Willow basket maker selling at markets and online

Gardeners, home decorators, gift shoppers at markets and craft fairs, and buyers on online marketplaces or your own website.

Sell finished pieces at a fixed price each, with extra from made-to-order items and gift sets. Larger, more skilled pieces sell for more.

• Hand weaving, learnt through practice or a course
• Patience and steady, repeatable quality
• Basic photography and selling at stalls or online

• Public liability insurance, which many markets and fairs ask for
• Check whether you need permission to work from home from your landlord, mortgage lender or council
• Willow needs soaking and dry storage space, so plan your workspace
• Pricing: handwork is slow, so work out your hourly return before setting prices
• Repetitive strain on hands and wrists, so build in breaks

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on your willow, tools, any course you take, and market stall or online selling set-up. Treat this as an estimate and plan your workspace too.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on how many baskets you make and where you sell. Handwork is slow, so work out your hourly return before setting prices.

Check public liability insurance, which many markets and fairs ask for, and whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council allows you to work from home. Also plan space for soaking and dry storage, and build in breaks to protect your hands and wrists.