We’re so excited to bring I Do Handmade to Ideal Home Show Christmas for the first time in the show’s history. The I Do Handmade Christmas Village will be at the show from 27 Nov - 1 Dec at London Olympia with up to 20 different brands taking part each day, offering a lovingly curated collection of gorgeous handmade gifts and accessories all made and sold by small British businesses.

I know how tough it can be for small business owners to access selling opportunities at iconic shows like this one. The I Do Handmade Christmas Village has been designed to help increase the variety of gifting options out there for visitors, that are all made by talented individuals. We’re determined to make it easier to help businesses get the attention they deserve.

This Christmas, many small retailers are feeling anxious about the challenges of inflation, competition from the big e-commerce giants, and the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. It’s amazing to be able to offer small businesses direct selling opportunities at one of the UK's biggest and busiest indoor consumer events. Stalls can be booked for one day of the show, or every day. We want to help make this show more accessible for makers, artists and crafters to test retailing there for one day, to gain knowledge on whether to book their own kiosk next year.

I believe it’s so important to support small businesses at Christmas. In a world obsessed with mass-produced goods, I’m seeing more consumers seeking out personalised and handmade gifts to make their presents truly special. You can find so many unique and thoughtful gift ideas from small independents that you just can’t find on the high. street. So much care, and attention goes into each product they make. Small businesses are also leading the way in terms of sustainable, ethically-made products.

The I Do Handmade Christmas Village has been organised to ensure there’s something for everyone on your gift list. From luxurious hand-poured candles, to thoughtful stationery to stunning jewellery and more, all handcrafted by talented British businesses. Shoppers will find award-winning skincare from SKINIRI London, made with no harmful chemicals or toxins; sustainable, small-batch jewellery by West London-based HUTKE and premium quality ethnically focussed cards and stationery not typically found in mainstream high street shops at All Shades.

The idea for I Do Handmade emerged back in 2022 when I was looking for shops to rent to help sell more of my products. The first event brought together 180 small businesses for a pop-up market at Westfield London, Europe's largest shopping centre and it has continued to grow since then. We’ve had successful pop-up markets all over the UK, at venues like Westfield Stratford, Lakeside Shopping Centre, TikTok, Sky, ITV, and even Waterloo Station. Stallholders participating in these events have benefited from increased visibility, new customer connections, and opportunities to join a thriving small business community. Some have even secured permanent retail spaces at Westfield. We’ve taken part in Ideal Home Show Spring as well as the Scotland show and had a brilliant experience at both.

I’m so excited to meet all the makers in person and see their products at the I Do Handmade Christmas Village. We’ve been planning this village for about a year so I cannot wait to see it all come together. I’m so looking forward to the opportunities that might come out of this show for the businesses involved. You just never know who you might meet!

Ideal Home Show Christmas takes place from Wednesday 27th November to Sunday 1st December, 10am to 5pm, at Olympia Events, London. For more information and to book tickets visit: www.idealhomeshowchristmas.co.uk.

GUEST BLOGGER AUTHOR:

BECKY ACKERMAN