Online christmas decorations shop

Households decorating for the holidays, gift buyers, and people looking for unusual or handmade ornaments.

You buy stock at wholesale or maker prices and sell at a markup, with shipping charged or built into prices. Most sales fall between October and December.

• Choosing products that sell
• Basic online store set-up
• Order packing and customer service

• GST/HST registration once sales pass the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules that vary, so check with the CRA and your province
• Fragile items such as glass ornaments, so plan packaging and breakage costs
• Unsold stock in January, so buy cautiously and plan clearance sales or storage
• Commercial general liability insurance and checking product safety rules for items like lights, which may have certification requirements

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how much stock you buy and whether you source wholesale or from Canadian makers. Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $300 to $5,000, depending on the season.

Check with the CRA and your province, since GST/HST registration applies once sales pass the small supplier threshold and provincial sales tax rules vary. Also check product safety rules for items like lights, which may have certification requirements, and commercial general liability insurance.

Unsold stock in January is a risk, so buy cautiously and plan clearance sales or storage. Fragile items such as glass ornaments also need packaging and breakage costs planned. Estimates suggest at least about 8 hours a week.