Analysis
NAICS 459510 is the 2022 national industry for used merchandise retailers, part of 45951 (Used Merchandise Retailers). Census lists 30 example activities under it in the official index.
Census lists 9 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 522299, 441120, 441330 and 441340. 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 antique dealers (except motor vehicles), antique shops, apparel stores, used clothing and appliance stores, household, used, among 30 in all.
For example, operating pawnshops are classified in 522299 (International, Secondary Market, and All Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation) 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 retailing used merchandise, antiques, and secondhand goods (except motor vehicles, such as automobiles, RVs, motorcycles, and boats; motor vehicle parts; tires; and mobile homes). This industry includes establishments retailing used merchandise on an auction basis.
Illustrative Examples:
Antique retailers Used household appliance retailers Used book retailers Used merchandise thrift shops Used clothing retailers Used sporting goods retailers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Operating pawnshops | 522299 International, Secondary Market, and All Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation |
| Retailing used automobiles | 441120 Used Car Dealers |
| Retailing used automobile parts (except tires and tubes) | 441330 Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers |
| Retailing used tires | 441340 Tire Dealers |
| Retailing used mobile homes | 459930 Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
| Retailing used recreational vehicles | 441210 Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
| Retailing used boats | 441222 Boat Dealers |
| Retailing used motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), aircraft, snowmobiles, and utility trailers | 441227 Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers |
| Retailing a general line of new and used merchandise on an auction basis | 455219 All Other General Merchandise Retailers |
Index entries (30)
- Antique dealers (except motor vehicles)
- Antique shops
- Apparel stores, used clothing
- Appliance stores, household, used
- Architectural salvage dealers
- Auctions, general merchandise (used), Internet retail
- Bicycle (except motorized) shops, used
- Book clubs, not publishing, used books, mail-order
- Book stores, used
- Clothing stores, used
- Computer software, prepackaged, used, mail-order houses
- Consignment shops, used merchandise
- Electronic auctions, general merchandise (used), retail
- Flea markets, used merchandise, permanent
- Furniture stores, used
- General merchandise (used) auction houses
- Internet auctions, general merchandise (used), retail
- Internet retail sales sites, used general merchandise
- Music stores (e.g., cassette, instrument, record, tape), used
- Prerecorded tape, compact disc, and record, used, mail-order houses
- Rare manuscript stores
- Record stores, used
- Secondhand merchandise stores
- Sporting goods stores, used
- Thrift shops, used merchandise
- Used bicycle (except motorized) shops
- Used merchandise dealers (except motor vehicles and parts)
- Used merchandise stores
- Used rare collectors' items (e.g., autograph, coin, card, stamps) shops
- Used rare collectors' items (e.g., autograph, coin, card, stamps), mail-order houses