Start a sheepskin and wool trade supply business

Gift shops, farm shops, independent homeware stores, interior designers and small hospitality businesses fitting out rooms.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at a trade price with a margin. Repeat orders from shops and minimum order values help keep it worthwhile.

• Spotting good quality products
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Sales and building trade relationships
• Stock and order tracking

• Register as a sole trader or limited company, and check when VAT registration becomes compulsory
• Check product labelling and safety rules for items you sell, such as textile labelling and fire safety for furnishings and children's products
• If importing, check customs, duty and import paperwork with HMRC
• Storing stock at home may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender, and check your home insurance covers stock
• Natural products vary in colour and size, so agree quality standards with suppliers in writing
• Retailers may pay late, so consider payment terms and whether to ask for payment up front from new customers

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on how much stock you buy and where you source it. Natural products vary in colour and size, so agree quality standards with suppliers in writing.

Check when to register as a sole trader or limited company and when VAT registration becomes compulsory. Check product labelling and safety rules, such as textile labelling and fire safety for furnishings and children's products, and customs, duty and import paperwork with HMRC if importing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £5,000, depending on your stock and how many retailers you supply. Retailers may pay late, so consider payment terms or asking new customers to pay up front.