Market trader

On a typical day you might:

• visit suppliers to buy products and agree prices
•  unload your van and set up your stall
•  encourage customers to buy
•  take money for goods and give out change
•  keep records of goods bought and sold
•  pack up your stall at the end of each day
•  work out if you need to buy more stock to sell

• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to sell products and services
• the ability to work well with others
• persuading and negotiating skills 
• excellent verbal communication skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Depending on where you work, you’ll need to apply to your local council for:

• a market stall licence
• a street trading licence

If you're selling food, you'll need to:

• register with your local environmental health service at least 28 days before starting
• get food hygiene certificates for any staff
• complete assessments for control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)

You'll usually need a driving licence and your own car or van.

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• working towards this role
• applying directly
• training with a business organisation

You could expand your business by taking on more staff and starting up new stalls.

You could also move into market stall lettings and management.