Winter is coming and that means the Christmas shopping frenzy is about to explode. For many brands, this is the most important time of the year in terms of sales and revenue, so it’s important to have a good retail strategy in place to make the most of it. However, if you’re still looking for ways to maximise your sales during the festive season, here are some exciting winter market opportunities. Markets are the easiest and most cost-efficient way to get your brand out there. With a ready-made audience and relatively little design-time needed, markets allow you to quickly set-up and start selling. With that in mind, here are our top winter markets launching this month. From the quirky Winterville in Victoria Park to an exciting new offering in Pop Brixton, take a look below to find the perfect one for you.
Winterville
If you’re looking for a Christmas market with a bit of edge, then Winterville is the spot for you. Branding itself as the “antithesis of the Christmas theme park,” Winterville is returning for its second outing: bigger, better and madder than before. Enter a pop art inspired world where bold colours and iconic motifs are used to create an alternative festive experience. The pop-up market will house the best independent designers in the world of fashion, art and homewares, as well as East London’s best traders in vintage and collectables.
Alongside Winterville’s pop-up market, there’ll be street food traders, pantomime performances, crazy golf, ice skating, comedy, cabaret and even club nights to keep visitors entertained throughout the evening. Counting Time Out and the Dalstonist as some of its partners, Winterville is guaranteed to be one of London’s hottest attractions this winter.
Vibe: Think Christmas at Andy Warhol’s The Factory.
Audience: East London hipsters, trendy young families, vintage aficionados and craft beer lovers.
Good for: Independent brands, original designers and upcoming artists.
Book your space here
Pop Brixton
This summer, Pop Brixton was one of the hottest new openings in London. Built from colourful shipping containers, it houses some of the best indie businesses in Brixton and beyond. Building on the success of the launch, Pop Brixton are now launching a new festive market for the capital to enjoy. Think Winter Wonderland for South East London.
With a focus on high-quality, artisanal fare, the Pop Brixton Christmas market will offer seasonal gifts, homeware, fashion and vintage pieces. This is the perfect spot for craft makers and local designers. Although this is the first time the market will be in action, if it’s anywhere nearly as successful as Pop Brixton’s summer months, visitors and traders will be in for a treat.
Vibe: Up-cycled design and under the radar brands, you heard it here first.
Audience: Foodies, trendy Brixton locals, art students and creatives.
Good for: Artisan makers, indie retailers and vintage brands with products perfect for gifting.
Book your space here
Greenwich Peninsula Market
Another new addition to London’s winter attractions, the Greenwich Peninsula Market will be launching on the main piazza, directly outside London’s O2 arena. This is a key cultural destination for millions of visitors. The market will run from November 15th to January 3rd giving traders the opportunity to connect with a wide variety of audiences who come to enjoy the many events and shows held at the O2, from Mumford & Sons and Madonna fans to family trips to Disney on Ice. Needless to say, this will be a very high footfall spot.
The launch of the market will coincide with the ATP finals (15th - 22nd November) which is estimated to bring over 350,000 people through the market. On top of this, the lunchtime trade looks to be busy with many large offices including Transport for London and Ravensbourne art college based on site. Think design-led products, artisan food and festive gifts.
Vibe: Stylish stalls and street food at the foot of one of London’s most iconic attractions.
Audience: A mix of tourists and local office workers and design students.
Good for: High-end gifts, good design, gourmet food and festive products.
Book your space here
Fenchurch Winter Market
After last year’s success, the Fenchurch Winter Market is returning for the second year running. Hosted on the main forecourt of the station, an estimated 40,000 pass through this space every day. It’s an ideal spot to tap into crowds of commuters looking for lunchtime treats, last minute gifts and festive goods.
This is one of London’s more traditional winter markets. The focus is on handmade gifts, classic seasonal products and festive food offerings. Last year’s traders included the London Cheesemongers, Smith and Sinclair’s alcoholic cocktail pastilles, Coco Runners and the Market Grill.
Vibe: An artisan oasis for city commuters.
Audience: City workers and commuters from east London and south Essex.
Good for: Handmade gifts, festive food, locally brewed beer – people with a passion for their craft.
Book your space here