Online footwear wholesale for small shops

Independent shoe shops, boutiques, market traders and small online retailers who can't buy direct from big manufacturers.

You buy at a trade price and sell at a margin, usually with a minimum order per customer. Repeat orders each season matter more than one-off sales.

• Spotting what shops can sell
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Careful stock and sizing records
• Building trade customer relationships

• Check footwear sold in the UK meets product safety and labelling rules, and ask suppliers for the relevant documents
• Check import duties, VAT and customs paperwork if you buy from outside the UK
• Beware of copied or counterfeit branded goods, and only buy from suppliers you can verify
• Unsold stock and sizes that don't move can tie up your cash
• Check whether you can store stock at home with your landlord, lender or insurer, and arrange suitable stock insurance

Startup costs are estimated at typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on how much stock you buy, whether you need storage space and how many suppliers you work with. Focusing on one niche, such as kids' shoes, can help you plan your first orders.

Check that footwear sold in the UK meets product safety and labelling rules, and ask suppliers for the relevant documents. If you buy from outside the UK, check import duties, VAT and customs paperwork. Only buy branded goods from suppliers you can verify.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your niche, stock and customers, with at least about 8 hours a week needed. Unsold stock and slow-moving sizes can tie up cash, so keep careful stock records.