Shoe stall at local markets

Market shoppers looking for good-value footwear, families buying children's shoes and people wanting a particular style or size.

You buy stock from wholesalers or brands and sell at a mark-up, with pitch fees as your main running cost. Add-ons like insoles and shoe care help the basket size.

• Selling face to face
• Choosing stock that suits your market
• Being organised with setting up, packing down and stock counts

• Market pitch rules and any street trading consent, check with the market operator or your council
• Public liability insurance, which many markets ask to see
• Weather, storage and transport of stock, so you may need a van or a lot of boot space
• Consumer rights on returns still apply, and online sales have extra rules, check with Trading Standards
• Limited space means fitting advice is harder, so stick to ranges that are easy to size

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on how much stock you buy, the stall equipment you need and how you transport it. A stall can be a cheaper way to test demand.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on how many markets you trade at, the weather, your stock and your prices. This is revenue before costs, not profit.

Check market pitch rules and any street trading consent with the market operator or your council. Also check public liability insurance, which many markets ask to see, and consumer rights on returns and online sales with Trading Standards.