Hello, everyone.
I’ve been doing some digging for a while, but I can’t seem to find info on starting a street stall business that’s not related to food. I just want to sell my art and creations, basically.
Is this also within the parameters of getting a yatai? I’m a bit confused if yatai is strictly food or it expands into other things as well.
Thank you in advance for the help!
6 comments
Visit your local library, read books about starting a business.
Got money? Buy books about starting a small business.
Cool? Now you have knowledge. Go consult with business association at city/ward/town hall to go over options.
Make a decision to start a business based on thorough research and planning.
And still likely fail.
If you are thinking of joining an organized market space you need to start with talking to the organizers to find out what the arrangement there is (pay a set fee, pay a set fee plus a portion of your sales, pay a portion of your sales only). If you want to set up on your own you’ll need to find someone willing to let you use their space and work out an agreement for paying them. If there are vendors doing something similar in the area you are considering, start by talking with them.
(Edit for autocorrect foolishness)
Hey! Good luck on entering the world of business in Japan!
The first thing is I would stop using the word yatai. That generally only refers to food stalls at matsuri. They are a bit of a pain because there are some particular rules that apply to them, the rules vary depending on the area you’re in, and the people who run them are often, not always, but often unsavoury characters. (Where I live at least).
It sounds like what you want to do is shutten 出店.
1) Go to your local tax office and make a kaigyotodoke 開業届. Congratulations. You’re a business owner now! You can register the address to where you live, it’s not a problem.
2) Check what licenses you might need. See if you need an eigyokyokasho 営業許可証. If you do, get one. The best place to get this information is at your local chamber of commerce 商工会議所. Then if licensing is necessary you can go to your city hall’s business division 商工果.
3) If you want to run a stand selling hand crafted goods, you’ll need to find events and places to do this. Go to these events and chat to the business owners there. They’ll tell you how they got there, and you can get some golden information. Perhaps even visit shops that sell goods you think have the same vibe as you, talk to the owner of the shop and ask about events.
4) Start an Instagram with your goods on it. This can act as your digital business card, and when you’re chatting to other business owners, you can follow them and see where they are selling their things.
5) Consider starting an online shop. Base is a good one, you can link it to your Instagram.
6) Once you start selling things, you’ll have to start doing your own tax returns. While you’re small, paying an accountant is not going to be cost effective, so I recommend using an accounting software, for example freee.com. Keep you’re receipts, and keep impeccable books of your sales.
That should get you started! If you don’t speak Japanese or read it, find a friend who can and who has a ton of patience!
Best of luck!
Look for Marche groups
The handmade in Japan exhibition is on next week (https://hmj-fes.jp). You could check out some of the vendors there to get inspiration on what other people do to get their creations out there.
In Fukuoka yatais are open generally from spring onward until autumn. I believe the word is only good stall related. On the other side there are people who set up in front of a stores at night on the weekends selling their jewelry pieces.