Westminster holds first circular economy marketplace pop-up market

Westminster recently partnered with Hazaar and have launched their first pop-up store on Harrow Campus on 24 September. The event was held in the Forum, where stalls were set up by ten student sellers, who were selling a variety of products such as clothing, shoes, jewellery and artwork. Sellers collectively made over £700 in five hours.

The pop-up store also promoted Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork) to students and colleagues, encouraging them to join the community of young entrepreneurs. WeNetwork is the University’s entrepreneurial network, bringing together students and recent graduates within industry to develop their entrepreneurial skills, engage in self-employment work and create businesses.

The pop-up also had a stall advertising Hazaar, which taught people how to use the app to buy and sell items, as well as inform them about the online communal platform that they plan to create where they can send regular updates about future Westminster pop-up stores and more.

Hazaar is an online and on-site shop that offers the opportunity to buy and sell preloved and homemade items, making the academic year more affordable, stress-free and kind to the planet, while enhancing Westminster students’ employability. Student sellers sign up for a free stand to showcase their small business and creative talent or simply to sell their items. Hazaar is the only no postage marketplace, where sellers can simply meet up in person to hand over items, making it zero waste as no postage means no wasteful packaging or travel fumes.

About the event, Harriet Noy, CEO of Hazaar, said: “What is so brilliant about the markets is that it is many students first time getting their work out there. You see students arrive very nervous and perhaps not fully confident that people will buy their work, but as soon as they make their first purchase, their whole demeanour changes, their confidence grows and their pride is incredible. It’s amazing that the events can give students a boost. We run pop-up markets at other London-based universities too. Two Westminster students did so well that they also sold at our UCL market!

“The highlight for me was watching students who didn’t think they would sell anything or that people would be interested in their products, making sales and seeing how much it meant to them.”  

The mix of digital and on-site marketplace provides multiple avenues for students to engage depending on preference. Student businesses especially benefit from the on-site events as they can gain quick feedback on their products, helping them to grow quicker and develop their products depending on customer feedback.

One student visitor of the pop-up store, Akanksha Marepalli, Digital Media, Public Relations and Advertising BA Honours student, said: “The pop-up store was beyond my expectations. Being in my final year, I have seen previous pop-ups at Harrow before, but nothing like this! The fact that Hazaar does not require any postage materials relieves so much stress for many sellers, or people looking to set up a small business. Utilising the University space, which many students and staff are already familiar with, to send over or collect your items, is such a unique idea.

“I bought a variety of wonderful items at the event, my favourite item being an illustration piece from an Illustration BA Honours student Samuel Green, who showcased a variety of his artworks, from hand-drawn and handmade stickers to water colour paintings. The first event was not only very insightful, with the student team teaching me how to use the app both from a buyer and seller’s perspective, but also very busy! I remember seeing a huge crowd hovering around one stall, looking at and buying the seller’s jewellery items. It was great to see this event’s success and I look forward to exploring more at future Hazaar pop-ups.”

The next pop-up will be on Marylebone Campus towards the end of October or early November. The date is to be confirmed and will be announced on the University’s social media channels.

The University’s collaboration with Hazaar directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 17: Partnership for the Goals.  Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Download the Hazaar app to access the University of Westminster’s circular economy marketplace.