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Things to do at Waterloo – A day out itinerary guide

We’re popping up at Waterloo station with four different handmade brands setting up stalls everyday between 16 Oct – 5 Nov, so we thought why not turn a visit to our pop-up into a fun day out guide exploring a quirky corner of London!

Waterloo station is one of London’s bustling hubs. The area offers a delightful mix of history, culture, and contemporary charm. Whether you’re a local looking for new places to visit, or you’re a traveller eager to explore, we’ve curated a fun day out – get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant heart of London with our Things To Do in Waterloo guide. 


Sip and Stroll 

Start your day with a caffeine kick at one of Waterloo’s charming cafes, we recommend Konditor. A steaming cup of coffee or a soothing herbal tea is the perfect companion for a riverside walk. Head to the picturesque South Bank of the River Thames, just steps away from Waterloo Station. Take in breathtaking views of the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral while strolling along the riverbanks. 

Explore the Market Scene

Your morning adventure won’t be complete without a visit to the I Do Handmade Pop-Up Market. Located inside Waterloo Station opposite platform 12, our vibrant pop-up is a treasure trove of unique, handmade goods. Everyday, discover four different handmade brands offering exquisite crafts, jewellery, and more while supporting local artisans. 

Culinary Delights 

For your next stop treat your taste buds to some of London’s finest culinary offerings. Visit the Lower Marsh Market, where a medley of food stalls offers mouthwatering dishes from around the world. Whether you crave a gourmet burger or exotic street food, Lower Marsh has it all. 

Cultural Immersion 

Dive into history at the Imperial War Museum. This iconic institution showcases an extensive collection of artifacts, exhibitions, and interactive displays, providing profound insights into wartime experiences. If you’re an art enthusiast, don’t miss The Old Vic, one of London’s renowned theaters. Check their schedule, to see if there’s any tickets available for the afternoon or evening performances!

Dinner with a view

As the sun sets, enjoy a relaxed and delightful evening by the riverside. Choose from a plethora of riverside restaurants – Skylon is great for the food and views!

Night cap?

Why not end your day with a nightcap at one of Waterloo’s cozy bars. Bar Elba offers amazing rooftop views over the river, (with heaters too!) and have a calendar of fun events making it a great place to catch up with pals. 

Waterloo is a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be explored. From the serenity of the riverside to the excitement of cultural institutions, there’s something for everyone. 

Be sure to include a visit to our I Do Handmade Pop-Up located inside the Waterloo station, in your itinerary to discover unique handmade treasures whilst shopping small and supporting small independents. 


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Meet the handmade brands popping up with us at Waterloo station

From 16 Oct to 5 Nov, we’ll be opening our first ever pop-up at Waterloo station!

Everyday there will be 4 different small businesses popping up with us offering commuters and passengers a little bit of handmade goodness!

We thought we’d showcase all the brands involved, giving you a little sneak peek of what to expect.

Find us opposite platform 12, directly under the clock between 10am-7pm at Waterloo station.

Our Beauty & Fragrance Brands…

EsQue Parfum

Fragrance: Vegan, alcohol free and oil based perfumes

The Oud Section

Fragrance: Perfume fragrance oils and the opportunity to create your own perfume mixtures

Ka’Shea Cosmetics

Beauty: Natural skin care line made with organic shea butter, coldpressed oils and essential oils.

Our Arts & Crafts Brands…

Seronga Art

Art: Afro Maximalist art prints that celebrate African textiles and women of colour

The Bargello Edit

Hobbies: Craft kits & haberdashery items and accessories

All Shades

Art: Luxury ethnic greeting cards

Our Kids Focused Brands…

Freckles on the Inside

Kids: Selection of craft kits

Our Eco & Sustainable Brands…

The Golden Grass Company

Accessories & Jewellery: Eco-Friendly handcrafted accessories made out of a rare and wild Golden Grass plant

The Little Coffee Company

Drink: Compostable plastic free coffee pods , upcyclable and reusable tins

Our Clothing Brands…

Adire Dye

Clothing & Accessories: Hand-dyed t-shirts, socks & sweatshirts

Sutraverse

Clothing & Acccessories: Handmade bags, jewellery & stoles

Our Jewellery Brands…

Affybale Ltd

Beauty & Jewellery: Natural skincare & stone jewellery

APS Fashion Limited

Jewellery: Handmade jewellery inspired by endless summers in Venezuala

Wild Jewellery

Jewellery: Sterling Silver and Gold filled jewellery

Ayayla Ltd

Accessories & Jewellery: Art, crystals, gem stones & jewellery

Numa Estilo

Jewellery: Handmade women’s jewellery with semi precious stone and gold plated brass/ sterling silver metals

Zalery

Jewellery: Selection of handmade jewellery

Food & Drink

Anastasia’s Pantry Ltd

Food: Prepacked vegan & gluten free granola and protein balls

Gabu Chocolatier

Food: Speciality chocolates

K’s Cocktail Ltd

Drink: Alcoholic cocktails bottled in a variety of
flavours

Spice Realm

Food: Discover premium spices sourced from around the globe

The Whisking Angel

Food: Cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakesicles,
chocolate smash hearts & tray bakes

