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Market Trader

Do you want to become a Market Trader? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Market traders sell goods or services from stalls and barrows, either outdoors in the street or market square, or indoors in a covered mall.

• The goods could be ‘perishable', such as food or ‘non-perishable', such as clothes. The services could be, for example, key-cutting, watch repair, hair-braiding or portrait sketching.
• The work is physically demanding. The trader must start out early to get the stock, load and unload it, and may also need to erect and dismantle the stall.
• Market traders have to decide on a price for each item, and set out the goods attractively on the stall.
• They also have to source their stock, and keep records and accounts.

The work on market day can last from about 5am until 6pm. Traders who deal in fresh food may attend wholesale markets as early as 2am. The trader must sit or stand at the stall for most of the market day. If the stall is outdoors it can be chilly as the trader cannot move about much.

Most traders make about £250 a week, but some make over £450. Out of this, they must pay for the stock, renting the stall and other running costs.

Market traders should be:

• extrovert, with good communication and sales skills
• persuasive, confident and quick-witted
• good at negotiating
• numerate
• physically fit
• interested in meeting people.

There are over 50,000 market traders in the UK. As well as retail markets, there are street flea markets specialising in second-hand clothes, bric-a-brac and gadgetry, and more modern structures almost as permanent as shopping malls.

Personality is more important than formal educational qualifications. Traders should have fluent spoken English and basic written English. They must be quick and accurate when dealing with money.

Market traders must be over 18 to run their own stall. A driving licence is almost always essential. Traders need enough capital to buy stock and a vehicle. Many people take on running a stall as a second career.

Most training is done on the job. Some local councils offer relevant short courses.

Most market traders are self-employed, but if they are successful they can develop their career by taking on larger stalls, more stalls with assistants, or by moving their business into a permanent structure such as a kiosk or a shop.

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