NAICS UNIVERSITY · Free research for insurance agents
Department Stores
NAICS 455110 · United States · 2022 edition
This industry comprises establishments generally known as department stores that have separate departments for general lines of new merchandise, such as apparel, jewelry, home furnishings, and toys, with no one merchandise line predominating. Department stores may sell perishable groceries, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, but such sales are insignificant. Department stores with fixed point-of-sale locations may have separate customer checkout areas in each department, central customer checkout areas, or both.
Start the review with premises liability.
For Department Stores, the saved research highlights premises liability, commercial property, products liability. Confirm how these arise in the actual operation, what controls are used and whether additional services change the proposed coverage.
Questions to ask
- How many locations, and what is the total square footage across all stores?
- Are any departments operated by third-party licensees or concession operators, and what do the contractual indemnity arrangements look like?
- What categories of merchandise are carried — does inventory include significant fine jewelry, electronics, or high-value goods that may exceed standard property sublimits?
- Does the store carry any perishable goods such as food, flowers, or refrigerated products?
- Are escalators, elevators, or moving walkways present on the premises?
- What is the current five-year loss history, particularly for slip-and-fall and crime-related claims?
- Does the store operate any delivery vehicles or use employees to transport merchandise between locations?
- What point-of-sale and customer data systems are in use, and does the store operate a loyalty or credit program?
Activities described by this code
Other activities to examine
- Retailing apparel without a significant amount of housewares or general merchandise: 458110 — Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers
- Retailing a general line of merchandise in combination with a significant amount and variety of perishable groceries, generally known as warehouse clubs, superstores, or supercenters: 455211 — Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
- Retailing a general line of merchandise and not generally known as department stores, warehouse clubs, superstores, or supercenters: 455219 — All Other General Merchandise Retailers;
- Retailing used merchandise: 459510 — Used Merchandise Retailers
Census classification reference
For educational purposes only. AI-generated insurance research and automated logic can contain errors. Independently verify classification and coverage decisions.
Compare another operationInsurance operations research — draft
Department stores operate large retail floor spaces divided into distinct merchandise departments — typically including apparel, footwear, accessories, jewelry, home furnishings, housewares, and toys — serving general consumer foot traffic in fixed locations such as malls, strip centers, or freestanding buildings. Operations typically include receiving and stockroom activity, customer service desks, fitting rooms, display and visual merchandising, in-store checkout, and sometimes leased or licensed departments operated by third parties. Some locations include in-store cafes, beauty salons, or optical departments.
Questions to investigate
- How many locations, and what is the total square footage across all stores?
- Are any departments operated by third-party licensees or concession operators, and what do the contractual indemnity arrangements look like?
- What categories of merchandise are carried — does inventory include significant fine jewelry, electronics, or high-value goods that may exceed standard property sublimits?
- Does the store carry any perishable goods such as food, flowers, or refrigerated products?
This insurance research was generated in April 2026. It has not received a complete human review. The October 12, 2026 audit checked codes and titles only, not descriptions or coverage assertions.