Vendor rules and regulations.
Vendor rules should be short, specific and in writing before vendors pay. Cover hours and load-in, no early pack-up, booth boundaries and aisles, products matching the application, permits and insurance, conduct and consequences. Share them in the application, repeat them in a reminder and enforce them the same way for everyone.
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What to put in your rules.
- Hours: load-in window, opening time, closing time and load-out.
- Staying open: vendors stay through the whole event and don't pack up early.
- Booth boundaries: stay inside your space, and don't use aisle space or add an unregistered booth.
- Aisles: keep props, signs and bins out of the walkway so shoppers don't trip.
- Products: sell only what you applied with, and follow the market's handmade or category rules.
- Tents, tables and weights: what is allowed, required or not allowed indoors.
- Power: what's available and what vendors may plug in.
- Fees, cancellations and refunds: what vendors owe and what they get back.
- Permits and insurance: what vendors must hold and what they send you.
- Conduct and cleanup: respect for shoppers and neighbors, noise, trash and leaving the space clean.
Write rules vendors will read.
Use plain words and short lines. Put the rules in the application, link them from your confirmation and repeat the important ones in the load-in reminder. Say why a rule exists when it isn't obvious: for example, that the market stays open for the full event so shoppers can count on every vendor being there.
Keep two lists apart: rules that are non-negotiable, and guidance that's just a request. Mixing them makes enforcement harder.
Enforce them the same way every time.
- Decide the consequence for each major rule before the event: a warning, removal of items, no refund, or no invitation next time.
- Name one person who handles problems on the day so vendors know who to talk to.
- Talk to the vendor privately, remind them of the rule they accepted and give them a chance to fix it.
- Write down what happened and use the same response for everyone, including your best vendors.
- Use your notes when you review applications for the next event.
Get the rules signed and the documents in.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by city and venue, so confirm the details with the agency or a lawyer.
- Attach your rules and vendor agreement and have vendors sign them on approval.
- Require documents such as insurance certificates and permits with each application.
- Set up automatic emails to vendors before the event that repeat the important rules.
Common questions.
What are the vendor rules and regulations for a market?
Rules about hours and load-in, staying open, booth boundaries and aisles, products, permits and insurance, fees and cancellations, and conduct.
How do I draft rules and regulations for our market?
Start from the list above, cut it to what matters, write each rule in plain words and have a lawyer review the final version.
How do I stop vendors from packing up early?
Put a no early pack-up rule in the agreement, explain why, and set a consequence such as no refund or no invitation next time.
How do I stop vendors from spilling into the aisles?
Mark booth boundaries on the map and on the ground, tell vendors the limit, and check at load-in before doors open.
How do I enforce show rules consistently across all vendors?
Write down the consequences, name one person to handle problems, and apply the same response every time.
Keep reading.
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