• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Blue Ant Media

Nothing connects like a good story.

  • Investor Relations
  • About Us
    • Management Team
    • Board Of Directors
    • Our News
    • Careers
    • Our Locations
  • Studios
    • Production
    • Distribution
  • Global Channels + Streaming
    • Global Channels
    • Media Pulse
  • Canadian Media
    • Canadian Channels
    • Cottage Life
    • Consumer Shows
    • Advertise with US

Year of the Side Hustle: The Return of Consumer Shows are Critical to ‘Micro-Businesses’ as E-Commerce Challenges Prove Costly

11 November 2021

75% of exhibitors at the Seasons Christmas Show say that without the return of in-person shows in 2022, their business would suffer, and for some, not likely to survive beyond six months

  • Shopper visiting the Makeful Market at the 2019 Seasons Christmas Show (pictured)

(Toronto, ON –  November 11, 2021) – Nearly 100 micro-businesses are getting ready for the return of their first in-person consumer show since the pandemic, at the Seasons Christmas Show taking place this Friday, November 12 to 14 at the International Centre, Mississauga. 

A survey of Show exhibitors at the Makeful Market, reveals how vital consumer shows are to “micro-businesses” – people who found themselves unemployed, displaced, and with time during the pandemic to reflect/pursue their creative passions – leading to a surge of ‘side-hustles’ and self-made entrepreneurs selling handmade products online (sites such as Etsy saw a 103% increase in the number of sellers joining the marketplace in Q3 of 2021).

The return of the Seasons Christmas Show provides the opportunity for local makers to reconnect in-person with customers, promote their businesses, and drive sales leading into the holiday season.

Although e-commerce has seen a boom during the pandemic, online selling has had its challenges especially for micro-businesses, from the high fees of using third-party marketplace sites, competition with online retail giants, and costs of postage, couriers, delays, returned items and lost packages – that are not often insured due to the price points and nature of craft goods.  

Some key findings of the survey:

  • More than half of exhibitors say that without the return of in-person shows in 2022, their business would suffer, and for some, not likely to survive beyond six months
  • More than 50% of exhibitors say they depend on in-person shows/events for more than half of their annual sales forecast
  • 75% of exhibitors rely on the Holiday season for more than a third of their total sales
  • 50% of exhibitors applied to the Seasons Sponsorship Program that waives the costs of exhibiting at the show
  • Top reasons for exhibiting at in-person shows: face-to-face connection with consumers, built-in attendance, and ability to demonstrate products and sell directly

After postponing a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly anticipated Seasons Christmas Show is back for its first live event since November 2019. The three-day event will bring the local craft and maker community back together to create a unique shopping experience for guests looking to find gift inspiration. At the show’s signature Makeful Market, inspired by the Canadian DIY crafting channel Makeful, consumers will be treated to bespoke handmade and eclectic items from local makers, artisans and foodies. 

2021 Seasons Christmas Show Makeful Market Shopping Guide:

The Makeful Market, sponsored by Beauti-Tone, spans a variety of media, including fine art, ceramics, fashion, jewelry, gourmet goods, self-care products, decor accessories, holiday and home goods, and more. Guests can find something for everyone at the Market, even the hardest to please person on their shopping list, such as: 

The Knick-Knack Lover (for the friend who loves stationery, flea markets and decorative conversation starters)  

  • A Little Leafy designs their own punny illustrations, made into the perfect gifts and gift tag stickers to spread some smiles. From mugs, stickers and coasters with clever puns, to vibrant and playful wall art, bibs and so much more. 
  • Customized wooden cutting boards from Esma Jay Creations.
  • Hayley Rose Florals handcrafted seasonal paper flowers.

