General Line of Merchandise

General line of merchandise, or general merchandise, is a retail and wholesale business model in which a store carries a broad range of goods rather than limiting itself to one particular category, as a general store does. Under the North American Industry Classification System, stores specializing in a single category, such as building and home improvement materials, groceries, or used goods, are formally excluded from the general merchandise line, though general stores in practice still commonly carry some basic groceries, limited produce, hardware, and gardening tools alongside their broader stock.