Online hobby and model kit shop

Hobbyists, collectors, gamers, crafters and parents buying gifts, often returning for paints, tools and add-ons.

You buy stock from distributors and sell at a mark-up. Repeat orders for paints, glue and accessories help build steady sales.

• Real knowledge of a hobby
• Stock and order tracking
• Photography and product listings
• Customer service

• Check the distance selling and consumer returns rules, including the right to cancel online orders
• Toys and craft products may need to meet UK safety marking rules, check with Trading Standards and your supplier
• Stock can tie up cash, so start with a small range
• Postage costs and damaged parcels can eat into margins
• Some wholesalers set minimum order values or restrict online sellers, so check their terms

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website or marketplace set-up and packaging. Starting with a small range helps protect cash.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around £500 to £3,500, depending on your range, how well you list and photograph products and how many repeat customers you win. Postage costs and damaged parcels can affect margins.

Check the distance selling and consumer returns rules, including the right to cancel online orders. Also check whether toys and craft products need UK safety marking with Trading Standards and your supplier, and any wholesaler minimum orders or online selling restrictions.