Please does anyone know where I can get a list of warehouses that supply to traders? At this point I am open to any suggestions on any products, as I am hoping to start up a market stall. Any other info, anyone has on doing this would, be most welcome.

Thanking you all in advance
Charlie

Proberly the best way would be to get a trader's mag Sandie

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply, but the only trade mags I can find are on cars. Have you any idea of the name of a mag so I can hopefully order it.

Am going out round different markets today, where maybe I will be able to pick up some badly needed info.

Have no idea on the legal side of things. You know all that boring stuff like tax,vat, etc, etc, etc.

Charlie

Found one now all I have to do is wade through it and find something nobody else is selling on local markets. Proberly not much of a chance, but will try anyway.

Thanks for that.

Just an after thought, for those of you that use markets.

It would be really helpful if you could let me know what sort of thing/product attracts you to a stall.

Especially when you buy something, you had no intention of buying, when you left home.

Charlie

one of the monthly magazines is called Market trader hope that helps

Hi Charlie,

I like market stalls that sell unusual jewellery and vintage clothing. Organic foods always catch my eye, too.

Charlie,

Dont get your hopes up too much as it is a difficult area to get into. A lot of markets have a strict limit on the number of stalls and a waiting list a mile long (if they are any good... :( as for organic foods etc, this really is being tackled by the farmers markets which are held around the country...

Neither is it an easy life... in Wycombe you are expected to be set up to trade by 8.00 am, if you are not then tough you do not set up... some people leave at 4.00 am to come to Wycombe to set up...

So what I am asking is, how well have you thought this out? Do you have your street traders license (from local Council), do you have the money to pay for your stall even if you do not make any money? etc etc etc

If this is going to be more than a hobby then think long and hard... if not consider doing craft fairs and car boot sales... go to the auction houses and look for the cardboard boxes of tut... you can ususally pick these up for under 5.00, and sell on for 50 p or a 1.00 per item... but you are not going to get rich this way...

Angela

Hi Angie,

I'm not expecting to get rich quick, I just want to do something for myself for a couple of years. I'm always up early so no problem there. As for a traders license, I have been in touch with the local council and that is covered in the pitch rent. I will have to get public liability insurance.

What I desperately need to know, is how to get a traders card to enable me to get bulk stock?

Have been out looking today and am hoping to lease a unit in a shopping centre. Will not know until next week if there is one available. Really not holding out much hope as I have heard there is a waiting list.

Have thought about carboots, but they start coming to an end this time of year, otherwise I may well have gone with that idea.

charlie

Hi Louise

I'm with you, but to get a regular supply of vintage clothing (once I cleared out my wardrobe) could get difficult. Am not sure where I would stand with selling food, health and safety and all that.

Many thanx and please keep any ideas coming.
charlie

Unusual jewellery and chimes and that kind of stuff always catch my eye!And I always seem to buy something too!

I use a lot of the warehouses etc in London and a lot of the times a minimum spend is more important than a traders card ( in fact I have never been asked for one) I had business cards printed up but I do not use them either!!!! good luck working for youself is hard but great fun.

Hi lesley

Feel really silly for having to ask, but have been reading through the trader looking for something exciting (some hope) to sell, but many say trade only. Are they referring to bulk buy? I thought it meant, I had to prove, that I'm a trader.

charlie

Hi My daughter and I just go up to the areas in London and shop!! I am self employed and jst say this and they let me shop. You could try phoning them and say that you are just starting up what are there requirements and you may fid that it is jst a minimum spend as well. My friend has a market stall and she sells tools and swag (swag is the term for 1 stuff) and perhaps you should think about things that you could either use if it goes pear shaped ( but finger crossed it won't) or stuff that you can shift quick even at a boot fair( if it all goes pear wotsit!!!)anything else just ask and I will pump my friend lesley

Hi lesley,

Thanks for your help, I have decided what to do and where to do it. I now have to put it all together. Have decide on a unit in a busy shopping centre to open a deli/sandwich bar. Just hope I'm up to it. Have to admit I havent got the go ahead on it yet, so keeping fingers crossed.

charlie

Good luck with the new business, being self employed is well worth it if you are prepared to put in the hours initially.

I debated about whether or not to set up my own business after the company I worked for went into liquidation, I did and I've never looked back!

Glad to hear it's gone well for you Tommo. It really helps hearing of others success.

The one thing I'm having great trouble with at the moment, is how to estimate my sales figures, before I have even started.

Should go well so long as I havent got to do much cooking, LOL hence the sandwich bar.

charlie

If I were you, rather than doing plain sandwiches I'd do baguettes, like the chain 'Subway'. You can do a deal with a bakery to supply you with the baguettes and you could have a whole load of fresh ingredients laid out in a nice glass cooler display and allow people to pick their own fillings. You could even do hot filled baguettes like roast beef....I'm getting hungry now!

I agree with Tommo. There's nothing worse than pre-made sandwiches smothered with mayo, which I can't stand!!

Have you thought about offering juices/smoothies as well, Charlie?

Charlie,

If you are going to prepare food you will have to go on a food hygiene and handling course run by your local authority before you will be allowed to go any where near food... and you will possibly find that your agreement for the unit will not allow you to sell food - our market here cannot and neither can the static craft one...

As for the figures - what you have got to work out is how many units per day do you have to sale before you are in profit... i.e. all overheads etc are met... then you need to know your market... i.e. its no good selling pork and the like etc, if you have a mainly Asian clientelle...

You also will need something which sets you out above the rest - makes you different and keeps people coming back... otherwise all will happen is you will have a good week as people try you out then they will revert as creatures of habit do to their usual supplier...

The only way I know of making good money on food is to capture a market .i.e like a hot noodle bar... noodles cooked up the night before kept cold overnight and then stir fried the next day - with what ever extra's the customer wants - roast pork, chicken, vegetables etc...

Otherwise, you would probably make as much money just serving good hot coffee...

Hope this helps

Angie

hmmm noddles sounds great! what a cool idea for a differant lunch :D

Best of luck with your "food to go" stall but have you got your food hygeine certificate?