A Whole New World: Why Makers Markets Changed How I Shop

This Christmas, I bought every gift from maker's markets and craft fairs. Not a single high street store. And until recently, I didn’t even realise how much I was missing.

Like many people, I’d always appreciated handmade products, but it wasn’t until I started my own business and began trading at pop-up markets that my perspective really changed.

At first, my focus was purely on selling. Set up, trade, pack down. But once I took the time to walk around, talk to other makers, and engage with their work, I discovered a whole new world of creativity and craftsmanship.

Makers Market and Craft Fair

Every stall told a story.

There was a card maker who hand-draws and personalises every card freehand. No templates. No shortcuts. An artisan creating whimsical “drinking Santas” to hang on Christmas trees, each one full of character. A fellow maker who doesn’t just sew her own bags, she knits the fabric first, then transforms it into something functional and beautiful.

These products aren’t mass-produced. They aren’t rushed. They’re made slowly, intentionally, and with genuine passion.

Yes, my pocket noticed. Maker's markets are dangerous places when you’re meant to be selling rather than shopping. But what struck me most wasn’t just the creativity, it was the quality. The materials, the finish, the care taken at every stage. These aren’t novelty items or “cheap alternatives.” They’re thoughtfully made pieces designed to last.

Most makers aren’t doing this to scale fast or make huge profits. We’re not producing thousands of units. What we are doing is putting skill, time, and heart into everything we create, and that’s something you can feel when you hold the product in your hands.

It made me rethink the way I shop. When you can meet the person who made something, hear the story behind it, and understand how it was created, the value changes entirely.

Maker's markets and craft fairs aren’t just places to buy gifts. They’re places to discover talent, support small businesses, and walk away with something that means something.

This weekend, we will be at the following Maker's market, showcasing our products and scents and sharing our story.

· Crawley's Craft & Flea Market - Saturday 31st Jan 2026 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, RH11 9BQ.

·The Big Market - Sunday 1st Feb 2026 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm GMT

Boxpark Wembley, Olympic Way, Wembley, HA9 0JT