Retail Account Characteristics (885) is a transaction set used by suppliers and distributors to communicate detailed information about retail customer accounts. Retailers or their representatives typically send this to suppliers to establish or update account-specific attributes and operational details. The transaction begins with the ST (Transaction Set Header) segment and includes one or more N1 (Name) segments to identify the parties involved. Each account’s characteristics are organized within the ENT (Entity) loop, which contains a mandatory G53 (Maintenance Type) segment that specifies whether the information represents new account setup, updates, or deletions, along with DTM (Date/Time Reference) segments that establish effective dates for the account attributes.

For example, a regional grocery chain might send an 885 transaction to a beverage supplier to communicate that a newly acquired store location requires specific delivery schedules, has limited shelf space for product displays, and participates in the chain’s loyalty marketing program. The G13 (Store Size Attributes), G29 (Store Display Information), and G30 (Retail Account Marketing Types) segments within the ENT loop would carry these operational requirements. The RDI (Retail Account Demographic Information) segment could further detail the store’s customer base characteristics, helping the supplier tailor inventory and promotional strategies to match the account’s profile and market conditions.