More Angelenos Are Becoming Street Vendors Amid Weak Economy

[Purveyor]

Sitting at her street vending booth with products arrayed neatly on a sequined purple tablecloth, Jackie Lloyd reflects nostalgically on the days when she had a steady salary and regular hours.

That was four years ago, before the 39-year-old was laid off from her job as an elementary school cafeteria worker and mounting bills forced her to venture into self-employment.

Now the Pico-Union resident hops from location to location, selling body oils, shea butter, soap and incense. She moves when nearby businesses complain or she feels unsafe.

Some days, her sales bring in $150. Others, they don't break $20.

"If I just had a 9-to-5 job, it'd be guaranteed money," she said. "Then again, I'm my own boss, and I meet different people every day."

more...

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-street-vendors-20140907-story.html#page=1

[Cleita]

1. Too bad we don't have laws that protect this type of

entrepreneurship, like maybe a street vendor license that could be had for $10 so people could set up a card table on the sidewalk and sell stuff. There could be a few rules for consumer safety and maybe a short and easy form to file for sales tax, not like the Byzantine forms businesses file today.

[shrike]

2. I remember traveling with my husband in Mexico

and seeing all the street vendors. I said, "That's our future."