Furniture pop-up stand in a supermarket or centre

Shoppers who spot the display on a regular shop and want affordable furniture without a trip to a big furniture store.

You take orders at a mark-up on supplier prices. You pay space hire for the days you trade, and can charge for delivery and assembly.

• Friendly, low-pressure selling
• Presenting a small display well
• Organising orders and delivery dates
• Negotiating with suppliers and venue managers

• Whether the venue allows furniture sales, as supermarkets often manage space through head office, so check who decides
• Venue rules on insurance, setup times and what you can display
• Fire safety labelling on upholstered furniture and distance selling and cancellation rules, so check with Trading Standards
• Public liability insurance, and cover for display stock
• Taking deposits, so make sure you can deliver what you promise
• Low footfall on some days, so test a few slots before committing to longer ones

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on the space rental, display pieces and insurance. Testing a few slots before committing to longer ones may help you manage the risk.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £9,000, depending on the venue, footfall, your prices and how many orders you take. This is revenue, not profit, and footfall can be low on some days.

Check whether the venue allows furniture sales, as supermarkets often manage space through head office, and what its rules are on insurance, setup times and displays. Also check fire safety labelling, distance selling and cancellation rules, public liability cover and your ability to deliver on deposits.