Hat stall at markets and events

Shoppers browsing markets and events, tourists, festival-goers and people looking for a hat for a special occasion.

Retail sales of hats bought wholesale or made by local makers. Sales are lumpy, with busy event days and quiet weeks, so choosing good events matters.

• Friendly face-to-face selling
• Eye for style and fit
• Setting up a neat display and handling card payments

• Commercial general liability insurance, which many markets and events require
• Check whether your municipality or the market requires a vendor permit or business licence
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• Weather and seasonality: outdoor markets are quiet in deep winter, so consider indoor events and holiday fairs

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $5,000, depending on how much stock you carry and what display, signage and card payment equipment you choose. Starting with a focused range can keep the initial outlay lower.

Things to check include commercial general liability insurance, which many markets and events require, and whether your municipality or the market requires a vendor permit or business licence. Also check GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $3,500, depending on the events you attend and the season. Plan on roughly 8 hours a week at minimum. Outdoor markets are quiet in deep winter, so consider indoor events and holiday fairs.