Anytime Artisan are a range of relatively new markets, starting up in 2020 and running seasonally in Surrey. We wanted to find out more about why they started, how they’re supporting Surrey businesses and what they have planned next.
Read our Q&A with Helen, who organises the markets.
What inspired you to set up Anytime Artisan?
I live local and I love local, so I decided to help others do the same! I wanted to support local businesses with Anytime Artisan.
Finding unique handmade gifts for people (and sometimes for myself!) is a little obsession of mine. I’ve always tried to find businesses and markets nearby, to support local artisans and to avoid the use of big, environmentally-unfriendly courier companies and expensive delivery costs. Being able to collect something the same day or next day from a local craft person is also very handy when you suddenly need a last minute gift (I speak from many an experience!). Plus, the gifts are so much lovelier when you know exactly who made them.
However, I have often found it difficult to locate local sellers and actually discover what amazing creativity and talents we have right on our doorstep.
When I did manage to find local markets or small businesses, I’d often just put their business cards in my kitchen drawer and forget about them. NB: This is a problem Pedddle can solve – click here to see how!
The solution was to create Anytime Artisan.
We have a virtual market where you can “take a scroll” through virtual stalls and re-visit stallholders after our markets. There is no commission taken from this, and customers can buy directly from our amazing local artists and artisans.
You can join Pedddle for FREE as a Market Visitor to this for all markets listed on Pedddle – click here to find out more.
What is your newest market, and what is so special about it?
Our next market is our Christmas Artisan Market and the Magical Museum Grotto, hosted by The Museum of Farnham.
It’s taking place in Farmham’s gorgeous Grade I listed building, secret walled gardens and the Garden Gallery too.
It’s a gorgeous setting so will really have a Christmassy feel!
What has been your favourite Anytime Artisan market so far?
My favourite market so far was probably the one we did last Christmas. As well as the fab makers, we had Christmas choirs and it was lovely seeing how excited the children were with their handcrafted gifts from Mrs Christmas too!
This year’s is set to another really special event.
What makes your markets unique, and why should people visit?
Our markets all focus on the community and keeping it local. All of our stallholders have handcrafted gifts made locally with love, and we love to support local businesses with Anytime Artisan.
The first 50 visitors to the market also receive a FREE handcrafted gift from one of the stallholders, as a thank you for their support of coming to our markets!
We also run a competition for visitors to vote for their favourite stall, which encourages them to take time to look at all of the stalls. The winning stallholder receives a free stall at our next event and the visitor who nominated them receives a gift from the stallholder.
Our motto is LIVE LOCAL. LOVE LOCAL!
Want to find out more about these markets? Click here to visit their website.
Want to follow Anytime Artisan on socials? Find them on Instagram here or Facebook here.