The Trendsetter (for the fashion influencer and creative homebody in your life)  

  • Tungaa fashion-forward, eco-friendly and cruelty-free totes and notebooks. 
  • Knots by Felicia’s stunning macrame wall hangings, plant hangers, keychains, and ornaments.
  • Standout and sparkle with from gemstone, Swarovski crystal and abalone shell phone grips and charm bracelets from FlashyFoxx

The Foodie (for the savoury, sweet tooth, or adventurous foodies in your life):

  • CoCo by Meza’s delicious chocolate desserts, smash cakes and cake pops.
  • 1Spicy Mama’s hot sauces, specialty sauces and seasonings, created with quality all-natural ingredients.
  • Organic marinades, jams, sauces, chutney, rubs from Mazépis.

The Self-care Guru (for that special person whose motto is: “treat yourself”)

  • Natch Generation’s nature-inspired, clean and pure self-care and body products.
  • Billington and Queens’ ultimate care package of de-stress relaxation products for that scrunchie-wearing, spa frequenter person in your life. 
  • All-natural handmade soaps, body butter, lip balms and candles from Beaver and Wood.

The Ultimate Christmas Fan (for the person who loves a good Christmas sweater) 

  • Gnomes by Mari’s one-of-a-kind handmade gnomes make the perfect ornament, tree topper, bottle topper, and most importantly, conversation starter. 
  • Colourful handcrafted bottle brush trees by Abre Toronto
  • Salt & Paper’s hand-crafted, custom rubber stamps, illustrated prints/cards, and decorative Christmas ornaments. 

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Advertising
  • All News
  • Blue Ant Plus
  • Blue Ant Studios
    • Distribution
    • Production
  • Canadian Media
    • BBC Earth
    • BBC First
    • Cottage Life
    • Love Nature
    • Makeful
    • Smithsonian Channel
    • T+E
  • Consumer Events
  • Cottage Life Magazine
  • Events and Presentations
  • Global Channels + Streaming
  • Investor News

Archives

More News

Screenshot-2024-08-14-at-9.24.18-AM

TVO Unveils Trailer for Old Enough!

14 August 2024

ghosting-punch-in

CBC RENEWS UNSCRIPTED PARANORMAL COMEDY GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN FOR A SECOND SEASON

24 July 2024

SNE6.Oct30.2019.knorthphotography-33-1

Crime and Mystery Sales Trending Across Central and Eastern European Platforms 

20 June 2024

Crave_Group_Shot

EAT, SLAY, LOVE! NEW DRAG RACE UNIVERSE SERIES, SLAYCATION, UNVEILS THE SIX INTERNATIONAL DRAG QUEENS HEADING TO THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS IN AN ALL-NEW UNSCRIPTED PROJECT FROM THE PRODUCERS OF CANADA’S DRAG RACE

6 June 2024

Race girl

Blue Ant Studios Inks Over 125 Hours of LATAM Deals, Spanning Multiple Genres

15 May 2024

Stormy – Season 1

Blue Ant Studios Rights Division Acquires Exclusive Worldwide Distribution Rights to Stormy

15 April 2024

20230323-DSC_2876-2

Dive Into Summer at the Spring Cottage Life Show

13 March 2024

Jun-28-2022-SME-Gallery-Shoot-0208-R-1

Get Into Your “Better Home Era” at the National Home Show, Presented by RE/MAX, Happening March 8-10 & 13-17 at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place

28 February 2024

Jun-28-2022-SME-Gallery-Shoot-0208-R-1

All-Star Line-Up of Reno, Home Design, and Garden Experts Announced for the 65th Annual National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX March 8-10 & 13-17, Enercare Centre

21 February 2024

Edited

Blue Ant Studios Introduces a Brand New Slate at London Screenings with over 40 New and Returning High-Profile Series and Documentaries 

15 February 2024

Blown-Away-S4-Key-Art

FIRST LOOK: BLOWN AWAY SEASON 4

8 February 2024

DJL_Promo_Still7-Veronika-Slowikowska-Jaelynn-Brooks-courtesy-of-blue-ant-media-1

FIRST LOOK: Original Series Davey & Jonesie’s Locker

1 February 2024

WRV_Press_FieldBgd-1-1

Blue Ant Media Announces its Latest Slate of Original Canadian Programming for its Speciality TV and Global Free Streaming Channels

