Online batik clothing shop

Shoppers who want distinctive patterned clothes, people drawn to Indonesian, African or other cultural textiles, and buyers looking for gifts.

You buy garments at wholesale or maker prices and sell at a retail mark-up, with extra income from accessories such as scarves and bags.

• Eye for fabric, pattern and quality
• Product photography and writing descriptions
• Stock and order management

• Distance selling rules: check the requirements for returns, refunds and customer information
• Import duty, VAT and shipping costs if buying from overseas suppliers
• Clothing labelling and product safety rules: check what applies to garments you sell
• Colour bleeding and sizing differences, which can lead to returns
• Register as a sole trader or company and check whether you need to register for VAT as sales grow

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you build your shop. Also allow for import duty, VAT and shipping if you buy from overseas suppliers.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £3,000, depending on your stock, photography and how many customers you reach. Colour bleeding and sizing differences can lead to returns, which may affect what you keep.

Check distance selling rules for returns, refunds and customer information, plus clothing labelling and product safety rules for the garments you sell. Also check import duty and VAT on overseas supplies, and whether you need to register for VAT as sales grow.