Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new sewing supplies, fabrics, patterns, yarns, and other needlework accessories or retailing these products in combination with new sewing machines. Illustrative Examples: Fabric retailers Sewing supply retailers Needlecraft sewing supply retailers Upholstery materials retailers Quilting supply retailers
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Retail Trade 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole 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. Retail stores are 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. Retailers often reach customers and market merchandise with methods other than, or in addition to, physical stores, such as Internet websites, the broadcasting of "infomercials," the broadcasting and publishing of direct-response advertising, the publishing of paper and electronic catalogs, door-to-door solicitation, in-home demonstration, selling from portable stalls (street vendors, except food), and distribution through vending machines. Establishments engaged in the direct sale and home delivery of products, such as home heating oil dealers and home delivery newspaper routes, are included here. Retail establishments typically sell merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption, but some also serve business and institutional clients. These include office supply retailers, computer and software retailers, building materials dealers, plumbing supply retailers, and electrical supply retailers. In addition to retailing merchandise, some retailers are also engaged in the provision of after-sales services, such as repair and installation. For example, new automobile dealers, electronics and appliance retailers, and musical instrument and supplies retailers often provide repair services. As a general rule, establishments engaged in retailing merchandise and providing after-sales services are classified in this sector. Retail trade establishments are grouped into industries and industry groups typically based on one or more of the following criteria: (a) The merchandise line or lines carried; for example, specialty retailers are distinguished from general-line retailers. (b) The usual trade designation of the establishments. This criterion applies in cases where a retailer is well recognized by the industry and the public, but difficult to define strictly in terms of merchandise lines carried; for example, pharmacies and department stores. (c) Human resource requirements in terms of expertise; for example, the staff of an automobile dealer requires knowledge in financing, registering, and licensing issues that are not necessary in other retail industries. The buying of goods for resale is a characteristic of retail trade establishments that particularly distinguishes them from establishments in the agriculture, manufacturing, and construction industries. For example, farms that sell their products at or from the point of production are not classified in retail, but rather in agriculture. Similarly, establishments that both manufacture and sell their products to the general public are not classified in retail, but rather in manufacturing. However, establishments that engage in processing activities incidental to retailing are classified in retail. This includes optical goods retailers that grind lenses, and meat and seafood retailers that process carcasses into cuts. Wholesalers also engage in the buying of goods for resale, but they are not usually organized to serve the general public. They typically operate from a warehouse or office, and neither the design nor the location of these premises is intended to solicit a high volume of walk-in traffic. Wholesalers supply institutional, industrial, wholesale, and retail clients; their operations are, therefore, generally organized to purchase, sell, and deliver merchandise in larger quantities. However, dealers of durable nonconsumer goods, such as farm machinery and heavy-duty trucks, are included in wholesale trade even if they often sell these products in single units. |
| 459 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers subsector retail new sporting goods; new toys, games, and hobby supplies; new sewing supplies and needlework accessories; new musical instruments; new books, newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals; and other specialized lines of merchandise, such as cut flowers and floral arrangements, new office supplies and stationery, new gifts, novelty merchandise, and souvenirs, used merchandise, pets and pet supplies, art, new or used manufactured (mobile) homes, and tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and other smoking supplies. |
| 4591 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new sporting goods, toys, games, hobby supplies, sewing supplies, needlework accessories, and musical instruments. |
| 45913 | Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 459130. |
| 459130 | Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new sewing supplies, fabrics, patterns, yarns, and other needlework accessories or retailing these products in combination with new sewing machines. Illustrative Examples: Fabric retailers Sewing supply retailers Needlecraft sewing supply retailers Upholstery materials retailers Quilting supply retailers |
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Classification References
- 01Retailing new sewing machines only and in combination with retailing other new appliances--are classified in Industry 449210, Electronics and Appliance Retailers;
- 02Retailing used sewing, needlework, and piece goods--are classified in Industry 459510, Used Merchandise Retailers; and
- 03Providing furniture upholstery repair services--are classified in Industry 811420, Reupholstery and Furniture Repair.
Index Items
Fabric shops
Needlecraft sewing supply stores
Piece goods stores
Quilting supply stores
Sewing supply stores
Upholstery materials stores
How Item Can Help
Manages complex inventory of small, high-value needlework supplies while integrating real-time stock levels across multiple retail locations to prevent overselling.
Automates order routing and fulfillment strategies tailored to diverse customer delivery options often required by piece goods retail shops.
Predicts seasonal demand spikes for specific sewing patterns and raw materials by analyzing historical sales data to optimize procurement cycles.
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 459130.
National Association of Textile Merchants
A trade organization representing retailers of fabrics, yarns, and needlework products.
US Census Bureau Industry Data
Official government database providing detailed descriptions and statistics for NAICS 459130.
Furniture Retailers Directory
A comprehensive industry directory of physical sewing and needlework retail stores in the Greater Seattle area.
