The Print Seller’s Guide to UK Christmas Markets

Christmas markets remain one of the most rewarding opportunities for small businesses, print resellers and creators aiming to grow their brand and forge personal connections with customers. In fact, Newcastle’s 2024 Christmas Market drew over 1.76 million visitors and generated approximately £90.6 million in economic impact—a 60 percent increase from the prior year.

With thoughtful preparation and the right product range, these markets can deliver strong sales, elevate brand visibility and earn loyal customers who appreciate creativity and quality. Whether you're planning months in advance or fine‑tuning your festive offerings closer to December, this guide will help you prepare strategically. We’ll explore top UK Christmas markets for selling, the most effective print products to bring, tips for profitable pricing and how to make the most of WTTB's flexible printing and reward options.

Where to Exhibit: Christmas Markets Worth Booking Now

Exhibiting at a Christmas market isn’t just about having great products. Location, audience and timing can make all the difference. Many organisers release stallholder applications and full event details several months in advance, but not all 2025 dates or booking information will be available just yet. We recommend bookmarking the official event websites and signing up for trader newsletters where possible, as applications for popular markets can open and fill quickly. Where confirmed 2025 details are not yet published, links below will take you to the most recent or official information pages.

London Southbank Centre Winter Market

Set along the Thames with views of the London Eye, Southbank Centre’s Winter Market offers a vibrant, high-footfall location in the heart of the capital. Known for its wooden chalets, festive food and eclectic shopping, it’s ideal for creators selling gifts with urban appeal, bold design or tourist-friendly themes. Stall fees vary depending on chalet size and location, but the visibility and volume make it a worthwhile investment for many traders.

Find out more: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Manchester Christmas Market

One of the UK's largest and most well-known markets, Manchester’s Christmas Market spans the entire city centre. With millions of visitors each year, it offers scale and diversity. Expect high footfall, varied pitch locations and a broad customer base. Pitch costs typically start around £120 per day depending on location and duration.

Find out more: https://www.visitmanchester.com/listing/manchester-christmas-markets/32735101/

Edinburgh’s Christmas

A major tourist attraction as well as a local favourite, Edinburgh’s Christmas Market draws visitors from across the UK and abroad. Traders offering high-quality, distinctive products tend to perform well. The event runs through to early January, giving you an extended sales window. Pitch fees vary but typically start at £150 per day.

Find out more: https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas

Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market

Styled after traditional German markets, Birmingham's festive offering is both authentic and vast. It sees millions of visitors and presents an excellent opportunity for giftware sellers. Expect pitch prices to begin at around £200 per day, with high demand and plenty of surrounding entertainment drawing customers in.

Find out more: www.thebfcm.co.uk

Bath Christmas Market

Known for its boutique style and emphasis on handmade and artisan goods, Bath’s Christmas Market is particularly strong for creators with well-branded or locally inspired product lines. Pitch slots are limited and competitively priced from around £1000 for a two-week period. This makes it a solid choice for sellers with an established range.

Find out more: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

With a strong local reputation and a beautiful location, Winchester’s market is ideal for sellers offering design-led products with gift appeal. The covered chalets provide good protection from the elements and consistent trade. Pitch pricing is reasonable compared to markets of similar size and quality.

Find out more: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/christmas

Before applying, always check what’s included in your pitch fee. Some markets provide electricity, lighting and even furniture, while others require you to bring your own. You’ll also need to arrange public liability insurance and consider practicalities like transport and storage during multi-day events.

What to Sell: Print Products That Perform at Christmas Markets

Christmas shoppers are often looking for items they can’t find on the high street. Products with personality, creativity or emotional connection tend to stand out. Print allows you to deliver all of that and more. Whether you’re offering finished gift items or seasonal accessories, here’s how to make the most of your product range this year.

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards continue to sell well at markets, particularly when they are grouped into packs or sold as part of themed collections. You could create designs based on your local area, family humour or pet illustrations, all of which tend to resonate well with market audiences. Consider using square and A6 formats to create variation and price tiers.

Wrapping Paper

Eye-catching gift wrap adds an extra layer of value to the buying experience. This is a great way to showcase your illustration or pattern design skills. Offer coordinated sheets and matching tags to encourage multi-item purchases. Customers often buy multiple designs at once, especially when they can see the quality in person.