Biscottilicious

Food: Luxury handmade biscottis that are boxed and make the perfect gift

Hillery & Son

Drink: Bottled rum punch alcoholic beverages

Simplicitea Blends

Drink: Specially blended herbal teas in beautiful eco friendly packaging

Sweet Tooth

Food: Special cookies with messages for all occasions

Our Homeware Brands…

Lelowa Candles

Homeware: Hand-poured candles in a variety of shapes and scents

Midas Touch Designs

Homeware: Handcrafted coasters, keyrings, cake stands

Palamuti Studios

Homeware: Candles, reed diffusers, room spray, car diffusers, wax melts, pillar candles and accessories

The Design Platform

Homeware: Candles & diffusers

Beautifully Unique

Homeware: Wax melts, diffusers and sprays

Muchu Candles

Homeware: Candles, wax melts and diffusers

Purscents Ltd

Homeware: Candles, candle refills and vessels, reed diffusers and bath salts

Velia’s Candles Co

Homeware: Selection of candles

Our Accessory Brands…

Bambina Di Cioccolato

Accessories: Including Fair Trade cotton pouches, make up bags, card holders, wallets, passport holders and so much more

Kinahandcraft

Accessories: Handmade Cushions, Tote Bags, Scarves & Hats

Adorn with love

Homeware & Accessories: Selection of pouches, bags & scarves

Viva Trends

Accessories: Handmade Hair Scrunchies

If you’d like to discover these talented brands, pop along to Waterloo between 16 Oct – 5 Nov. Find us opposite platform 12, directly under the clock between 10am-7pm.

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Handmade Autumn Decor Made And Sold By A Small Business

If you love adding a touch of seasonal decor to your home, we’ve put together a pretty impressive collection! Everything you see is made and sold by a small business. When you shop small you really can find such unique and sometimes even personalised options (those calligraphied pumpkins are pretty dreamy!)

Happy shopping!

Please note we have not purchased any of products, these links are signposts towards products we found online. Be vigilant when purchasing from online sites and social media links.


Crochet Pumpkins by Stitch Fix Crafts – Large £12.50 | Medium £10.50 | Small £5.50


Autumn Fabric Hanging Houses by Madam Dotty – £6.50


Pumpkin and Sunflower Coasters by Made with Love by Amber – £18


Needle Felted Pumpkins by New Forest Felts – from £10


Pom Pom Mini Flowers by Creative Creations @ NN1 – £8


Autumn Bunting by Doodle Keg – £5


Stacking Pumpkins by Timeless Stitches – £14.95


Autumn Wreaths by Buttons & Bows – From £3.50


Pumpkin Jar by Krorroskos Designs – £15


Orange Hand Knitted Pumpkins Garland by Kitebirdknits – £15


Personalised Calligraphy Pumpkins by The Amyverse – £7


Dried Flower Display with Hare by Kettle of Fish Designs – £45


Pumpkin Ornament by Unique Unicorns Crafts – £8


Horror Themed Tote Bag by Tayler Made Treasure – £6.50


Knitted Pumpkins Trio by All Seasons – £20


Pumpkin Decorations by Manor Handmade – £15


Trio of Mini Hanging Pumpkins by Crafty Little Cottontail – £13.45


Autumn Cherry Candle by Gia Como by Precious – £18


Embroided Pumpkin Hanging Decoration by The Atholl Home Co – £5.95


Fall Tones Tassels Garlands by DianaCrafted – £20.99


Trio of Crochet Pumpkins by Little Lighthouse Makes – £15


Leaf Shaped Cushion by Woodland Hill Crafts – £26


Macrame Leaf Garland by Macra-Made with Love – £35

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Back to school cool: Small businesses to brighten up your desk

notebooks and pencil on the pink surface

If you’re anything like us, apart from getting some peace and quiet back into the house after the chaos of the summer holidays, back to school season is a great excuse to bring some new life to your desk. No matter if you WFH or you just want to add some pizazz to your office cubicle, these small business finds are perfect for easing you back into the last quarter of the year in style.

Random thoughts memo pad’ – Bittersweet Apathy, £5.50

Ever find yourself scrambling for a pen and paper only to write that all important note on an envelope which you promptly loose…us too! No more thanks to this stylish desk pad from Bittersweet Apathy complete with tick boxes so you can get that dopamine hit of saying ‘completed it mate’!


‘Personalised calligraphy print’ £35, Letters From Mae

Add some style to your walls with a personalised print that’ll give you all the feels when you look up from your emails. This keepsake piece is a beautiful reminder of when your little ones came and brightened up your life whilst adding some contemporary style to your interiors all at the same time.


Stickers and Washi tape, from £2.50, MLTYUniverse

Is there anything more satisfying than using stickers in your notebook as an adult? No, no there isn’t which is why we’re obsessed with the collection from colourful indie brand MLTY Universe. From Kawaii cats to fruits and other adorable shapes, level up your notebook with these stylish stickers – it’s a must!


