Home-based ceramics wholesaler

Independent gift shops, homeware stores, garden centres, farm shops, cafes and small online retailers that want to buy in bulk rather than from big chains.

You sell at a trade price above your landed cost (purchase price, shipping, duty and handling). Retailers usually have minimum order values, and repeat orders from the same shops are where the business is built.

• Sourcing and negotiating with suppliers
• Spotting products that sell
• Stock and order tracking
• Building relationships with shop owners

• Import duty, VAT and customs paperwork if you buy from outside the UK; check current rules on GOV.UK, and you may need an EORI number
• Product safety and food contact rules for tableware, including the materials rules; check what documents your supplier can provide
• Breakages in transit; check insurance for stock and goods in transit
• Cash tied up in stock, and retailers who pay late if you offer credit terms
• Running a business from home and storing stock there may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender, and check your home insurance

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on how much opening stock you buy, whether you import, and the storage you need. Cash tied up in stock is worth planning for.

Check import duty, VAT and customs paperwork on GOV.UK if buying from outside the UK, and whether you need an EORI number. Check product safety and food contact rules for tableware, insurance for breakages, and whether you need permission to store stock at home.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £800 to £4,000, depending on your range, how many shops you supply and the order sizes. You could start with at least around 10 hours a week.