The Handmade Market is back this spring at Exhibition Park. Photo: Handmade Market, Facebook.
Canberra’s Handmade Market is set to return to Exhibition Park for its third event of the year with a new ‘low sensory shopping hour’.
As many avoid the market due to big crowds, noise, mobility difficulties or sensory issues, the market aims to create a positive environment for members of its community to have an enjoyable and more relaxed experience.
The next Handmade Market will take place on 29 and 30 October from 10 am to 4 pm, with the first low sensory shopping hour to be held on Sunday, 30 October, from 9 am to 10 am. During this time, there will be dimmed lights to reduce the brightness.
The low sensory shopping hour will also help stallholders better understand how to cater to customer needs by reducing attendance numbers during this time for shoppers to feel more relaxed and have less anxiety when wandering through the stalls. An online map will be available on the Handmade Market website to plan your next visit.
“At Handmade Canberra we are passionate about looking for new ways to improve shopping experiences for our customers while supporting our local community,” Handmade Market founder and director Julie Nichols said.
“The low sensory shopping hour may be especially useful for people with Autism, the elderly or people with sensory sensitivities.
“We hope this will be a welcomed opportunity for more people to experience our award-winning market.”
The October Handmade Market will host 240 Australian designers and producers, with 25 new stallholders for their October market.
Here you’ll find a wide range of good-quality handmade items such as clothing, furniture, artwork, children’s toys and clothing, jewellery, homewares, accessories and pet products.
Ms Nichols said it was wonderful to have the market run again and couldn’t wait to see the stallholders arrive and set up.
“We are in full swing and everything is ready to go,” she said.
“The stallholders are very excited and looking forward to the market. It’s always such a lovely feeling and it’s like a big family reunion.
“Seeing all the customers arrive when we open each day is always an amazing experience.”
To explore the market during the low sensory shopping hour, register for free here.
With free parking and entry to the market, shoppers are encouraged to leave a gold coin donation upon entry to the door greeters.
All funds raised will go directly to the Salvation Army to help disadvantaged Australians, including those who are hungry, homeless, abandoned or abused.
More information about the Low Sensory Shopping Hour can be found on the Handmade website.
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