Market Trader
What is the work like?
Market traders, also known as stall-holders, sell goods from street stalls, and from indoor or covered markets. The goods could be anything from meat and fish to new or second-hand books or antiques.
As a market trader, your work would involve:
- early morning trips to a wholesale market to buy fresh produce
- visiting other suppliers or warehouses and negotiating the price of goods
- unloading the van and setting up the stall
- standing behind the stall, advising and encouraging customers to buy
- taking payment for goods and giving change
- packing up the stall at the end of the day
- stocktaking and deciding which replacement goods are needed for the stall
- keeping records of goods bought and sold, including VAT details.
You would also need to keep up to date with and follow the market’s regulations and the latest laws on trading and employment.
As a trader selling your own handmade crafts, you would spend time buying materials and designing and making items for sale. You would also travel frequently to specialist markets, such as craft markets and fairs. Market stalls can also be used to sell services, such as body-piercing or key-cutting.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any academic qualifications to become a market trader, although basic maths skills and English are useful. Your personality and ability as a salesperson are more important than qualifications.
It can be difficult to get a regular stall on an established market, so you could start by helping out on a stall on a part-time basis. With this experience, you could attend the market as a ‘casual’ trader (arriving at the market early and queueing for an available pitch), which could lead to securing a regular stall.
Market stalls are usually rented from the market operator, often overseen by the local authority. You will usually need:
- to be at least age 17 or 18
- a driving licence and a vehicle, such as a small van
- the capital to buy stock
- public liability insurance.
The National Market Traders' Federation provide the necessary insurance to all their members and they also have a database on their website of markets across the country. You should also contact your local authority to find out how they let their market stalls.
What further training and development can I do?
Most of your training would take place informally, learning on the job from experienced traders and sharing their knowledge.
There are some short courses you could do, which are mainly provided by the market operator or local authorities. You may also find it useful to do a course in a subject such as running a small business or book-keeping and accountants (although you could employ an accountant to handle the accounts, tax and VAT). Courses are often available at local colleges.
Where can I go for more information?
Fourth Floor93 Newman Street
London
W1T 3EZ
Tel: 0800 093 5001
Hawshaw Lane
Hoyland
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S74 OHA
Tel: 01226 749021
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning advisor at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- A trader working a small stall for just a couple of days a week is likely to earn less than £7,000 a year.
- Average earnings from a stall operating several days a week can be £15,000 to £22,000 a year.
Traders selling specialist goods can earn more.
Market traders must pay for the rent of their stall, their stock and the running of their vehicle out of the income they earn.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your hours could vary, but you would usually start between 5am and 7am and end around 5.30pm or 6pm. You would often work weekends. Part-time work is possible.
You could be based at one market or work at different markets on different days.
You would also spend some time travelling to buy and collect goods for the stall. You may have to work outside in all weathers.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
You would need:
- a friendly and pleasant personality, a sense of humour and the ability to relate to all kinds of people
- confidence and enthusiasm for selling goods
- the ability to negotiate and persuade
- creativity and the ability to set up an attractive stall
- business skills for competitive pricing and sale of goods
- a reasonable level of physical fitness
- the ability to understand and keep up to date with trading law and regulations
- good maths skills for handling money and keeping accounts.
IT skills are useful to manage stock and keep track of income and expenditure.
What opportunities are there?
Markets are located in towns and cities throughout the UK. Local authorities often run large outdoor or covered markets, town square and high street markets, and indoor markets with permanent units. Other market venues include privately run markets that operate only at weekends, Sunday markets, special bank holiday fairs and tourist markets.
Your prospects for entering market trading could depend on the type of goods you are selling. Your chances of securing a permanent pitch could increase if you are selling a less common line of goods. You would need to be aware of the kinds of markets where your goods are most likely to sell. You can get advice about buying stock from The Trader magazine.
Generally, market trading is becoming an increasingly competitive area, with rising costs for stalls and an increase in shops selling cut-price goods. Competition for stalls can be quite strong, and it can take a long time to secure a permanent pitch.
There are some opportunities to work as an employee and earn a wage, but generally you would be self-employed.
As an established trader you could expand by taking on staff and starting up stalls in nearby markets. Some market traders work, or expand their business, abroad.
Search
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
