Welcome to the This Is Felixstowe Spotlight series, celebrating the independent businesses that make our town special.
Today I visited Felixstowe Indoor Market, where I met owners Jan and Helen and discovered a shop full of creativity, community spirit and local talent.
A treasure trove of creativity
Just along Crescent Road, opposite the car park, you will find Felixstowe Indoor Market — a place that is so much more than just a shop.
As soon as you step inside, you discover a treasure trove of art, paintings, jewellery, crafts, woodcraft, trinkets and so much more. Every corner is filled with creativity, with something new to discover.
How it all began
Over a cup of tea, Jan and Helen told me how Felixstowe Indoor Market began.
Jan, a local artist, moved into the shop around two and a half years ago with the help of Helen. But this is not just an ordinary art and craft shop — it was created with a much bigger idea in mind.
The market provides a space where local craftspeople can showcase their work and take those first steps towards building their own small business.
Supporting local makers
What makes Felixstowe Indoor Market really special is the opportunity it gives to local creators.
Makers can rent a shelf from as little as £15 a month, with no lengthy contracts and no commission taken.
For many people who dream of selling their creations, it provides a chance to test their ideas, build confidence and see whether their products can find an audience — without the risks and costs of opening their own shop.
A true labour of love
You can tell that Felixstowe Indoor Market is a real passion project for Jan and Helen.
As long as the rent is covered through shelf hire, their focus is on helping other artists and makers get started and giving them somewhere to display their creations.
Helen’s magnificent handmade tree outside the shop is a perfect example of the creativity and dedication that goes into everything they do. The tree took over 100 hours to compl
More than just a shop
Felixstowe Indoor Market is not just about shopping.
They also organise special events, especially during school holidays, including craft tables for children and themed days such as last year’s pirate week.
Looking ahead
Jan and Helen’s plans do not stop here.
Helen would love to see the idea grow further, perhaps into a larger shop in the future where even more local makers could have space to display their work.
The dream is to create even more opportunities for local artists and craftspeople.
Visit Felixstowe Indoor Market
📍 25 Crescent Road
Felixstowe
Suffolk
IP11 7PD
Join the conversation on Facebook
This spotlight was originally shared on the This Is Felixstowe Facebook page, where local residents shared their thoughts, comments and experiences of Felixstowe Indoor Market.