How I'd shop at a makers market (if I wasn't busy selling at one)

by Mei October 28, 2026

Fresh from two busy markets, I've got a few little tips for making the most of your next makers market visit. Check Instagram to see who's trading before you go, do a full lap before buying, bring some cash if you can, just in case the card machine decides it's having a day off. Have a chat with the makers, and snap a photo of any stall you love.

That last one is SO easy to forget. You get home, realise you absolutely need that cute little thing you spotted, and suddenly have no idea who made it. We've all been there (or is that just me?).

Still smiling from the last two markets I did, Friendly Folk Markets and Good Things Market. It was such a joy seeing so many people come out to shop small and support all the amazing small businesses there. We had the sweetest crowd and such a warm, happy atmosphere. It was one of those weekends that reminds me why I love doing this in the first place.

I sell my candles at makers markets, mostly at weekends, across the UK, so these tips come from my side of the table. Just a few little things that'll make your market day even more enjoyable, help you discover some brilliant small businesses, and make sure you get the most out of all the lovely things on offer.

Mei smiling behind the Kirrou stall at an indoor makers market, with a pink arched shelf of character candles, tiers of ghost candles and a crate of white goose candles on the table — Just out here playing shop again. Stall photos by cxvalentine_.

Before you grab your tote bag and head off…

Christmas shopping season is creeping up, and makers markets are such a lovely place to find gifts that are a little bit different. Before you grab your tote bag and head off, here are a few little things I'd do to make the most of your visit (and hopefully avoid forgetting that perfect gift you spotted!).

Have a little look at who's trading. Makers and organisers tend to post in the days before. Before Good Things Market, I let everyone know the little spooky gang was packing their tiny bags. Follow the market's Instagram and you'll meet half the stalls before you walk in.
Make a gift list. Jot down the birthdays and Christmas presents coming up. A makers market is such a good place for the tricky ones, like the friend who loves frogs (there's a whole row waiting on my pink shelf).
Bring a bit of cash. Most stalls will have a card reader, but you never know when technology might decide it's having a day off! A dodgy signal or a card machine that refuses to cooperate can happen to anyone (I've been there, and it's not fun when there's a queue waiting!). Having a little cash tucked away means you're covered just in case.
Bring a fun tote bag! Especially if it's raining, because soggy paper bags are nobody's friend. I've seen paper bags give up on people before 😭 Plus, it's the perfect excuse to bring out your cool tote bags, and I absolutely love spotting them at markets, haha.

A group of shoppers smiling at a candle stall at a makers market, one holding up a phone to take a photo, with gingham paper bags, a card reader and a roll of yellow thank you stickers on the counter

Photo taken at Friendly Folk Markets in Nottingham

How do you get the most out of a makers market on the day?

Have a full nosey before you buy. Do a full lap of the market, there's so much lovely stuff to look at, and you don't want to fall in love with something at the first stall only to spot your actual favourite five minutes later. If you're still thinking about it on your second lap, maybe it's coming home with you!
Get there early if you've got your eye on something. Spotted something you absolutely need from a maker's Instagram? Get there early! Good Things Market was non-stop all day, and some stalls can look very different by the afternoon. If there's something specific you're hoping to get your hands on, don't leave it until the last minute.
Say hi to the maker. Ask how something's made, have a chat about their products, or find out what's new. Many of us make the things we're selling ourselves, so it's lovely when someone takes an interest. Come and have a little browse, say hello, and see who you vibe with.
Take photos so you remember your favourites. Found a stall you love but aren't ready to buy anything just yet? Snap a photo of the stall sign or business name so you can find them again later. Just ask before taking close-up photos of someone's work, as not every maker is comfortable with that.
Be kind about prices. Handmade things take time, materials and a whole lot of love to make, so the price is there for a reason. Haggling isn't usually part of the makers market experience, and asking for a discount can put sellers in an awkward position. If something's a little out of budget, that's absolutely okay! Grab a business card or follow them on Instagram instead. You never know when you'll find the perfect excuse to treat yourself.

