Online trade supplier of leather goods

Independent shops, gift and boutique retailers, market traders, online sellers and small makers who want to add leather items to their range.

You buy at a wholesale price and sell at a trade price with a margin. Minimum order sizes and repeat orders from regular customers help keep postage and handling costs under control.

• Spotting quality leather and good stitching
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Basic stock and order tracking
• Clear product photos and descriptions

• Import duty, VAT and customs paperwork if you buy from outside the UK, check with HMRC
• Describing products accurately: check the rules on labelling items as genuine leather and on product descriptions
• Chemical and product safety rules for leather items, and any restrictions on exotic skins, check with Trading Standards
• Cash tied up in stock, start with small orders until you know what sells
• Checking whether you can store stock at home under your tenancy, mortgage or home insurance
• Business insurance that covers stock and product liability

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up your trade website. Starting with small orders until you know what sells helps limit the cash tied up in stock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £800 to £4,000, depending on your range, your pricing and how many trade customers you win. These are revenue estimates rather than profit, so allow for stock, postage and other costs.

If you buy from outside the UK, check import duty, VAT and customs paperwork with HMRC. Also check the rules on labelling items as genuine leather, product descriptions, chemical and product safety, and exotic skin restrictions with Trading Standards.