Advent Calendars

Our chocolate-filled advent calendars are single use and ready to sell straight off the stall. These are strong performers at early-season markets, as many customers buy them ahead of December to use throughout the month. With vibrant, full-coverage print, they provide a large-format canvas for bold or intricate designs. Consider offering styles for children, families or nostalgic adult themes.

Christmas Crackers

These are an ideal upsell item that can be displayed both as boxed sets and as individual units. Crackers with custom outer designs, colour themes or matching table décor can tie in with wider collections of products, helping you increase average basket size. Some sellers also offer corporate-themed crackers for small businesses hosting their own events.

Mugs and Coasters

Printed mugs and coasters are easy to stock, display and gift-wrap. Think beyond just festive colours. Minimal, personalised or location-themed designs tend to perform better than generic slogans. Bundling a mug and coaster together in a mug box or paper wrap instantly increases perceived value without adding much cost.

Apparel: T-Shirts, Aprons, Hoodies

Seasonal apparel is a great option for customers buying gifts for family members, co-workers or themselves. Christmas baking aprons, cosy slogan hoodies or matching tees for siblings are all ideas that have worked well in previous seasons. We offer a range of garment styles with a soft feel and reliable fit, making it easy to create products your customers will love and come back for.

Tote Bags

Lightweight, practical and endlessly customisable, tote bags are as popular as ever. Market shoppers often use them on the spot, so branding them as part of a gift kit or Christmas Eve bag can add novelty. Make sure your designs are bold enough to stand out from a distance. They often double up as your own best advertising.

Stationery: Notebooks, Diaries, Mouse Mats

The end of the year is peak time for stationery sales. Notebooks with motivational or wellness themes, dated 2026 diaries and matching desk accessories appeal to organised shoppers and office workers. If you can create themed collections or gift bundles, it’s worth investing in consistent design and clear display.

Badges and Keyrings

Ideal as low-cost, high-margin extras, badges and keyrings make great stocking fillers and offer endless creative scope. Mini-illustrations, bold slogans or even niche jokes can help them stand out. Consider offering three-for-ten-pound bundles to encourage spontaneous purchases from shoppers who might not be ready to commit to higher-ticket items.

Thanks to our flexible print quantities, you can test any of these ideas in small batches and reprint your best sellers quickly and easily.

Pricing for Profit

Christmas markets are high-footfall environments, but they can also be expensive in terms of time, setup and stock. Understanding your pricing strategy is key. Customers expect to pay more for handmade, personalised or unique products, so don’t undersell your work.

If you’re unsure how to calculate your margins, we’ve written a full Markup Guide to help you understand cost structures and set your prices for sustainable profit. Be sure to factor in costs such as stall hire, travel, printing, packaging and your own time. By pricing confidently, you give yourself the space to earn, grow and reinvest in your business.

Preparing for a Strong Market Season

The earlier you start preparing, the better. We recommend finalising your product designs by the end of September, with print orders placed by mid-October. That leaves time for reprints, additional orders or any tweaks based on early-season feedback.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your stall setup. Use levels to create a visual flow, print clear pricing and offer multiple payment options including card. Many sellers also report that packaging makes a real difference. A beautifully wrapped mug or coaster set can make the sale in seconds.

Promote your presence in the weeks leading up to each event. Tease your product range on social media, email your customer list and share location details for where shoppers can find you. Many customers come prepared with a list of stalls to visit. Make sure you’re on it.

Boost Your Earnings with WTTB Rewards

Preparing for Christmas can mean a significant outlay. Stock, signage, packaging and display materials all add up. That’s why we’ve built our Rewards scheme to help give something back.

When you register with WTTB, you’re instantly placed in our Silver Tier. That means up to 15 percent off site-wide for your first 30 days, along with cashback on every order and access to print perks that are designed to help you grow. If you spend £250 or more during that window, your benefits continue. You’ll also move up to higher reward tiers automatically based on your 30-day spend.

All savings and cashback are tracked in real time across our site, so you can see exactly what you’re earning as you go. Whether you’re placing one order or topping up every week, it’s a simple way to make your festive season more profitable.

Final Thoughts

Christmas markets offer an unmatched opportunity to showcase your products, connect with your audience and build your brand in a vibrant, high-stakes setting. With smart planning, a compelling product range and the support of a reliable print partner, this season can be your most successful yet.

At WTTB, we’re here to help you make it happen with flexible printing, fast turnarounds and a reward scheme that works in your favour.

Explore our full festive print range today and start building a Christmas product line that gets noticed, gets remembered and gets results.