Start an online native American crafts shop

Collectors, gift buyers, people with a personal interest in the culture, and shoppers looking for something handmade and different.

You buy at a trade or artist price and sell at a retail mark-up, with extra income from gift sets and postage charges. Stock is often one-off, so careful pricing and good photos matter.

• Sourcing and building trusted supplier relationships
• Product photography and writing honest descriptions
• Respectful knowledge of the cultures and makers you sell
• Basic bookkeeping and stock tracking

• Never label items as Native American-made unless you can prove it; check UK consumer law on misleading descriptions, and be aware that cheap imitations are common
• Items with feathers, bone, shell or animal parts may fall under wildlife trade rules (CITES), so check before importing or selling
• Importing from the US or Canada can mean customs duty, import VAT and paperwork; check the current rules with HMRC
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus stock cover
• Check consumer rules for online sales, such as the 14-day cancellation right for distance sales

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your website setup and any import costs. These are estimates, so begin with a small range from makers you trust.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on your range, how well you tell each maker's story and how much traffic you attract. This is revenue before stock, fees, postage and other costs.

Check you can prove items are Native American-made before labelling them, UK consumer law on misleading descriptions, wildlife trade rules (CITES) for feathers, bone or shell, customs duty and import VAT with HMRC, insurance, and the 14-day cancellation right for distance sales.