Pedlars and mobile/street vendors were given an insight into how Government regulations affect their business and sale of goods at a Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (BSBDC) seminar held last week.

The Vendor Market Matters Seminar, which was held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel, was put on for traders interested in becoming a vendor at the BSBDC Rubber Tree Market, sellers at the Victoria Market and anyone who sells goods out of their car or home as an additional source of income.

The two-hour evening seminar kicked off with a welcome by BSBDC Board member, Anthony Foster, while attendees also heard from Georgia Fevriere, manager of Magistrate's Court, who talked about the Pedlar's License Process and explained that selling of food or homemade crafts did not fall within the remit of the Pedlars Act 1984. Dean Trott, operations manager for the Office of the Tax Commissioner, went on to tell delegates that deemed employees and self-employed persons must report the higher of their actual or notional remuneration.

Following the first two presentations, attendees took part in a 10-minute networking event with each other and the presenters.

The second half of the seminar began with Roxanne Christopher, business development officer of the BSBDC providing an overview of the Rubber Tree Market and the requirements for securing a space, adding that applications for pitches were being accepted and that the market would be starting up again for the summer.

Eric Martin, environmental health officer of the Health Department, then discussed the importance of food safety at temporary events, advising vendors that they were expected that to take care in dealing with food in order to protect consumers from illness and injury.

Richard Amos, principal officer of the Customs Department, delivered the final presentation of the evening, explaining that vendors were "customs traders" and needed a unique CAPS Trader Identification Number (Trader ID) to bring in goods through Customs.

Assistant general manager of the BSBDC, Lucrecia Ming, then wrapped up the seminar.

One attendee said that as a result of the seminar they now know what they need to do in order to legitimise their business, while others said they would be taking advantage of the Rubber Tree Market and the business advisory advice available by appointment with the BSBDC.

For more information on the seminar and our upcoming seminars contact the BSBDC at Bdasmallbusiness@gov.bm or visit the website at www.bsbdc.bm