General Merchandise Stores, Including Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters
Key Figures
Figures are published for NAICS 45231 directly.
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Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new goods in general merchandise stores (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 known as warehouse clubs, superstores, or supercenters are included in this industry.
Source: US Census Bureau, 2017 NAICS Definitions. Public domain.
Illustrative examples
- Dollar stores
- General merchandise catalog showrooms (except catalog mail-order)
- 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)
Which code does this activity belong in?
General merchandise stores carry a broad range of unrelated product categories with no single merchandise line dominating their sales mix. Department stores, by contrast, organize merchandise into distinct departments and emphasize apparel and home furnishings as primary product categories. Warehouse clubs, supercenters, and variety stores that stock groceries alongside hardware, automotive parts, and housewares belong in general merchandise stores, whereas establishments structured around departmentalized selling of apparel and home goods belong in department stores.