The Makers Market Ltd
The Makers Market Ltd operates curated physical artisan markets across 35+ venues in the North West of England, connecting 2,790+ vetted independent makers with free-admission visitors. The Manchester-based, founder-led private company earns revenue primarily through stall and booking fees on a WordPress-built membership and directory platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNorth West England, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Makers Market Ltd does
The Makers Market Ltd (legal name The Makers Market UK Ltd) is a private limited company incorporated in England/Wales and operating from Manchester, Cheshire. Founded in 2010, the company organises and curates physical artisan markets across 35+ venues in the North West of England, spanning Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Staffordshire, and parts of Shropshire. Markets run primarily on weekends and feature independent makers across 23 product categories including arts and crafts, sweet bakes, jewellery, hot food, homeware, and wellness; visitor entry is free. The company vets trader applications, requiring evidence of handmade/artisan status, Public Liability Insurance, and Food Hygiene certification where applicable.
The business is built on a WordPress-based website rebuilt in October 2025 with Cybergogo, integrating a trader directory (2,790+ registered makers), an interactive market calendar and location finder, a membership/booking platform, and a content blog. Payments are processed via PayPal. The primary revenue stream is stall/booking fees paid by traders, with a free Standard Maker Plan membership tier (£0.00 monthly) providing directory profiles as the only publicly disclosed subscription. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led: traders apply through the website and are acquired partly through word-of-mouth and the 'Makers Market Traders North West' Facebook group, while visitors discover markets via Facebook, Instagram, newsletter, blog content, and external directory listings such as Pedddle.
The company operates with a small team (5 employees) and is founder-led, with no external funding, parent company, subsidiaries, or institutional investors identified. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Beyond the regular weekend calendar, the company runs premium seasonal Christmas events at Chester, Trentham, and Quayside Media City under non-refundable advance-payment terms, representing its most differentiated product line.
The Makers Market Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Makers Market Ltd
- Legal name
- The Makers Market UK Ltd
- Website
- https://themakersmarket.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Makers Market Ltd operates curated physical artisan markets across 35+ venues in the North West of England, connecting 2,790+ vetted independent makers with free-admission visitors. The Manchester-based, founder-led private company earns revenue primarily through stall and booking fees on a WordPress-built membership and directory platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Makers Market Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisan Market Operations
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913), Art Dealers (45992)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO), Artisanal & Craft Bakeries (CRAHAGAA), Seasonal & Holiday Craft Supplies Retail (CRALACAI)
Keywords
Where The Makers Market Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North West England
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Makers Market Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Trader Membership Subscriptions: The company operates a membership model for traders. Currently offers a Standard Maker Plan at £0.00 (free tier) that allows traders to create profiles with promotional text, business descriptions, names, and featured images on the platform.
- Stall/Booking Fees: Traders pay stall fees to participate in markets. The Terms and Conditions reference 'stall fees' and mention that in event cancellations, 75% of stall fees are refunded. Deposits are non-refundable. Christmas events are non-refundable after 1st November.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Standard Maker Plan - Free tier for traders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Makers Market Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Makers Market Ltd operates physical artisan markets across the North West of England, running regular weekend events at 35+ venues where independent makers, bakers, and creators sell handmade and artisan goods to the public. The company runs an online directory listing 2,790+ registered makers across categories including Arts/Craft, Food, Jewellery, Homeware, and Wellness, and provides a booking and membership platform that allows traders to apply, verify insurance and food hygiene credentials, and reserve market stalls.
Product overview
The Makers Market Ltd operates a marketplace and event management platform connecting independent artisans, makers, bakers, and creators with customers at physical markets across the North West of England. The platform consists of a WordPress-based website with multiple integrated components: a maker/trader directory allowing users to browse thousands of independent vendors by category (Arts/Craft, Food, Jewellery, Clothing, etc.), an interactive market calendar and location finder showing scheduled events across venues from Ancoats to Chester, a trader membership system with tiered plans (Standard Maker Plan at £0.00) for managing stall bookings, and a blog providing guidance for stallholders. The company organizes recurring artisan markets at over 30 venues throughout the North West region, featuring diverse maker categories including Sweet Bakes (238 makers), Arts/Craft (1,030 makers), and Jewellery (222 makers), among others. All markets are free for visitors to attend, and traders must apply for acceptance with requirements including Public Liability Insurance and compliance with UK product regulations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artisan Market Stall Participation Physical artisan market events run regularly (typically weekends) at 35+ venues across the North West of England, where vetted independent makers and traders rent stall space to sell handmade and artisan goods directly to consumers. Traders apply, undergo review, and pay stall fees to participate.
