Haberdashery market stall
Sell sewing notions and trims from a stall at local markets and craft fairs.
- £600-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
4,072 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 47510 “Retail sale of textiles in specialised stores”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A mobile haberdashery stall at weekly markets, craft fairs and community events, offering threads, buttons, ribbons, zips and fabric remnants.
Your first three steps
- Visit local markets and craft fairs to see which have no haberdashery stall and what pitch fees are
- Buy starter stock from wholesalers and build a tidy, eye-catching display with a table and gazebo
- Book a trial pitch or two and take a card reader
Who pays
Local sewers, crafters, people mending clothes and visitors to markets and fairs.
How it makes money
Retail margin on each item sold, with extra sales from impulse buys, bundles and bags of mixed buttons or trims.
Skills that help
- Friendly selling face to face
- Eye for display
- Knowledge of sewing supplies
- Handling cash and card payments
Watch out for
- Street trading rules vary, check with your council whether you need a licence or permission
- Public liability insurance, which many markets require
- Weather and quiet days can affect takings
- You will need a vehicle or a way to carry stock and a stall
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: haberdashery market stall
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a haberdashery market stall?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on your stock, stall equipment and how you transport it all. You will need a vehicle or a way to carry stock and a stall.
How much can a haberdashery market stall earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,000, depending on how many markets and fairs you attend and your stock range. This is revenue, not profit. Weather and quiet days can affect takings. At least around 8 hours a week is suggested.
Do I need a licence to run a market stall?
Street trading rules vary, so check with your council whether you need a licence or permission. Also check public liability insurance, which many markets require, and plan for how weather and quiet days might affect your takings.
Other ways to run this business
Online haberdashery shop
Sell buttons, ribbons, threads and sewing supplies online to crafters, from a spare room at home.
- £500-4k
- Side hustle
- Online
Haberdashery shop with workshops
Open a small high street haberdashery selling supplies and running sewing classes.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
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Photo: webentwicklerin on Pixabay