Blue Kente inspired coaster, £16, FNIC Designs

Stay hydrated in style thanks to these Kente inspired coasters. Not only are they a geometric dream but they come as a solo coaster or in a handy pack of four, if like us you end up with one of every type of drink on your desk by the end of any given working day.


Sunflower notebook, £4.99, Let Go To Hold On

Make note taking a fun task with this gorgeous notebook full of sunshine! Featuring hand illustrated sunflowers and and cute, calligraphy ‘notes’ on the front, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find yourself scribbling with a smile when you crack this beauty open


Colourful key chains, £7, Jammy Weekend

And something we loved, which could be great for little ones or big ones going back to school! Add a little colour to any bag, lunch bag or set of keys with these gorgeous colourful keychains. There are a few options to choose from Jammy Weekend’s colourful range too.


For more gorgeous desk-worthy treats for your or a loved one, why not visit one of our events which is often jam-packed with small business treats that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

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Our #smallbizsummer Social Media Challenge

We know that summer sometimes can be a quiet, reflective time for small businesses, so we’d love you to join us in our first ever #smallbizsummer challenge on social media – there might even be a prize or two 😘

Starting Monday 31 July, for the month of August, on Mon/Weds/Fri we’ll share a post with a theme for the day, encouraging you to do the same, talking to your followers engaging with them in time for the busiest season ahead 🎄 🥳

If you never know what to post, this challenge is for you 🤩 Use the topic in the daily prompts below, to write a post helping your followers get to know you a little better. Use this challenge to shout about all the amazing work you’ve done so far.

Find the daily prompts below, so you can start planning what to post! Also if helpful use we’ve created some downloadable graphics for you to use on social media and a printout we’ve created (if you’re a ‘write on paper kinda gal’ like me!) which you can use to help plan out your posts for the month.

We really hope you’ll join us in this summer of fun. Whenever you post, simply add the hashtag #smallbizsummer and we will see it!

Feel free to spread the word and invite other business pals to get involved and have a little fun online this summer ☀️

See you on the ‘gram!

Daily prompts


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Think pink, shop small 💕

It’s Barbie week (finally) and according to reports, searches for ‘Barbie’ and ‘Barbiecore’ have seen a sharp rise since the trailer for the film of the same name dropped earlier this year. With brands like Chanel, Zara and even Burger King jumping on the trend, it’s time to do our own spin – the shop small version and trust us when we tell you you’ll be saying ‘Hi Barbie’ to all of these gorgeous independent goodies.

Lelowa Candles, Teddy Bear candle, £5.50

This little cutie from Lelowa Candles is not only perfectly on brief for the kids toys nostalgia kick we’re currently on, but it’s a perfect addition to your shelfie space if you’re looking for some independent candle action. Available in pink or course, you can also grab one in a range of different shades, although why would you want to?

Midas Touch, Floral Resin Geode Coasters, £30

Thinking of hosting a Barbie party this weekend? Then these coasters from Midas Touch are a must. Featuring real flowers in the colours of your choice (pink is of course the only acceptable shade) they’re hand finished in eco-resin and topped off with a metallic edging which just sets the whole thing off.

Cinco Skin, Rose Quartz Candle, £28

We’re obsessed with these Rose Quartz candles from Cinco Skin, not only are they vegan and lovingly hand-poured but they also feature two Rose Quartz tumbled crystals. Rose Quartz is the love crystal which is said to fill your home with harmony, love and compassion – dreamy.

Rose Quartz Dual Triangle open ring, Hutke Jewellery, £48

This limited edition Rose Quartz Dual Triangle ring is the perfect piece to finish off all your Barbiecore looks. Finished in 18ct Gold Plated brass, the great thing about this piece is that it’s adjustable so you can move it around depending on what your jewellery plans are for the day.

Only fancy a hint of pink? Then these AndRuz Studio marbled book ends are perfect for you. Each one is marbled in eco friendly resin alternative, Jesmonite and we love the chunky, contemporary design of these. Pair them up to create an aesthetically pleasing book shelf or use one solo as statement decor.

Looking to shop pink in person? Don’t forget, our Westfield pop-ups are now open and we have lots of small business goodies for you to shop. For more details on both of them, visit our What’s on page here.

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Need product photography for your small business?

If product photography is on your business to do list, then this post is for you! 

We’ve partnered up with the very talented @morganemilyjane to offer small businesses an exclusive discounted photography package! 

We’ll be hosting monthly small biz photo shoots, to help businesses get a fresh new album of pics in time for Christmas! Send off your products to Emily’s studio, and have them photographed in their very own mini shoot! – Your products are gonna have a ball!

Photography was probably one of the hardest things I’ve found to do myself for my previous product selling business. Good photographers have SUCH a skill! We’ve used Emily to photograph a variety of different products for our pop-up marketing advertising, and her ability to capture such a wide spectrum of product types is such a talent!

There’s 10 spaces available per month, available on a first come first served basis.You can spread the cost across 3 months too when you select to pay via Klarna too!

This service is one of many new things coming to help support small businesses in the journey of entrepreneurship. We’re working on a toolkit of services designed to help grow small businesses using recommended and trusted providers. Stay tuned for more coming soon😍

Hit ‘Shop now’ below to check out all the details!