Online wholesale of handmade crafts

Independent gift shops, galleries, farm shops, garden centres and museum or visitor attraction shops.

You buy from makers at a trade price and sell to retailers at a wholesale price, keeping the margin. Minimum order values help cover postage and packing time.

• Spotting products that sell
• Building relationships with makers and buyers
• Basic online shop and stock management
• Good record keeping

• Product safety rules: check the requirements for items such as candles, toys and anything for children, and ask makers for supporting documents
• Agree in writing who owns the stock, payment terms and returns with each maker
• Check whether you need to register for VAT as your sales grow
• Consider product liability as well as public liability insurance
• Retailers may ask for credit terms, so decide how to handle late payment

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on how much stock you buy, how you build your trade website and what storage you need. Agreeing stock ownership terms with makers in writing helps limit risk.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £4,000, depending on your product range, how many shops you win as customers and the size of their orders. These are estimates of revenue, not profit.

Check product safety rules for items such as candles, toys and children's products, and ask makers for supporting documents. Also check whether you need to register for VAT as sales grow, and consider product liability alongside public liability insurance.