- Trader/Maker Online Directory Searchable online directory of 2,790+ registered independent makers and traders organised by 23 product categories (Arts/Craft, Sweet Bakes, Jewellery, Hot Food, Clothing, Home Fragrance, Wellness, etc.) to help visitors discover and connect with local artisan sellers.
- Trader Application and Booking Service Structured application, vetting, and stall-booking service for prospective traders, including Public Liability Insurance verification, Food Hygiene checks where applicable, and expression-of-interest bookings for available market slots across venues.
- Venue Host Services Service offered to venues and local partners interested in hosting Makers Market events at their location, with dedicated contact channels for venue enquiries and event scheduling.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,790+ registered makers on platform
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Makers Market Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Makers Market Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
The Makers Market Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Makers Market Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Borough Market: Iconic London food and artisan market; broadly comparable as a curated physical artisan/food marketplace, but operates at far larger scale in a different geography and is dominated by food rather than crafts.
- Etsy: Global online marketplace for handmade and artisan goods; overlaps with The Makers Market on the curated artisan/handmade category but operates at vastly larger scale and entirely online, serving UK artisans who also use Makers Market stalls.
- Not On The High Street: UK-based curated online marketplace for handmade and artisan products; directly comparable in its artisan-only curation philosophy, but serves makers nationwide via an online platform rather than regional physical markets.
- Camden Market: Major London mixed retail market with artisan and craft traders; comparable in operating a multi-vendor physical artisan marketplace format, but at substantially larger scale and tourist-oriented in a different region.
Direct peers
- Crafty Fox Market: UK operator of curated physical artisan markets featuring independent makers and designers; comparable in running vetted, design-led pop-up markets, though primarily focused on London venues rather than the North West.
- Folksy: UK handmade-only online marketplace for artisan crafts; targets the same UK maker base as The Makers Market and competes for the same supply side, though distributed via an online rather than physical channel.
Regional players
- Manchester Craft & Design Centre: Long-running Manchester hub for designer-makers offering permanent studio-retail space; overlaps with The Makers Market on the Manchester artisan-maker audience and handmade curation ethos, but operates a fixed venue rather than weekend markets.
- Altrincham Market: Established Greater Manchester food and artisan market operating in Altrincham town centre; comparable as a regional curated artisan/food destination in the same Manchester market geography as The Makers Market venues.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Makers Market Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceThe Makers Market Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Makers Market Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Makers Market Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Makers Market Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Makers Market Ltd
What does The Makers Market Ltd do?
The Makers Market Ltd operates physical artisan markets across the North West of England, running regular weekend events at 35+ venues where independent makers, bakers, and creators sell handmade and artisan goods to the public. The company runs an online directory listing 2,790+ registered makers across categories including Arts/Craft, Food, Jewellery, Homeware, and Wellness, and provides a booking and membership platform that allows traders to apply, verify insurance and food hygiene credentials, and reserve market stalls.
Is The Makers Market Ltd a public or private company?
The Makers Market Ltd is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Makers Market Ltd founded?
The Makers Market Ltd was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Makers Market Ltd based?
The Makers Market Ltd is headquartered in North West England, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Makers Market Ltd make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Trader Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are stall/Booking Fees.
Who are The Makers Market Ltd's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Borough Market, Etsy, Not On The High Street and Camden Market. Direct peers are Crafty Fox Market and Folksy. Regional players are Manchester Craft & Design Centre and Altrincham Market.
Does The Makers Market Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Makers Market Ltd.
What industry is The Makers Market Ltd in?
The Makers Market Ltd's product category is Artisan Market Operations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALACAA, General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail, with a secondary code of CRAHAGAO, Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops). Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.