Online camping gear shop

Campers, families, festival-goers and walkers buying kit for trips, mostly before the spring and summer seasons.

You buy at trade price and sell at a markup, with extra margin from accessories and bundles such as a tent plus groundsheet and lights.

• Choosing products customers trust
• Basic website and photo skills
• Customer service and handling returns

• Consumer rights for distance selling, including the 14-day cancellation right in most cases, so check the rules and set a clear returns policy
• Product safety rules: general product safety law applies to everything you sell, and some items such as gas appliances, stoves and heaters have specific requirements, so check with Trading Standards or your supplier what applies. Tents may need to meet flammability standards, so ask suppliers for compliance information rather than assuming
• Stock tied up in bulky items and a quiet winter season
• Large competitors can undercut on price, so compete on advice and range
• You will need to register as self-employed with HMRC, and check whether you need to register for VAT once your sales grow

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £1,000 to £8,000, depending on your website, photography and whether you use supplier dropshipping or hold stock. Stock in bulky items can tie up cash.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £300 to £4,000, depending on your niche, range and how well you market. Sales can be seasonal, with a quiet winter, so plan for it.

Check consumer rights for distance selling, including the 14-day cancellation right in most cases, and general product safety rules. Items like gas appliances and stoves may have specific requirements, so check with Trading Standards or your supplier, and ask for tent compliance information.