Folk costume shop with hire and fitting

Performers and festival groups, wedding and event parties wanting traditional dress, tourists, cultural societies and collectors.

Retail margin on items sold, hire fees with deposits, and fees for fitting, alterations and group orders.

• Knowledge of traditional dress
• Fitting, alterations or access to a good seamstress
• Retail and stock management

• Lease terms and business rates, so check what you will pay each month before committing
• Shop, stock and public liability insurance
• Cleaning, damage and late returns on hire items, so use clear terms and deposits
• Textile labelling and children's product safety rules, check with Trading Standards
• Rules on feathers, fur and other animal materials, check before selling any
• Trade is often seasonal around festivals and events, so plan your cash flow

Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the lease and deposit, shop fit-out, stock and insurance. These are estimates, so check what you would pay each month, including business rates, before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on location, sales, hire and alteration trade. These are estimates, and trade is often seasonal around festivals and events, so plan your cash flow carefully.

Check lease terms and business rates, and shop, stock and public liability insurance. For hire items, use clear terms and deposits for cleaning, damage and late returns. Check textile labelling and children's product safety rules with Trading Standards, plus rules on feathers, fur and animal materials.