Career outlook for
Figures and forecasts for roles at the same level, which require similar skills and qualifications.
Average UK salary
Currently employed in Scotland
Jobs forecast
This information is supplied by LMI For All, where data is currently available for Scotland.
What's it like?
You would sell goods and services to customers from a stall or barrow on the street or in an indoor or covered market. You could sell anything from food to clothes to services like mobile phone repairs.
You’d need to negotiate to buy goods for your stall from a wholesaler and set your prices so you can make a profit.
Depending on what you’re selling and where you work, you would:
- Go to a wholesale market early in the morning to buy fresh produce
- Visit other suppliers or warehouses to buy goods
- Unload your van and set up the stall
- Stand at the stall, advertise what you are selling and encourage customers to buy
- Weigh or measure produce
- Take people’s money and give them their change
- Pack up the stall at the end of the day
- See how much you have sold and whether you need to get replacement stock
- Keep records of the goods you have bought and sold
You’d need to keep up to date with trading laws and regulations.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
Part-time
Self employed
Top skills
Here are some of the skills that people in this job would be most likely to have:
- Communicating with people
- Persuading people
- Using computers
- Being physically fit
- Being creative
- Budgeting
- Working with numbers
Build your skills
Your skills can help you choose the career that’s right for you. You can build your skills through work, study or activities you do in your spare time.
To understand more, have a look at what are my skills?
Keep track of your skills in your account and find the jobs, opportunities and courses that suit you.
Click here to view / add your skillsGetting in
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role.
Useful subjects
Most employers value English, maths and social subject. However, most market traders are self-employed, so business, accounting and ICT subjects may be of just as much value.
You will also need
- A driving licence
- Public liability insurance
Helpful to have
Qualifications and experience that develop customer service and sales skills such as Skills for Work Retailing (SCQF level 5).
You may need to obtain a special trading licence and a stall/market pitch.