Vendor Agreement

Holiday Market Schedule
The 2023 Holiday Market  is Thursday – November 31st & Friday – December 1st, located at the Armory in downtown Owosso (215 N  Water St, Owosso, MI). This market runs from 5pm-8pm. Vendors may begin arriving at 2:30pm, but no earlier. All vendors must be fully set up by 4:30pm. Upon arrival you will check in at the main doors and be directed to your booth space. Any vendors arriving at 4:30 or after will not be admitted. 

Vendor Categories
The Downtown Owosso Farmers Market accepts the following types of vendor types for all events:

• Agricultural/Farmer – farmers and growers who raise, harvest and cultivate their produce, herbs, nursery crops and flowers in the state of Michigan. This includes beekeepers, dairy, eggs, meat and fish producers who process their own local raw product to sell. No more than 30% of produce items can be wholesaled from other Michigan farms.
• Artisan – handcrafted, high-quality craftsmanship products. These are  non-edible items that are made in small batches and designed or crafted by you. 
• Food & Beverage – edible products packaged for consumption. 
• Concession –  prepared or cooked on site. Food truck vendors are required to provide their own waste bin and dispose of their trash off site.
• Other – This includes non-profit groups, re-selling unique items or local businesses providing specialty services. No more than 20% of your products can be direct or wholesale items.
• We do not accept wholesale only vendors. 

Vendor Operation Requirements & Setup
Vendor space: A single vendor space for Holiday Market  is 8’x8’. Your setup and marketing materials must be within your space and not intrude on your neighbors. Signage may be placed within your booth space. It is imperative that your booth setup does not expand outside of your vendor space to allow for proper market spacing and flow of customer traffic. If any signage or products are exceeding your designated area you will be asked to move them. All vendors should bring a sufficient amount of product for this market, filling your booth space. 

As a vendor you are required to set up with a completed booth space. All vendors must supply their own table(s), table covering(s), marketing materials (signage with business name) and clear pricing on all products. Your booth space should not create any safety hazards: hanging signs and product displays are secure, no tripping hazards, ect. You are responsible for maintaining a safe shopping space within your area for all customers. We highly suggest planning out your booth space layout before the event to provide a successful vending experience at the market.

Food trailer and concession vendors have up to a 18’ for trucks and trailers, per single space. Limited power hookup is available, any extension cords must be securely covered and secured to avoid tripping hazards. All concession vendors will be setting up outside of the Armory on the cement pad at  the entrance. The market outdoor space will include a small fire pit and string lighting for all guests to enjoy.

We are committed to a clean and environmentally friendly, leave-no-waste trash policy. Vendors are responsible for hauling away any trash collected and for leaving their booth area clean of debris and garbage. Please do not fill our customer trash cans with large cardboard boxes and packaging from your business. Your space should be left how you found it. All food truck vendors are required to provide and dispose of their own trash receptacles. 

Setup: All vendors are required to check in and arrive no later than 4pm, check in begins at 2:30pm. Your booth space must be completely set up and ready for customers by 4:30 pm. Latecomers will be denied admission, or admitted and located at the market management’s discretion, if applicable. Please call or text the market manager if you are running late or will be absent from the event  so we can modify the layout as needed. We cannot guarantee entrance for anyone arriving after 4pm for setup. Vendors should be completely packed up and out of the Armory by 10pm.

Vendors are prohibited from packing up their vendor booth and/or leaving the market before it closes (8 pm). In the event there is a personal emergency, please locate the Market Manger to arrange for a safe departure during open market hours. If you sell out of products before the market ends, you are required to keep your booth space fully set up and display a legible ‘sold out’ sign. Vendors cannot begin packing up products or their booth space anytime before 8 pm. Anyone packing up before 8pm will be violating our market rules and denied acceptance for future events.

Vendors will be setting up on two separate levels of the Armory. There is ramp access on the south entrance lower level. Elevator access is through this entrance to get to the second floor. Please plan to bring a wagon or dolly to haul your items from your vehicle to the Armory, we will have volunteers on hand to help with loading in. Vendors on the lower level of the Armory have the option to use two (2) provided tables that measure 8’x2’ in an |_ shape.

You may not tack, nail or tape anything to the walls or floors of the Armory. Any damage found within your vendor booth space will result in a fine based on damage occurred.

Vendors that are approved for both nights cannot leave belongings in the Armory overnight. All of your booth materials must be packed up at the end of night one and then loaded in again for night two. There is no exceptions to this. 

