Asian household goods shop

Local residents, including Asian communities, home cooks, students, and shoppers looking for good-value or hard-to-find homewares.

You buy stock from wholesalers or importers and sell at a markup. Sales come from walk-in customers, repeat regulars, and extras like gift sets and seasonal lines.

• Customer service
• Stock buying and pricing
• Organising and merchandising
• Knowledge of the products and communities you serve

• Lease terms, including length, rent reviews and who pays for fit-out and make-good
• Public liability and contents insurance
• Product safety rules: check ACCC requirements for electrical items, kitchenware and children's products
• If you import directly, check customs, GST on imports and biosecurity rules for wood, bamboo and plant-based items
• Whether your council needs any approval for your shop use and signage
• Workers compensation insurance and award wages once you hire staff

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your shop size, fit-out, lease terms and opening stock. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for rent and fit-out before you sign anything.

Monthly revenue is typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your location, range and foot traffic. Plan on at least about 35 hours a week. Staff costs such as award wages and workers compensation apply once you hire.

Check your lease terms, ACCC product safety requirements for electrical items, kitchenware and children's products, and council approval for your shop use and signage. If you import directly, check customs, GST on imports and biosecurity rules for wood, bamboo and plant-based items.