified in SIC 5812: Eating Places, and establishments selling ice cream and similar products from trucks or wagons are classified in SIC 5963: Direct Selling Establishments.
SIC 5461 Retail Bakeries - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of bakery products. The products may be either purchased from others or made on the premises.
SIC 5499 All Other Specialty Food Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of specialized foods not elsewhere classified, such as eggs, poultry, health foods, spices, herbs, coffee, and tea. The poultry stores may sell live poultry, slaughter and clean poultry for their own account, and sell dressed fowls, or sell fowls cleaned and dressed by others.
SIC 5511 Motor Vehicle Dealers (New and Used) - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This classification is comprised of establishments involved in the retail sale of new automobiles and light trucks. These establishments are franchised retail outlets for domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers.
SIC 5521 Motor Vehicle Dealers (Used Only) - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of used cars only, with no sales of new automobiles. These establishments also frequently sell used pickups and vans at retail.
SIC 5531 Auto and Home Supply Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This classification comprises establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of new automobile tires, batteries, and other automobile parts and accessories. Frequently, these establishments sell a substantial amount of home appliances, radios, and television sets.
SIC 5541 Gasoline Service Stations - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes gasoline service stations primarily engaged in selling gasoline and lubricating oils. These establishments frequently sell other merchandise, such as tires, batteries, and other automobile parts, or perform minor repair work.
SIC 5551 Boat Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This classification covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of new and used motorboats and other watercraft, marine supplies, and outboard motors.
SIC 5561 Recreational Vehicle Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of new and used motor homes, recreational trailers, and campers (pickup coaches). Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of mobile homes are classified in SIC 5271: Mobile Home Dealers, and those selling utility trailers are classified in SIC 5599: Automotive Dealers, Not Elsewhere Classified.
SIC 5571 Motorcycle Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments engaged in the retail sale of new and used motorcycles. This classification also includes those dealers who sell motor scooters, mopeds, and all-terrain vehicles.
SIC 5599 Automotive Dealers, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Establishments in this industry are primarily engaged in the retail sale of new and used automotive vehicles, equipment, and supplies, not elsewhere classified, such as snowmobiles, go-karts, dune buggies, utility trailers, and golf carts. Also included in this industry are establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of aircraft.
SIC 5611 Men's and Boys' Clothing and Accessory Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of men's and boys' ready-to-wear clothing and accessories.
SIC 5621 Women's Clothing Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of a general line of women's ready-to-wear clothing. This category also includes establishments primarily engaged in the specialized retail sale of women's coats, suits, and dresses.
SIC 5632 Women's Accessory and Specialty Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of women's clothing accessories and specialties, such as millinery, blouses, foundation garments, lingerie, hosiery, costume jewelry, gloves, handbags, and furs (including custom made furs).
SIC 5641 Children's and Infants' Wear Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of children's and infants' clothing, furnishings and accessories. Such establishments may specialize in either children's or infants' wear, or they may sell a combination of children's and infants' wear.
SIC 5651 Family Clothing Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of clothing; furnishings; and accessories for men, women, and children. Generally referred to as retail family clothing stores, this industry includes jeans stores and unisex clothing stores, but excludes stores targeted at one sex or age group.
SIC 5661 Shoe Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Establishments in this industry are primarily engaged in the retail sale of men's, women's and children's footwear; these establishments frequently carry accessories, such as gloves, socks and hosiery.
SIC 5699 Miscellaneous Apparel and Accessory Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of specialized apparel and accessories, such as bathing suits, belts, raincoats, riding and other sports apparel, T-shirts, umbrellas, uniforms, and wigs and toupees. This industry also includes men's and women's custom tailors.
SIC 5712 Furniture Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This classification covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of household furniture, including beds and springs, cabinet work, juvenile furniture, mattresses, and outdoor furniture. These stores also may sell home furnishings, major appliances, and floor coverings.
