Native American arts and crafts shop

Tourists, collectors, gift buyers and local residents, plus people shopping for meaningful gifts.

You buy pieces wholesale or take them on consignment and sell at retail. Higher-value items like silver and turquoise jewelry bring bigger margins per sale, and smaller gifts help with steady traffic.

• Retail and customer service
• Respectful knowledge of the art and artists you stock
• Inventory and bookkeeping

• The federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act: check the rules on marketing items as Native American-made and keep records of who made each piece
• Imitation or mass-produced items sold as authentic can bring legal trouble and harm your reputation, so verify each artist's tribal enrollment or certification
• Pay artists fairly and on time, and agree on consignment terms in writing
• General liability and property insurance, plus coverage for high-value stock
• Sales are often seasonal, so plan cash flow for slow months

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on your location, shop fit-out and how much stock you buy or take on consignment. High-value stock may also need extra insurance coverage.

Check the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act rules on marketing items as Native American-made, and keep records of who made each piece. Verify each artist's tribal enrollment or certification. Imitation items sold as authentic can bring legal trouble, so agree consignment terms in writing.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, foot traffic and the pieces you stock. Sales are often seasonal, so plan your cash flow for slow months. Estimates suggest around 30 hours a week or more.