Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet

On the register

Share of these companies on the live register, by status.

• Active 73%
• Proposal to strike off 26%
• In insolvency or administration <1%

New registrations

Companies registered each month, October 2025 – September 2026, that are still on the register. See registrations by month across all companies.

Company age

How long the active companies have been registered.

• Under 1 year 36%
• 1–3 years 30%
• 3–5 years 11%
• 5–10 years 15%
• 10–20 years 6%
• 20 years or more 1%

Where they're registered

Active companies by postcode area of their registered office.

• West Central London (WC) 13,500
• East London (E) 12,800
• East Central London (EC) 12,700
• Manchester (M) 8,430
• West London (W) 7,380
• North London (N) 6,760
• Birmingham (B) 6,510
• Ipswich (IP) 4,130
• South East London (SE) 4,060
• Harrow (HA) 3,790

Recently registered companies

Active companies recently registered under SIC code 47910.

Related

• Part of the Retail industry group.
• Other retail SIC codes:
  • 47990 – Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets (47,200)
  • 47190 – Other retail sale in non-specialised stores (35,500)
  • 47110 – Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (34,400)
  • 47710 – Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores (27,600)
  • 47789 – Other retail sale of new goods in specialised stores (not commercial art galleries and opticians) (13,300)
  • 47290 – Other retail sale of food in specialised stores (11,600)
  • 47599 – Retail of furniture, lighting, and similar (not musical instruments or scores) in specialised store (10,100)
  • 47750 – Retail sale of cosmetic and toilet articles in specialised stores (10,100)
• All SIC codes
• SIC codes explained