SIC 5713 Floor Covering Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This classification primarily includes retail sellers of floor coverings. Although companies in this industry group may also incidentally install floor coverings, contractors who primarily install floor coverings for others are in SIC 1752: Floor Laying and Other Floor Work, Not Elsewhere Classified.
SIC 5714 Drapery, Curtain, and Upholstery Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of draperies, curtains, and upholstery materials. Establishments primarily engaged in reupholstering or repairing furniture are classified in SIC 7641: Reupholstery and Furniture Repair.
SIC 5719 Miscellaneous Home Furnishings Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Establishments in this industry are primarily engaged in the retail sale of miscellaneous home furnishings, such as china, glassware, and metal ware for kitchen and table use; bedding and linen; brooms and brushes; lamps and shades; mirrors and pictures; venetian blinds; and window shades. Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of miscellaneous home furnishings by house-to-house canvas or by party-plan merchandising are classified in SIC 5963: Direct Selling Establishments.
SIC 5722 Household Appliance Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of electric and gas refrigerators, stoves, and other household appliances, such as electric irons, percolators, hot plates, sewing machines, and vacuum cleaners. Many such stores also sell radio and television sets.
SIC 5731 Radio, Television, Consumer Electronics, and Music Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of radios, television sets, record players, stereo equipment, sound reproducing equipment, and other consumer audio and video electronics equipment (including automotive). Such establishments may also sell additional product lines, such as household appliances; computers, computer peripheral equipment, and software; musical instruments; or records and prerecorded tapes.
SIC 5734 Computer and Computer Software Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of computers, computer peripheral equipment, computer printers, and computer software. The wholesale distribution of these products for business or professional use is classified in SIC 5045: Computers and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software.
SIC 5735 Record and Prerecorded Tape Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of phonograph records, compact discs, prerecorded audiotapes and videotapes and disks. Establishments selling computer software are covered in SIC 5734: Computer and Computer Software Stores, and businesses engaged in the rental of videotapes are included in SIC 7841: Video Tape Rental.
SIC 5736 Musical Instrument Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sales of musical instruments, sheet music, and similar supplies.
SIC 5812 Eating Places - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of prepared food and drinks for on-premise or immediate consumption. Caterers and industrial food service establishments are also included in this industry.
SIC 5813 Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of alcoholic drinks, such as beer, ale, wine, and liquor, for consumption on the premises. The sale of food frequently accounts for a substantial portion of the receipts of these establishments.
SIC 5912 Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Establishments in this industry are engaged in the retail sale of prescription drugs, proprietary drugs, and nonprescription medicines and may also carry a number of related lines, such as cosmetics, toiletries, tobacco, and novelty merchandise. These stores are included on the basis of their usual trade designation rather than on the stricter interpretation of the commodities handled.
SIC 5921 Liquor Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Liquor stores are establishments engaged in the retail sale of packaged alcoholic beverages, including ale, beer, wine, and liquor, for consumption off premises. Stores selling prepared drinks for consumption on premises are classified in SIC 5813: Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages).
SIC 5932 Used Merchandise Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of used merchandise, antiques, and secondhand goods, such as clothing and shoes, furniture, books and rare manuscripts, musical instruments, office furniture, phonographs and phonograph records, and store fixtures and equipment. This industry also includes pawnshops.
SIC 5941 Sporting Goods Stores and Bicycle Shops - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of sporting goods, sporting equipment, and bicycles, bicycle parts, and accessories. Retail establishments primarily engaged in selling motorized bicycles are classified in SIC 5571: Motorcycle Dealers.
SIC 5942 Book Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of new books and magazines. Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of used books are classified in SIC 5932: Used Merchandise Stores.
SIC 5943 Stationery Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of stationery, such as paper products (including printing and engraving), postcards, school and office forms, legal forms, and supplies. Those establishments primarily engaged in selling office forms and supplies are discussed in SIC 5112: Wholesale Trade, and those primarily engaged in the retail sale of greeting cards are discussed in SIC 5947: Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Shops.
