How to host your first vendor show
From the date to the thank-yous in 13 steps: the timeline, the venue, permits, insurance, booth prices, vendors, shoppers and show day.
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How to run a vendor show, from picking the date to the thank-yous afterwards. Written by a host of more than 100 shows, checked against the official rules, with every source listed.
How much to charge for a booth
Set booth prices from your costs, a realistic fill and what vendors can sell, with real shows' prices for doubles, corners, power, food trucks and raises.
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How to lay out a booth map
Measure the room, keep exits clear, set aisles, plan for wheelchairs, power and food, number the booths and get the fire marshal's OK, with example layouts.
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Where to put each vendor
Place vendors in order: power and food first, then your strongest booths, similar vendors apart, and fair rules for corners, requests and no-shows.
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Vendor applications and choosing vendors
Decide what your show takes, ask the right questions and photos, choose by quality and fit, check vendors you don't know, and answer everyone.
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Vendor rules, refunds and bad weather
Rules vendors agree to when they apply: refunds when they cancel or you do, no-shows, leaving early and bad weather, with a sample vendor agreement.
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Insurance, permits and sales tax
What to check before your show: event insurance, vendors' certificates, permits, food, raffles, and what each state asks of hosts about sales tax.
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How to promote a vendor show
Get shoppers in the door: when to start, the Facebook event, your vendors' followers, free listings, signs and flyers, and seeing what worked.
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Show day: load-in, check-in and load-out
Run the day from the night before to the last car out: load-in, check-in, the door, safety, a lost child, volunteers, cash and load-out.
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After the show: surveys, results and next year
Thank everyone, write your notes, ask vendors and shoppers how it went, count your results honestly, and book next year while it's fresh.
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Next: rules, refunds, no-shows and bad weather, then insurance, permits and sales tax.
Hosting a show this year?
My Vendor Show takes your vendor applications, collects booth fees by card, and lays out your booth map, with every email to vendors written for you.
Free for hosts. Vendors who pay online pay a small booking fee: 3%, never more than $5 a booth, unless you choose to cover it. Square takes its usual card fee.
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