Behind the Craft Market Table: Why Shopping Handmade Matters More Than Ever

Yesterday I visited a Christmas craft market as a shopper, not a vendor. And what I saw made me sad. Here's why.

I visited one of the larger Christmas craft markets in Ottawa. This time, I was on the other side of the table.

And I recognized that look on some of the vendors' faces. The hopeful smile, the waiting, the occasional conversation that doesn't turn into a sale. I've been there. In fact, I've been there at my last three markets.

What shoppers may not realize is just how much goes into those beautiful booths. Some vendors invest hundreds, even thousands of dollars in fees, materials, displays and transportation. Then there are the countless hours spent designing, making, packaging and preparing. And that's before a single customer walks through the door.

And here's something else worth remembering. A busy market isn't necessarily a successful market. Hundreds of people can wander the aisles, admire the work, exchange pleasantries and leave without buying a thing. Foot traffic doesn't pay the bills. Sales do.

Yesterday I bought some wonderful maple chocolates from a maker I've loved for years, some snout balm for my dog Stella, and a few delicious treats from The Bean Ladies. Nothing extravagant. Just things I wanted, purchased from people who put care into what they make.

And that's really my point.

You don't have to spend a fortune to make a difference.

The next few weeks are enormously important to small makers and artisans. For some, Christmas sales will determine whether they can keep doing what they love. A good season can carry a small business through the quieter winter months. A poor one can be devastating.

These markets are filled with extraordinary creativity. Beautiful, original, useful, sometimes quirky things you simply won't find in a big-box store.

So before you automatically click that online shopping cart, consider visiting a local craft market. Bring your Christmas list. Look around. Discover something different. Meet the person who actually made it.

You might find the perfect gift. And your purchase might mean more to that maker than you'll ever know.

This Christmas, give something made with skill, care and a little bit of soul.

And help keep our small creative businesses alive.