Analysis
NAICS 449210 is the 2022 national industry for electronics and appliance retailers, part of 44921 (Electronics and Appliance Retailers). Census lists 26 example activities under it in the official index.
Census lists 12 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 459510, 441330, 459120 and 459130. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include appliance stores, household-type, audio equipment stores (except automotive), camera shops, photographic and cellular telephone accessories stores, among 26 in all.
For example, retailing used appliance and electronic products are classified in 459510 (Used Merchandise Retailers) instead.
County Business Patterns publishes no national count for it, either because the code is out of the survey's scope or because the figures are suppressed to protect individual businesses.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) retailing an array of new household-type appliances and consumer-type electronic products, such as televisions, computers, electronic tablets, and cameras; (2) specializing in retailing a single line of new consumer-type electronic products; (3) retailing these new products in combination with repair and support services; (4) retailing new prepackaged or downloadable computer software (without publishing); and/or (5) retailing prerecorded audio and video media, such as downloadable digital music and video files (without production or publishing), CDs, and DVDs.
Illustrative Examples:
Appliance retailers, household-type Consumer-type electronics retailers (e.g., televisions, computers, cameras) Cellular telephone accessories retailers Stereo and sound system retailers (except automotive)
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Retailing used appliance and electronic products | 459510 Used Merchandise Retailers |
| Retailing automotive electronic sound systems | 441330 Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers |
| Retailing new electronic toys, such as dedicated gaming consoles and handheld electronic games | 459120 Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers |
| Retailing new sewing machines in combination with selling new sewing supplies, fabrics, patterns, yarns, and other needlework accessories | 459130 Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers |
| Retailing new computers, computer peripherals, and prepackaged software in combination with retailing new office equipment, office furniture, and office supplies | 459410 Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers |
| Selling wireless communication service plans and cellular telephones, as agents for wireless telecommunications carriers and resellers | 517122 Agents for Wireless Telecommunications Services |
| Providing television, computer, or other electronic equipment repair services without retailing new televisions, computers, or electronic equipment | 811210 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance |
| Providing household-type appliance repair services without retailing new appliances | 811412 Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
| Developing film and/or making photographic slides, prints, and enlargements without retailing a range of new photographic equipment and supplies | 81292 Photofinishing |
| Renting prerecorded digital video discs (DVDs) | 532282 Video Tape and Disc Rental |
| Publishing and distributing software through subscriptions and/or downloads | 513210 Software Publishers |
| Producing and distributing motion pictures and videos | 512110 Motion Picture and Video Production |
Index entries (26)
- Appliance stores, household-type
- Audio equipment stores (except automotive)
- Camera shops, photographic
- Cellular telephone accessories stores
- Citizens' band (CB) radio stores
- Computer equipment stores
- Computer software, prepackaged, new, mail-order houses
- Computer stores
- Consumer-type electronic stores (e.g., televisions, computers, cameras)
- Electronic part and component stores
- Household-type appliance stores
- Music retailers (e.g., downloadable digital music files (without production or publishing))
- Music stores (e.g., cassette, compact disc, record, tape)
- Photographic supply stores
- Prerecorded tape, compact disc, and record, new, mail-order houses
- Radio and television stores
- Record stores, new
- Sewing machine stores, household-type
- Software retailers (e.g., downloadable computer software (without publishing))
- Software stores, computer
- Stereo stores (except automotive)
- Television and radio stores
- TV (television) stores
- Vacuum cleaner stores, household-type
- Video game software stores
- Video tape stores