146,566 active UK companies operate in retail sale via mail order houses or via internet (SIC code 47910), making it one of the largest business sectors in the United Kingdom. This sector falls under Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 22.8% dissolution rate — 146,566 of 212,851 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 773.2% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 139% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. With an average company age of just 3.0 years, this sector is dominated by newer entrants. 195 large companies, 42 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. The sector is heavily concentrated in London, which accounts for 33% of all companies. Companies in this sector hold 318 government contracts valued at £1.4B. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1909.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 773.2% of active companies formed since 2020.
The retail sale via mail order houses or via internet sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">22.8% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 3 years old. Geographic concentration: 33% in LONDON.
Companies in the retail sale via mail order houses or via internet sector have been awarded 318 government contracts worth £1404.8M in total.
There are 146,566 active companies classified under SIC code 47910 (Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet) in the UK, out of 212,851 total registered.
SIC code 47910 stands for "Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (48,095), MANCHESTER (5,145), BIRMINGHAM (3,796).
The average active retail sale via mail order houses or via internet company in the UK is 3 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1909.
Our database contains 988,854 data signals across 12 categories for active retail sale via mail order houses or via internet companies. The largest category is Governance with 599,463 signals from 6 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.