Products: All vendors are permitted to sell only the products within your vendor category and only the items that were listed on your application. If you wish to add any items in addition to what was listed on your application or your vendor category, you may contact the Market Manager for approval. All vendor products should be content-neutral and refrain from any political content. We prohibit vendors from: any sales of raffle tickets, gambling, all forms of organized or intended soliciting and/or political activity, displays or products. No distribution of content-based literature or marketing is permitted. We will require vendors to remove any non-permitted merchandise or products in its sole discretion at any time that do not meet criteria and were not approved per your vendor application.

Permits & Insurance: Vendors are required to provide any permits, licenses and insurance required by the State of Michigan and Shiawassee County. It is the sole responsibility of each vendor to be familiar with and abide by all state and federal regulations pertaining to the production, harvest, preparation, preservation, labeling, and safety of products sold at the market. We are not held responsible for any vendors violating state and federal regulations. Additional information can be found here.

Payment: All vendor fees are due with delivery of this signed contract. You will not have a designated space until full payment and signed contract is delivered within 7 business days of vendor acceptance. Payments can be made on our website (below this contract), or cash & checks are accepted (please contact the Market Manager to arrange if needed). There are no refunds under any circumstances. A single vendor booth space is $65, a single business may purchase up to two spaces at $130. A single food concession space is $85, which includes power access in front of the Armory entrance.

Policies & Conduct
We are committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Every individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices. We expect all vendors and their staff or representatives to be professional and welcoming. No vendor participating with our markets shall refuse to permit the purchase of any product or service based on race, religion, color, gender, political affiliation, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, gender-identity, height, weight or mental/physical ability. Harassment in any form will not be tolerated.

We strive to provide a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere at every market event. All vendors, their staff or representatives should conduct themselves in a manner that contributes to a positive community experience for our customers and staff. Common courtesy and respect are essential to the success of our events. Our market staff and management expects all vendor participants to be honest and to conduct themselves in a courteous and friendly manner with other market vendors, staff, and shoppers. Please refrain from the following violations: 

• Sleeping at your vendor space or leaving it unattended 
• Playing loud music
• Arguing and/or using vulgar language with other vendors, market staff or customers, and complaining about other vendors or market staff.
• Smoking of any kind at your vendor space or anywhere inside the Market event space. All Owosso Farmers Market events are no-smoking.
• Any form of verbal or physical harassment toward vendors, market staff and customers.

No participant has the right to sell, sublease, transfer or permit any other seller to use their vendor space. Vendors may not leave their booths unattended during market hours. If you are working alone and need a short break, please ask a market staff member to cover you, we’re happy to help.

We do not assume responsibility for any vendor’s items at any time. All items and equipment brought into premises are responsible solely by the vendor who owns it.

Any person, vendor or staff member that is found to be violating these policies are subject to removal, including expulsion from the market. Complaints or violations about vendors, their participants or customers should be immediately reported to the market manager. 

Procedures
Cancelation & Refunds: No refunds will be issued under any circumstances. We  reserve the right to approve all vendor applications. If a vendor is approved to participate in the markets, if a vendor is terminated or chooses to terminate their vendor space, there will be no refund.

Infractions: Violations of operational requirements and these guidelines will result in citations by market management. Vendors will receive two warnings or notifications regarding any violation listed above. Further violations may be grounds for suspension and immediate expulsion from the market. Violations will be considered for future market events.

Website & Marketing:
The DOFM website and social media pages are updated routinely with vendors, events and seasonal offerings. Our Holiday Market  event page will provide customers with information about your products, location, market schedule, and more – based on the information you’ve provided on your application. If you’d like to provide us with more information, photos and anything else about your business to be included on our site and social marketing materials, please email the Market Manager.

Terms & Conditions:
Severability: Should any part of this Agreement be declared invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of any remaining portion, and such remaining portion shall continue in full force and effect. If you fail to comply with these requirements, you will be expected to discuss vendor membership concerns. If there is a second instance of failure to comply or a formal complaint against any vendor, it will constitute a breach of this agreement and the member will no longer be eligible for vendor participation at any Owosso Farmers Market events. The Owosso Farmers Market shall adopt procedural rules governing the termination of any vendors for failure to meet these continuing requirements.

Amendment
Any provision of this agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of both parties; the vendor and the Owosso Farmers Market.