Retro games market stall

Weekend market browsers, families, retro gamers and collectors who like to see items in person before buying.

Direct sales at a markup on what you paid, plus trade-ins that restock the stall. Bundles and rare finds lift the average sale. You pay stall fees each day you trade.

• Pricing games confidently
• Chatting with customers and haggling
• Setting up and packing down a display
• Testing consoles and games

• Check whether your state requires a second-hand dealer licence, and what records you must keep of purchases
• Public liability insurance, which many markets ask for
• Check market rules on electrical items and test-and-tag for anything you plug in
• Weather and quiet days make takings uneven
• Avoid counterfeit or pirated games and check where stock came from

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on stock, display gear, a demo console and stall setup. Costs vary with how many items you stock and which markets you choose.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,200 to $5,000, depending on the markets and fairs you attend, pricing and stock mix. Weather and quiet days can make takings uneven, so treat these as estimates.

Check whether your state requires a second-hand dealer licence and what purchase records to keep, public liability insurance that markets often ask for, market rules on electrical items and test-and-tag, and where your stock came from to avoid counterfeit games.