SIC 5712 Furniture Stores

SIC 5712

This classification covers establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of household furniture, including beds and springs, cabinet work, juvenile furniture, mattresses, and outdoor furniture. These stores also may sell home furnishings, major appliances, and floor coverings.

NAICS CODE(S)

337122

Nonupholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing

337110

Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Counter Top Manufacturing

337121

Upholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing

442110

Furniture Stores

The U.S. Census Bureau reported 29,920 establishments engaged in the retail sale of household furniture, including beds and springs, cabinet work, juvenile furniture, mattresses, and outdoor furniture in 2001. The industry employed about 278,231 people and generated an annual payroll of $7.5 billion. The total number of establishments grew to 55,553 in 2003, with the number of employees increasing to 334,448. Consumers spent roughly $48.7 billion within this industry. On the average, consumers spent $1.1 million per retail store. States with the majority of furniture stores were California with 7,296, Florida with 4,375, Texas with 4,327, New York with 3,133, North Carolina with 2,194, Georgia with 2,049, Illinois with 2,039, Ohio with 1,748, and New Jersey with 1,638.

The furniture store sector dominated the industry with 39,635 establishments. Combined, they generated sales of $37.9 billion and controlled more than 71 percent of the market. Office furniture followed with 2,623 establishments that shared $3.3 billion in sales. Mattresses numbered 2,518 stores, beds and accessories accounted for 2,162, and outdoor and garden furniture represented 1,034.

The industry is made up of both large national chains, regional stores, and small independent operations. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, consumers spent $55 billion on furniture and other home furnishings in 1997. But throughout the 1990s the fastest growing segment of the retail furniture trade was through new retailers. These new retailers, which sell household and office furniture, mattresses, and related consumer products, included large discount superstores such as Wal-Mart and Target, warehouse stores like Price Club and Office Depot, and one-stop department stores such as Sears & Roebuck and J.C. Penney. Catalog furniture sales also increased. This new competition made the marketplace a much more difficult one for...