This December, Sook Hammersmith will be transformed into a pop-up 'Secret Santa' Christmas market in response to the cost of living crisis.
With the UK facing a lengthy recession, research shows that millions of Brits are planning to save on Christmas present spending this year by giving Secret Santa gifts to family members instead of buying for everyone.
Secret Santa - where people draw lots to anonymously buy a gift for one member of a group - is common among work colleagues.
But as the cost of living crisis deepens, more than half of all adults (55%) say they are considering a family Secret Santa, and two in three (67%) would feel better about their finances if they only had to buy for one person.
With this in mind, Sook is hosting a Secret Santa pop-up market at Sook Livat Hammersmith, in partnership with the Hammersmith BID.
From 4th to 9th December, Sook and the Hammersmith BID will bring together the following independent businesses to help people find the perfect Secret Santa gifts for friends and family this Christmas.
Emma Rose All things accessories. From Scrunchies and headbands to tote bags and satin pillowcases, make sure to get your stocking fillers here! All handmade or sewn.
Connal McClure A sustainable business selling unique and high-quality reusable water bottles - the lightest and most compact insulated bottles on the market to help facilitate sustainable, zero-waste lifestyles.
Yiola Georgiou Browse for costume jewellery, as well as personalised children’s nursery decor. Prices start from £1.50 for earrings to £3 for bracelets.
Tia Hannaford Everything batik, (Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth). Browse for special hype batik fashion clothing, fabulous batik homeware and accessories.
Natalia Bobrova Providing original art and photography, limited edition scarves collection and cards & prints.
Aline Kifle Trading African educational resources. Pop by to find out more!
“The majority of adults in the UK will be keeping a close eye on their finances this Christmas, as many struggle to work out how they’ll afford to buy gifts for family members.
“Secret Santa can help solve this problem - by buying only one gift for an individual family member, you can save money and instead focus on purchasing something thoughtful for the person you’ve been matched with.
“Given the current economic situation, it seems like a great trend to get involved with ahead of Christmas. We like the idea so much that we will host a Secret Santa Christmas market at our Hammersmith space in December. We hope to see as many savvy Secret Santa supporters there as possible.”
John Hoyle, CEO of Sook