“There’s something lovely about seeing markets pop up in so many different spaces.
“Places like the Truman Brewery Makers Market in London appeal to younger people,” says Dewar. She says this age bracket also prefer to buy in markets rather than online. There has been an increase in shoppers aged under 35 buying craft, increasing from 17% (1.1 million) in 2006 to 32% buyers (9.1 million) in 2020. Nicky Dewar, learning & skills director at the Crafts Council, says that what we consider as craft has widened in recent years and that has brought in a younger, more diverse audience. The current craft revival started through TV and the internet – with shows like The Repair Shop and The Great Pottery Throwdown finding new audiences for artisan skills, and platforms such as Etsy opening a new marketplace for crafters – but now it’s also about face-to-face sales and experiences.Īnd, if it feels like event posters are everywhere at the moment, that’s because this period is vital for the industry: many crafters generate more than 60% of their annual income in the run-up to Christmas. A 2019 Crafts Council report found that 34% of those who buy craft prefer markets, festivals and pop-ups to galleries or online purchases. Over that weekend in October, GNCCF 2023 attracted over 4,000 visitors. A growing number of people are, like Watson, discovering the joys of going to or selling at craft fairs and makers’ markets.