A pink arched shelf of handmade character candles at a makers market, with dogs, ducks, hamsters, ghost cats, frogs and pastel dinosaurs, and white goose candles with orange beaks in a crate in front — The pink shelf crowd, with the geese keeping watch out front.

What if you can't find the maker online afterwards?

Under my post about these two markets, someone asked whether my candles are sold online. She'd bought one for her mum and then couldn't find them again. So easy to do after a whole hall of stalls. Before you wander off from one you loved, try these.

Grab a business card. If there isn't one, pop the shop name into your phone before the next stall steals your attention.
Look for the name on the table. Mine is printed on the green runner across the front of the stall, so one quick photo of the table and you're sorted.
Have a scroll through the organiser's Instagram. Organisers often tag their traders before and after the day, so you can scroll back and find the stall.
Search the shop name, not the thing you bought. "Duck candle" brings up a lot of shops. The maker's name brings up one.

And to answer her question properly: yes, they are. My candles are at kirrou.com, and I'm @kirrouhome on Instagram, so come and say hi there too.

Can you burn the Halloween candles you buy at a makers market?

I think it's only right to burn your Halloween candles on Halloween, even if they're almost too cute to burn! But before you light any decorative candle, one little thing to keep in mind, though: shaped candles can drip quite a bit, so pop your little ghost or pumpkin on a heat-resistant surface that you're happy to get a bit of wax on. We don't want any spooky surprises on your favourite furniture!

And of course, all the usual candle safety rules still apply. Never leave a lit candle unattended, keep it away from curtains and anything else that could catch fire, and make sure little hands and curious paws can't reach it.

Fancy a spooky little addition to your autumn setup? You can find all my ghosties and pumpkins in the Halloween and autumn candles.

Halloween candles that you're actually allowed to burn on Halloween.

Halloween candles on wooden tiered shelves, including white ghosts, ghosts with orange pumpkin heads, a round mummy, a ghost sitting on a jack-o'-lantern and a stacked three-pumpkin candle, with a crate of green pickle shapes in front — The little spooky gang, all lined up.

Okay, but do the pickles smell like pickles?

I get asked this one A LOT, and I love seeing people's faces when they find out my pickle wax melts don't actually smell like pickles. But seriously, do you really want your house smelling like vinegar? HAHA. 😂

If you want to find out what they actually smell like, I guess you'll just have to get one and find out for yourself… 👀 🥒

Small crates on a makers market table holding green pickle shapes, orange and lilac pumpkin shapes, white ghost shapes and brown cookie shapes, below shelves of ghost and mummy candles

Makers market questions

Do stalls at makers markets take card payments?

Lots do, usually with a small card reader, but not all. Bring a bit of cash too so you don't miss out, and if you're not sure, just ask the maker before you queue.

Is it rude to haggle at a makers market?

Honestly, it's best not to. A makers market isn't a car boot sale, haha! Handmade prices reflect the materials, time, love and skill that go into making each item, so there's usually not much wiggle room. If something's a little over budget, take a business card and give them a follow on socials instead. That's a lovely way to show your support too!

When do Christmas makers markets start in the UK?

Christmas makers markets usually start popping up in November and run into early December, although it depends on where you are. Mine started in the middle of November last year! If you're hoping to get your Christmas shopping done early, keep an eye on your favourite market organisers' Instagram pages so you don't miss the announcements.

Can you buy from a maker after the makers market?

Yes, usually. Lots of makers sell through a website, a marketplace or Instagram, so grab a card or a photo of the stall name. If you've lost it, scroll back through the organiser's Instagram, where traders are often tagged after the event.

The only photo I have from Good Things Market is the one below, because it was non-stop the whole day. Big love to Friendly Folk Markets, and to everyone who came out to shop small. See you soon.

A packed indoor makers market aisle under red, blue, yellow and green bunting, with shoppers in autumn coats browsing the stalls — Thanks for reading, see you at the next market!
Mei :)