Niche footwear wholesaler from home

Independent shoe shops, boutiques, market stallholders, online retailers and gift or specialty stores.

You buy at a factory or trade price and sell at a wholesale price, with minimum order sizes. Income comes from the margin on each order, plus repeat orders each season.

• Spotting trends and choosing ranges
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Sales and relationship building
• Stock and cash flow management

• Cash tied up in stock, so start with small orders and avoid over-buying sizes that don't sell
• Import duty, GST and customs requirements if buying overseas, check with the Australian Border Force or a customs broker
• Product labelling and any safety standards for footwear, especially children's shoes, check with the ACCC
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Council approval for storing stock at home, check your local council
• Currency swings and long lead times from overseas suppliers

Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much stock you buy and whether you import. Starting with small orders can help limit cash tied up in stock. These are estimates only.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your niche, your customers and how well your sizes and styles sell. The idea assumes at least about 10 hours a week. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Things to check: import duty, GST and customs requirements if buying overseas (ask Australian Border Force or a customs broker), labelling and safety standards for footwear, especially children's shoes (ACCC), insurance, and council approval for storing stock at home.