Variant of NAICS 1997 - Labour Force Survey (LFS) Industries

7 - Services-Producing Sector

8 - Trade

44-45 - Retail Trade

The retail trade 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, that is, 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 business and institutional clients. 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. 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 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.

The non-store retailers subsector also includes establishments engaged in the home delivery of products. This includes home heating oil dealers and newspaper delivery companies.

453 - Miscellaneous Store Retailers

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing a specialized line of merchandise in other types of specialty stores. Florists, office supplies stores, stationery stores, gift, novelty and souvenir stores, used merchandise stores, pet and pet supplies stores, art dealers and manufactured (mobile) home dealers are included.

4539 - Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers

This industry group comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry group, primarily engaged in retailing new merchandise in other types of specialty stores.

45399 - All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers

This industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry, primarily engaged in retailing specialized lines of merchandise, such as tobacco and tobacco products; artists' supplies; collectors' items, such as coins, stamps, autographs and cards; beer and wine making supplies; swimming pool supplies and accessories; religious goods; and monuments and tombstones. Establishments primarily engaged in retailing a general line of new and used merchandise on an auction basis are also included.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • auctioning new and used merchandise on a fee basis (See 56199 All Other Support Services)

453992 - Beer and Wine-Making Supplies Stores

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing beer and wine-making supplies and equipment. These establishments may also provide access to on-premise beer and wine-making equipment.

• Example Activities:

  • Sales of beer making supplies and use of brewing equipment
  • Wine making supplies, retail

453999 - All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Beer and Wine-Making Supplies Stores)

This Canadian industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other Canadian industry, primarily engaged in retailing specialized lines of merchandise. Establishments primarily engaged in retailing a general line of new and used merchandise on an auction basis are also included.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • new and used merchandise auctioning on a fee basis (See 561990 All Other Support Services)

• Example Activities:

  • Architectural supplies, retail
  • Artists' supplies, retail
  • Auctioneering, with own facilities, open to the general public
  • Automobile auctioneers, with own facilities, open to the general public
  • Banner shops, retail
  • Brooms and brushes, retail
  • Cake decorating supplies, retail
  • Candle shops, retail
  • Church supplies, retail
  • Cigar stores and stands, retail
  • Coin and stamp dealing, retail
  • Collectors' coins, retail
  • Fireworks, retail
  • Flag shops, retail
  • Gravestones, finished-retail
  • Hot-tubs and whirlpools, retail
  • Lettering and designing of monuments
  • Numismatic supplies, retail
  • Party supplies store
  • Philatelic supplies, retail
  • Pipes and smokers' supplies, retail
  • Religious goods stores (except books), retail
  • Smoke shop
  • Stamp collection sets, retail
  • Swimming pools, retail
  • Tobacco stores and stands
  • Tombstones, retail
  • Trophy shops, retail
  • Water conditioning equipment, retail
  • Wig, toupee and wiglet stores, retail