SIC code 47910 (Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet) is one of the most widely used business classifications in the United Kingdom, with 149,451 active companies registered under this code. This makes it one of the largest individual SIC categories in the UK economy. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet industry page.
With a 85% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 167 of 176,834 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Active companies average just 2.9 years old, indicating a very young sector experiencing rapid growth and new market entrants. Most businesses in this classification are in their early stages of development. Growth has been exceptional recently: 85% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 12%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Geographically, the sector is heavily concentrated: LONDON alone accounts for 32% of all active companies (48,095 firms). The top three locations — LONDON, MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM — represent 38% of the sector.
SIC code 47910 stands for "Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 149,451 active companies registered under SIC code 47910 in the UK, out of 176,834 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 85%, meaning 15% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for retail sale via mail order houses or via internet companies (SIC 47910) are: LONDON (48,095), MANCHESTER (5,145), BIRMINGHAM (3,796), GLASGOW (1,868), ILFORD (1,738). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 85% of currently active SIC 47910 companies were formed since 2020, and 12% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for retail sale via mail order houses or via internet services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 47910 have an average age of 2.9 years. This young average age reflects a sector with many recent market entrants and rapid turnover. Notable companies include INTERFLORA BRITISH UNIT, VICTORIAN PLUMBING LTD, AO RETAIL LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 47990 (Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets), 47110 (Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating), 47190 (Other retail sale in non-specialised stores), 47710 (Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 47910 (Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 149,451 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.