Use SIC Codes To Create Targeted Mailing Lists By Industry Type
SIC codes are used in hierarchy fashion to define businesses using increasingly specific terms. The broadest description, which is frequently all you need, is the 2 digit code. The 2 digit code can be expanded and business types more clearly differentiated with use of 4 digit code. (The SIC code system includes further refinement of businesses with 6 and 8 digit SIC codes, but the mailing lists from which you can select by SIC will either be available at the 2 or 4 digit level.) As an example, 2 digit SIC code 54 = Food Stores, which can then be split into these distinct 4 digit SIC codes:
· 5411 Grocery Stores
· 5421 Meat and Fish (Seafood) Markets, Including Freezer Provisioners
· 5431 Fruit and Vegetable Markets
· 5441 Candy, Nut, and Confectionery Stores
· 5451 Dairy Products Stores
· 5461 Retail Bakeries
· 5499 Miscellaneous Food Stores
One of the best places to find SIC info is at the US Dept of Labor OSHA website
This site allows you to look at 2 digit SIC codes and click deeper into each 2 digit code group for its accompanying 4 digit SIC codes
The site also has a search by keyword function.