What this class covers
ANZSIC class 4252, Footwear Retailing, classifies businesses in Australia that are primarily engaged in selling footwear directly to the public from physical store locations. This includes a wide range of footwear intended for everyday use, fashion, work, or specific sports and activities. These businesses operate in a dedicated retail environment, such as a shopfront in a shopping centre or high street, where the main economic activity is the sale of footwear.
Typical businesses operating within this classification include dedicated shoe stores selling formal and casual footwear, specialist athletic footwear retailers focusing on running or sports shoes, work boot outlets supplying safety footwear, and children's shoe stores. The classification applies whether the business operates as an independent retailer or as part of a franchise or chain, provided the core activity remains the retail sale of footwear.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class are mainly involved in:
- Operating retail stores that specialise in selling footwear, including boots, shoes, sandals, and thongs.
- Retailing sports-specific footwear, such as running shoes, football boots, netball shoes, or hiking boots.
- Selling safety and occupational footwear, like steel-capped boots for construction or industrial work.
- Offering footwear accessories that are sold as part of the primary footwear product, such as shoelaces or insoles, when sold in a footwear retail setting.
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class is specific to businesses whose main activity is footwear retailing. It does not include businesses for which footwear is a secondary product line.
Nearby classifications include ANZSIC Group 425 for retailers selling a mix of clothing, footwear, and accessories where no single product line dominates. Businesses mainly retailing clothing fall under ANZSIC 4251 (Clothing Retailing). Retailers operating from temporary stalls or markets, rather than permanent stores, may be classified elsewhere, such as in Division G subgroups for non-store retailing.
Practical guidance
When registering for an ABN and describing your business activity, using the correct classification, such as "Footwear Retailing - ANZSIC 4252", helps government agencies correctly categorise your operations. For tax purposes, this code aligns with the Business Industry Code (BIC) 42520, which you may need to include on your Business Activity Statement (BAS).
Your state or territory's workers' compensation authority will use this ANZSIC code to assess your premium risk category, which for retail is generally lower risk than construction or manufacturing. When applying for certain business grants or licences, you may be asked to provide your industry classification. Always ensure the code accurately reflects your primary source of income to avoid misclassification for reporting and compliance.