Data Visualization Activity –
Sample Superstore Dataset
Student Name: Sruti Gupta
Date: March 19, 2026
Assignment: Data Visualization using Sample Superstore Dataset
Introduction
This report presents seven data visualizations created from the Sample Superstore dataset.
The dataset contains retail sales data including information about orders, products,
customers, regions, and financial metrics. The purpose of this activity is to analyze the data
through visual representations including five bar graphs, one pie chart, and one line chart.
These visualizations help us understand sales patterns, profitability, regional performance,
and customer segment behavior in the superstore business.
Bar Graph 1: Total Sales by Category
This bar graph shows the total sales for each product category in the Sample Superstore
dataset. The x-axis represents the three categories: Furniture, Office Supplies and
Technology. The y-axis represents the total sales amount for each category. We can see that
Office Supplies and Technology have higher total sales compared to Furniture in this dataset.
Bar Graph 2: Total Profit by Category
This bar graph shows the total profit for each product category in the Sample Superstore
dataset. The x-axis shows the categories: Furniture, Office Supplies and Technology. The y-
axis shows the total profit earned from each category. From the graph we can observe that the
Technology category gives the highest profit overall, while Furniture has lower profit
compared to the other categories.
Bar Graph 3: Total Sales by Region
This bar graph displays the total sales in each region: Central, East, South and West. The x-
axis represents the regions and the y-axis represents total sales. The height of each bar shows
how much sales were generated in that region. From this graph we can see that the West and
East regions contribute higher sales than the Central and South regions.
Bar Graph 4: Top 10 Sub-Categories by
Quantity Sold
This bar graph shows the top 10 product sub-categories based on total quantity sold. The x-
axis lists the sub-categories such as Binders, Paper, Furnishings, Accessories and others. The
y-axis shows the total quantity of items sold in each sub-category. The graph helps us identify
which types of products are sold in the largest quantities, and we can see that some office
supply items like Binders and Paper appear among the highest.
Bar Graph 5: Average Discount by
Segment
This bar graph presents the average discount given to each customer segment: Consumer,
Corporate and Home Office. The x-axis represents the three segments and the y-axis
represents the average discount value. By comparing the heights of the bars we can see which
segment receives relatively higher discounts. In this dataset, one segment receives slightly
higher average discounts compared to the others.
Pie Chart: Sales Share by Segment
This pie chart shows the percentage share of total sales for each customer segment in the
Sample Superstore dataset. The slices of the pie represent the Consumer, Corporate and
Home Office segments. The size of each slice indicates how much that segment contributes to
total sales. From the chart we can observe that the Consumer segment contributes the largest
share of sales, followed by the Corporate segment and then the Home Office segment.
Line Chart: Monthly Sales Over Time
This line chart shows how total sales change over time on a monthly basis using the order
dates from the dataset. The x-axis represents the months over the years and the y-axis
represents total sales for each month. Each point on the line shows the sales value for that
month and the line connects these points to show the trend. We can see that sales go up and
down over time, and some months show higher peaks, which may indicate seasonal trends or
promotional periods.
Conclusion
Through these seven visualizations, we have gained valuable insights into the Sample
Superstore's business performance. The analysis reveals that Technology products generate
the highest profits despite similar sales volumes across categories. Regional analysis shows
that Western and Eastern regions are the strongest markets. The Consumer segment
dominates total sales, accounting for more than half of all revenue. Product quantity analysis
indicates that office supplies like Binders and Paper are the most frequently purchased items.
The time-series analysis reveals fluctuating monthly sales patterns that suggest seasonal
demand variations. These visualizations demonstrate how data visualization techniques can
transform raw data into actionable business insights.
Methodology
Data Source: Sample Superstore dataset (Excel file)
Tools Used: Python with Pandas and Matplotlib libraries for data analysis and visualization
Visualizations Created: 5 bar graphs, 1 pie chart, 1 line chart
Analysis Period: Complete dataset covering multiple years of sales transactions