31 January 2024

old-enough

Blue Ant Studios Secures Canadian Rights to Nippon TV’s Old Enough! TVO has greenlit the series set to launch in fall 2024

29 January 2024

Bollywed_notitle

Ahead of the CMPA’s Prime Time Conference, Blue Ant Studios Announces Partnerships with Canadian Producers to Represent 85 Hours of Premium Programming

23 January 2024

Attenborough And The Jurassic Sea Monster

Sir David Attenborough Explores the Prehistoric Era in Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster, Premiering February 14 on BBC Earth in Canada

18 January 2024

Marine-Ksadzhikyan-Headshot_WhiteBG

Blue Ant Media Announces Appointment of Marine Ksadzhikyan as VP, Content Sales, Amidst Sales Growth in U.S. Market

12 January 2024

Mike Holmes, host of DIY Network’s Holmes Buys Homes.

Mike Holmes Headlines the 2024 Home + Backyard Show, Returning From February 2-4 at The International Centre, Mississauga

10 January 2024

Main-Banner-Ghosting-Cast-Stack-1-1

CELEBRITY GUESTS AND HAUNTED LOCATIONS REVEALED FOR NEW UNSCRIPTED PARANORMAL COMEDY GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN, PREMIERING JANUARY 26 ON CBC GEM

9 January 2024

MediaPulse_logo

Media Pulse Announces Exclusive Partnership With Anzu in Canada, Unlocking In-Game Advertising at Scale for Canadian Brands

7 December 2023

CottageLifecrowd

The 19th Annual Fall Cottage Life Show Returns to the International Centre, Mississauga, November 10–12, Offering Free Cottage-themed Tattoos On-site On Opening Day

31 October 2023

SeasonsShopping

The Seasons Christmas Show Invites Ontarians to Embrace the Festive Spirit and Kick-Start Their Holiday Shopping, November 10-12

19 October 2023

Ghosting-LHMF

CBC GREENLIGHTS UNSCRIPTED PARANORMAL COMEDY GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN, FROM BLUE ANT STUDIOS

10 October 2023

DJL_102_0171_DG_20230417-Veronika-Slowikowska-Jaelynn-Brooks_L

Blue Ant Media Announces New Kids, Family and Animation Projects Offered at MIPCOM 

2 October 2023

John Conteh at the Playboy Club

Blue Ant Media Heads to MIPCOM with new slate of Premium Series and Award-Winning Documentaries for International Streamers and Broadcasters  

28 September 2023

Queen-Victoria-Statue-with-Red-Paint-Trail-Credit-Michael-McArthur

Powerful New Documentary, Inside the Statue Wars,  Delves into the Nationwide Battle Over Public Statues and Asks if Reconciliation is Possible While They Still Stand

21 September 2023

MP_2589

The 2023 Fall Home Show Prepares for the Colder Months Ahead With Over 250 Exhibitors and Industry Experts On Hand to Help Ontarians Renovate and Decorate Their Home This Season

11 September 2023

Crave_Slaycation_Announcement_1280x720

Eat, Slay, Love! Crave, World of Wonder, and Blue Ant Studios Announce New Original Series SLAYCATION, from the DRAG RACE Universe

11 September 2023

unnamed

Momo Film Co Joins Forces With Korea-Based Bros Studio to Develop Popular Kenaz Webtoons Into Television Series

22 August 2023

Portrait  (L) Matt Hornburg, (C) Michael MacMillan and (R) Mark Bishop

Blue Ant Media and marblemedia Announce Merger of Production and Distribution Operations Into One Unified Studio and Rights Business

10 August 2023

MobileSyrup_colour_hor (1)

MobileSyrup Expands Reach With Revamped Weekly Newsletter, Antenna, Building on 60K Subscriber Base

13 July 2023

Waking Giants

Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur: The Story of the Discovery of the Largest Known Dinosaur

