Resellers, MLM and AI art: write a product policy.
Whether to allow resellers, MLM sellers or AI-generated art is your call, and the answer is a written product policy. Define what handmade means for your market, say what is allowed and what isn't, ask for proof in the application, and apply the same rule to every vendor.
Updated
Decide what your market is.
Start with what shoppers expect. A handmade-only fair promises that the person at the booth made the goods. A mixed market can include resale, vintage or direct sales, as long as you label each clearly. Neither is wrong, but a market that promises handmade and then fills with resale loses the shoppers and makers it was built for.
Define handmade in plain words.
- State who must make it: the vendor, or the vendor's own small team, designing and producing the goods.
- Say what you allow for materials, such as bought components, kits or commercial supplies, and where you draw the line.
- Say how you treat AI-generated art, print-on-demand and goods made by a third party, and whether they need to be labeled.
- Say how you treat resold goods and direct-sales brands: allowed, limited to a few booths, or not allowed.
- Describe any approved exceptions, such as vintage or secondhand in a separate area.
Publish the policy before vendors apply.
Put the policy in the application and in the vendor agreement, in short sentences. Ask for the product list and photos of the actual goods, and ask the vendor to confirm in writing that what they bring matches what they applied with.
If you allow direct-sales sellers or resellers in limited numbers, say so, and put the limit with your other category caps so nobody is surprised.
Apply it the same way every time.
- Review each application against the written policy, and ask for more information if photos or descriptions don't answer the question.
- Ask applicants who are unclear to describe how they make the goods or share process photos.
- Check booths at load-in against the approved product list.
- If a booth doesn't match, talk to the vendor privately, ask them to remove the items, and write down what happened.
- Use the same consequence for everyone, such as removal of the items, no refund, or no invitation next time, and state it in your rules.
Ask the policy question in the application.
- Vendors apply online with your own questions, so you can ask how they make their goods and confirm your policy.
- Attach your rules and vendor agreement and have vendors sign them on approval.
Common questions.
Should I accept MLM vendors and resellers at a craft show?
It's your choice. If your show promises handmade goods, say that resale and direct-sales brands aren't allowed. If you'd like variety, set a limit and label them clearly.
Should I allow AI-generated art at a handmade market?
Decide before you open applications and write it down. Many handmade markets require that the vendor makes the work themselves; others allow it with labeling. Be specific about what counts.
How do I define handmade for my makers market?
State who makes the goods, what bought materials and components are allowed, and how you treat print-on-demand and third-party manufacturing. Short and specific wins.
How do I enforce a handmade-only rule?
Review applications against the policy, ask for process photos when unsure, check booths at load-in and apply the same consequence to every vendor.
Should I separate handmade and resale vendors?
If you allow both, yes. Put resale or direct-sales vendors in their own area or category so shoppers know what they are buying.
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