Home-Based ceramics wholesaler

Independent gift shops, homewares boutiques, cafes, florists and market stallholders who want unique stock in small wholesale quantities.

You buy at factory price and sell at a wholesale price with a margin above landed cost (freight, duty, GST and breakage). Repeat orders from regular stockists build revenue.

• Negotiating with overseas suppliers
• Spotting products that suit local shops
• Organising stock and orders
• Building relationships with shop owners

• Get an ABN and check when you need to register for GST
• Import duty, GST on imports and customs requirements, check with the Australian Border Force or a customs broker
• Breakage in transit, consider marine cargo insurance and sturdy packaging
• Check food-contact safety requirements for tableware, including lead and cadmium release limits, before you sell
• Check council rules if storing stock at home, and have public liability and product liability insurance
• Tying up cash in stock before you have buyers

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of your first order, shipping, import costs, storage and insurance. These are estimates only. Stock ties up cash before you have buyers, so consider starting with smaller orders.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many shops and cafes you supply and the size of their orders. This is revenue before costs, not profit. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week.

Check import duty, GST on imports and customs requirements with the Australian Border Force or a customs broker. Check food-contact safety requirements for tableware, including lead and cadmium release limits. Also check council rules for storing stock at home, insurance, and your ABN and GST registration.