SIC 5944 Jewelry Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of jewelry, such as diamonds and other precious stones mounted in precious metals and sold as rings, pins, or bracelets; sterling and plated silverware; and watches and clocks. Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of costume jewelry are classified in SIC 5632: Women's Accessory and Specialty Stores.
SIC 5945 Hobby, Toy, and Game Shops - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of toys, games, and hobby and craft kits and supplies. Establishments primarily engaged in selling artists' supplies or collectors' items, such as coins, stamps, and autographs, are classified in SIC 5999: Miscellaneous Retail Stores, Not Elsewhere Classified.
SIC 5946 Camera and Photographic Supply Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of cameras, film, and other photographic supplies and equipment. Establishments engaged primarily in the retail sale of video equipment are categorized in SIC 5731: Radio, Television, and Consumer Electronics Stores; those primarily engaged in photo finishing recovered in SIC 7384: Photo finishing Laboratories.
SIC 5947 Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Shops - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of combined lines of gifts and novelty merchandise, souvenirs, greeting cards, holiday decorations, and miscellaneous small art goods.
SIC 5948 Luggage and Leather Goods Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of luggage, trunks, and leather goods.
SIC 5949 Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of sewing supplies, fabrics, patterns, yarn, and other needlework accessories.
SIC 5961 Catalog and Mail-Order Houses - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
The catalog and mail-order house industry, or non-store retail industry, is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of products through television, catalog, and direct mail. Such organizations include companies that sell book club memberships, magazines, and retail consumer and business products.
SIC 5962 Automatic Merchandising Machine Operators - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of products by means of automatic merchandising units, also referred to as vending machines. This industry does not include the operation of coin-operated service machines, such as music machines, amusement and game machines, and lockers and scales.
SIC 5963 Direct Selling Establishments - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Retail companies that sell merchandise door-to-door, from trucks and wagons or from other temporary locations, make up the direct selling industry. Included are individuals who sell products by these methods and are not employees of the organizations they represent, as well as establishments that are retail sales offices from which employees operate to sell merchandise by house-to-house canvassing.
SIC 5983 Fuel Oil Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This classification covers companies primarily retailing fuel oil.
SIC 5984 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bottled Gas) Dealers - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This industry consists of companies that primarily sell bottled or bulk liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, which is used mainly for heating homes and businesses in rural areas. This classification includes other byproducts of crude oil, such as bottled butane gas, used as an additive in gasoline and for lighters, and bottled propane gas, which is most often used to produce LP gas.
SIC 5989 Fuel Dealers, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
Establishments in this industry primarily sell coal, wood, and other fuels, not elsewhere classified.
SIC 5992 Florists - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of cut flowers and growing plants. Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of seeds, bulbs, and nursery stock are classified in SIC 5261: Retail Nurseries, Law and Garden Supply Stores.
SIC 5993 Tobacco Stands and Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This entry includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, and smokers' supplies.
SIC 5994 News Dealers and Newsstands - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. Home delivery of newspapers by other than printers or publishers is classified in SIC 5963: Direct Selling Establishments.
SIC 5995 Optical Goods Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This entry includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses for individuals. Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of binoculars, telescopes, and opera glasses are classified in SIC 5999: Miscellaneous Retail Stores, Not Elsewhere Classified.
SIC 5999 Miscellaneous Retail Stores, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History
This category includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail trade of specialized lines of merchandise that are not included elsewhere, including art and architecture supplies; autographs, sets of coins, and related supplies; finished monuments and gravestones; cake decorating supplies; baby carriages; cosmetics; awnings and banners; candles; fireworks; rough gemstones and rock and stone specimens; home swimming pools (not installed); hearing aids; and trophy shops. It also includes ice dealers; hot tub and whirlpool bath dealers; orthopedic and artificial limbs stores; pet shops; rubber stamps stores; art dealers; auction rooms; typewriter stores; religious goods (other than books); telephone stores; and tent shops.