Handmade lamps from a home studio

Homeowners and interior-minded buyers, plus gift shoppers, buying through your website, online marketplaces, craft fairs and independent shops.

You sell finished lamps at a retail price, or at a lower wholesale price to shops and interior designers. Made-to-order and custom finishes can earn a higher price.

• Making and finishing things by hand
• Product design
• Careful, safety-minded assembly
• Taking good product photos

• Electrical product safety rules apply to lamps, so check what testing, marking and records you need before selling (Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards can advise)
• Product liability insurance, as a faulty lamp could cause a fire or injury
• Using bought-in, safety-marked components rather than unmarked parts
• Running a workshop from home may need permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council, and check your home insurance covers it
• Handmade batches are slow to make, so check your price covers your time

Startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your materials, tools and the bought-in electrical components you choose. Treat this as an estimate and price your first small batches carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on how many lamps you make and where you sell. Handmade batches are slow to make, so check your prices cover your time as well as your materials.

Electrical product safety rules apply to lamps, so check what testing, marking and records you need before selling. Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards can advise. Also check product liability insurance and home workshop permissions.