Legal Definitions - retail

Retail refers to the sale of goods or services directly to the ultimate consumer for their personal use or consumption, rather than for resale or further business processing. It represents the final stage in the distribution chain where products reach the individual who will directly use them.

• Example 1: A customer visits a local bookstore and purchases a novel to read at home.

  Explanation: The bookstore is engaging in retail because it is selling the book directly to an individual who is the final user. The customer is buying the book for personal enjoyment, not to resell it to another person or business.

• Example 2: An individual orders a custom-designed t-shirt from an online print-on-demand service.

  Explanation: This transaction is retail because the online service is selling the t-shirt directly to the person who will wear it. The t-shirt is being purchased for personal use, making the buyer the ultimate consumer.

• Example 3: A family buys a new refrigerator from a large appliance store.

  Explanation: The appliance store is conducting a retail sale by selling the refrigerator directly to the family for use in their home. The family is the end-user of the appliance, not a business intending to install it in a property for resale or rent.