Will the craftsman or Temu sign be under the tree? – a survey was conducted by the Hungarian crafts website Meska

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 11. 21. 12:10

According to a survey by the Meska online craft marketplace, nearly 80% of people are buying personalized gifts this Christmas, a significant portion of which are handmade surprises. The research also revealed that roughly 49% of people are buying them in the month before Christmas, with one of the busiest days being the last Friday of October, i.e. Black Friday, while 11% are leaving their shopping until the week or two before Christmas. The increasing popularity of online shopping follows previous trends – currently more than 90% say they use online services when buying gifts.

We go there for the atmosphere, not the fair

The rise of online marketplaces is also reflected in the interest in Christmas markets. Although many people still like to go to Christmas markets, most people do not go for the gifts or souvenirs, but for the atmosphere and the sense of community. Only 20% of those surveyed plan to go to a foreign fair, 5% buy any gifts at Christmas fairs. Many Hungarian artisans have caught on to this trend, and instead of Christmas fairs, they are increasingly using online sales platforms to sell their products.

The revival of the Hungarian artisan community may create a new competitor for standard marketplaces

Hungarian craftsmanship is very closely tied to Hungarian traditions and culture, and Hungarian specialties such as matyó embroidery and Kalocsa motifs are known worldwide. In addition, the demand for modern artisanal and so-called DIY products is growing, which is also emphasized by the research data. The global craft market is estimated at $50 trillion, which is equivalent to nearly 26% of Hungary’s GDP, while the DIY market is estimated to be worth more than $1 trillion by 2025, and both markets are expected to grow significantly in the near future. This is largely due to the Y generation, who prefer personalization and unique products.

Meska is Hungary’s largest online craft design marketplace, where you can buy unique, artisanal, vintage and specialty products at budget-friendly prices. Meska’s goal is to popularize Hungarian craftsmanship and create a community that promotes uniqueness and sustainability. The site currently offers more than 260,000 unique products, and nearly four million artisanal and vintage products have been purchased since the site was launched. Meska has now grown into one of the most visited craft, vintage and design online marketplaces in the country.

One of the most popular creative duos on the site is Nikolett Gyulassy and Rajmund Horváth Trautmann, founders of Zoriakdesign. The Veszprém couple with three children create all kinds of sustainable wooden pieces, from baby showers and christenings to wedding gifts, all in a six-hundred-year-old mill that the two of them are constantly renovating.