Retail Trade

Description

This division includes establishments engaged in selling merchandise for personal or household
consumption and rendering services incidental to the sale of the goods. In general, retail establishments
are classified by kind of business according to the principal lines of commodities sold (groceries,
hardware, etc.), or the usual trade designation (drug store, cigar store, etc.). Some of the important
characteristics of retail trade establishments are: the establishment is usually a place of business and is
engaged in activities to attract the general public to buy; the establishment buys or receives
merchandise as well as sells; the establishment may process its products, but such processing is
incidental or subordinate to selling; the establishment is considered as retail in the trade; and the
establishment sells to customers for personal or household use. Not all of these characteristics need be
present and some are modified by trade practice.

For the most part, establishments engaged in retail trade sell merchandise to the general public for
personal or household consumption. Exceptions to this general rule are lumber yards; paint, glass, and
wallpaper stores; typewriter stores; stationery stores; and gasoline service stations which sell to both
the general public for personal or household consumption and to businesses. These types of stores are
classified in Retail Trade even if a higher proportion of their sales is made to other than individuals for
personal or household consumption.