10 July 2023

The-Elephant-Odyssey_01-1

IMAX, BEACH HOUSE PICTURES AND CHINA REVIEW STUDIO JOIN FORCES ON “THE ELEPHANT ODYSSEY”, A NEW FEATURE DOCUMENTARY ON CHINA’S WANDERING ELEPHANTS

3 July 2023

DenimRichards_ArtNation

Smithsonian Channel™ Announces Inspiring New Series ArtNation, Set to Debut in Canada on Tuesday, June 20 at 10 p.m.ET/PT

24 May 2023

Post

Cottage Life Signs On as Official Media Sponsor of Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival, Celebrating Canadian Music and Entertainment

16 May 2023

LakefrontLuxury_Thumb_NoTitle_1920x1080

Blue Ant International Announces Slew of Co-Production, Pre-sales and Distribution deals with A+E Networks, Smithsonian Channel™ and True Royalty TV

9 May 2023

Coronation Presenters 16-9 (1)

BBC First to air King Charles III and the Queen Consort’s Coronations for Canadian Audiences

5 May 2023

Ottawa-Cottage-Life-Backyard-Show_image3

Spring Ahead to the Cottage Season at the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show, April 21-23 at the EY Centre

28 March 2023

Untitled-design

Blue Ant International Spring Slate Sees More Than 450 Hours of New Premium Programming at MIPTV

23 March 2023

CLSS22-169

The Spring Cottage Life Show Returns March 23-26 at the International Centre, Mississauga

16 March 2023

Serengeti III: Episode 01: Refuge

Adjoa Andoh Narrates BBC Earth’s Latest Landmark Series, Serengeti III; Premiering March 19 During the Channel’s Nationwide Free Preview Event

7 March 2023

Screen-Shot-2023-03-02-at-8.00.21-AM

New Report Findings Show FAST Revenues will account for nearly 20% of the UK’s $3bn premium online ad-supported video market by 2027

2 March 2023

Carolyn-Taylor-Headshot

CATALYST AND BLUE ANT STUDIOS  ROLL INTO PRODUCTION ON NEW CRAVE ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES CREATED BY AND STARRING CAROLYN TAYLOR

11 October 2022

BabyShowVancouver

Canada’s Leading Pregnancy, Baby and Toddler Event Arrives on the West Coast: The Baby Show Debuts October 22-23 at Canada Place

11 October 2022

Planet-Shark_KeyImage

Love Nature Dives Beneath the Surface to Explore the Greatest Predator on Earth–Sharks, in its Latest Global Original Planet Shark, Premiering During the Channel’s Highly-Anticipated “FinFest” TV Event, October 10-16

4 October 2022

ExecHeadshot_BlueAntMedia_2-2

Blue Ant Media Expands Advertising Offering with Acquisition of Media Pulse, Canada’s Exclusive Connected TV Marketplace

29 September 2022

Hotel-Paranormal-Cropped

Blue Ant Media Launches HauntTV and Love Pets on Foxtel as Channels and VOD

24 June 2025

The Philippines_LoveNature copy

Blue Ant Studios Heads to Sunny Side of the Doc with a Diverse Array of Original Love Nature Greenlights

23 June 2025

Boat Rocker and Blue Ant provide transaction update; Blue Ant final order received

19 June 2025

Spycraft_PRimage

Blue Ant Media Expands Its Offering on The Roku Channel in Canada with the Launch of Declassified 

19 June 2025

Boat Rocker Media announces transaction shareholder approval at special meeting of shareholders.

17 June 2025

Mysteries from Above Season 3, Episode 3

Blue Ant Studios Closes Deal for Premium Canadian History title Mysteries from Above to A+E Global Media

11 June 2025

Matt Nippon

Nippon TV and Blue Ant Studios enter Strategic Partnership for Unscripted Formats in North America

5 June 2025

Damselfly (1)

Bugs That Rule the World Explores the Secret Lives of Earth’s Tiny but Mighty Unsung Heroes, Premiering June 14 on Love Nature in Canada

20 May 2025

  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Viewer Feedback

Copyright © 2025 · Blue Ant Media