North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2017 Version 3.0

44-45 - Retail trade

This sector comprises establishments primarily 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 non-store retailers. Their main characteristics are described below.

Store retailers

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 businesses and institutions. These include establishments such as office supplies stores, computer and software stores, gasoline stations, building material dealers, plumbing supplies stores and electrical supplies stores.

In addition to selling 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 supplies stores often provide repair services, while floor covering stores and window treatment stores often provide installation services. As a general rule, establishments engaged in retailing merchandise and providing after sales services are classified in this sector.

Catalogue sales showrooms, gasoline service stations, and mobile home dealers are treated as store retailers.

Non-store retailers

Non-store retailers, like store retailers, are organized to serve the general public, but their retailing methods differ. They reach customers and market merchandise with methods such as, the broadcasting of infomercials, the broadcasting and publishing of direct-response advertising, the publishing of traditional and electronic catalogues, door-to-door solicitation, in-home demonstration, temporary displaying of merchandise (stalls) and distribution by vending machines.

The methods of transaction and delivery of merchandise vary by type of non-store retailers. For example, non-store retailers that reach their customers using information technologies can receive payment at the time of purchase or at the time of delivery, and the delivery of the merchandise may be done by the retailer or by a third party, such as the post office or a courier. In contrast, non-store retailers that reach their customers by door-to-door solicitation, in-home demonstration, temporary displaying of merchandise (stalls) and vending machines typically receive payment and deliver the merchandise to the customer at the time of the purchase.

Non-store retailers also include establishments engaged in the home delivery of products such as home heating oil dealers and newspaper delivery companies.

443 - Electronics and appliance stores^US

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing household appliances, home audio and video equipment, audio and video recordings, cameras, computers and related goods. These establishments may also retail replacement parts and provide repair services.

• Exclusion(s)

  • retailing household appliances, home audio and video equipment, cameras, computers and related goods by means of electronic shopping, mail-order or direct sale (See 454 Non-store retailers)
  • retailing used household appliances, home audio and video equipment, cameras, computers and related goods (See 453310 Used merchandise stores)

4431 - Electronics and appliance stores^US

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing household appliances, home audio and video equipment, audio and video recordings, cameras, computers, and related goods. These establishments may also retail replacement parts and provide repair services.

44314 - Electronics and appliance stores

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing household appliances, home audio and video equipment, audio and video recordings, cameras, computers and related goods. These establishments may also retail replacement parts and provide repair services.

443143 - Appliance, television and other electronics stores^CAN

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new household appliances, home audio and video equipment, and other electronic products.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • garbage disposers, electric, retail
  • refrigerators and stoves and related electric and gas appliances, retail
  • telephone stores, retail
  • television, radio, stereo and appliances stores
  • vacuum cleaner stores, retail
  • video camera stores, retail
  • video recorders, retail

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • retailing of used electronics and appliances, provision of repair services, and retailing computers and computer software

• Exclusion(s)

  • computer, computer peripheral equipment and software retailing (See 443144 Computer and software stores)
  • electronic toy retailing (See 451120 Hobby, toy and game stores)
  • installation of home security without monitoring (See 561621 Security systems services (except locksmiths))
  • providing telecommunications and/or video entertainment services over network facilities operated by others (See 517911 Telecommunications resellers)
  • providing telecommunications and/or video entertainment services to mobile telecommunication devices over network facilities operated by them (See 517310 Wired and wireless telecommunications carriers (except satellite))
  • repairing household appliances (See 811412 Appliance repair and maintenance)
  • repairing televisions or other electronic products (See 811210 Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance)
  • retailing used household appliances (See 453310 Used merchandise stores)

443144 - Computer and software stores^CAN

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new computers, computer peripherals, pre-packaged software, game software and related products.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • computer equipment and supplies stores, retail
  • computer hardware and software, retail
  • computer software games stores
  • peripheral equipment, computer stores
  • personal computers sales and service

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • retailing of used computer equipment and replacement parts and accessories, and provision of repair services

• Exclusion(s)

  • repairing computers (See 811210 Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance)
  • retailing electronic toys, such as television (TV) games and hand-held games (See 451120 Hobby, toy and game stores)
  • retailing used computers and software (See 453310 Used merchandise stores)

443145 - Camera and photographic supplies stores^CAN

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new cameras, photographic equipment and photographic supplies.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • camera shops, photographic, retail
  • film and photographic supplies, retail
  • photographic camera parts and accessories, retail
  • photographic equipment, retail
  • photographic film and plates (unexposed), retail

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • retailing of used cameras and photographic equipment, and replacement parts and accessories, and provision of repair and film developing services

• Exclusion(s)

  • commercially developing film and photographic prints; one-hour film developing (See 81292 Photo finishing services)
  • repairing photographic equipment (See 811210 Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance)

443146 - Audio and video recordings stores^CAN

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new audio and video recordings in any format or medium.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • discs, music and video, retail

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • retailing computer software (See 443144 Computer and software stores)
  • retailing pre-recorded tapes, compact discs and records by mail-order (See 454110 Electronic shopping and mail-order houses)