ARTS AND CRAFTS VENDOR INFORMATION FOR THE SOWA OPEN MARKET
The SoWa Open Mar­ket is a juried mar­ket. All vendors are reviewed for accep­tance. It is our goal to have a wide vari­ety of prod­ucts by independent makers and designers. We are cur­rently accept­ing appli­ca­tions for the following types of vendors:

» Crafters and Artisans
» Inde­pen­dent Designers
» Fine Art

We do not provide space for religious or polit­i­cal organizations. We will consider a limited number of fair-trade and eco-friendly handmade import vendors, however products may not be commercially mass produced.

Antique and Vin­tage dealers, please apply to the SoWa Vintage Market. The SoWa Vintage Market is under separate management and not affiliated with NE Open Markets

Farms, specialty food vendors, gourmet and kitchen products and services, bath and body vendors: Apply to the SoWa Farmers Market HERE 

Food Trucks:  Apply to the SoWa Food Truck Court HERE

Fashion Trucks: Please email info@sowaopenmarket.com for more information about rates and application procedures.

Click HERE to see pictures of the market

DATES AND HOURS OF OPERATION:
The SoWa Open Market will operate every Sunday from May 5, 2013 through October 27, 2013, including holidays. Market hours are 10AM – 4PM

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
The SoWa Open Market is a juried market. All applicants are required to submit an application and 3 photos of their work for review. Online applicants will be notified within 10 days. You may apply as either a RESERVED vendor or a STAND-BY vendor as explained below. Please review market policies before applying.  Click HERE to apply for the 2013 season.

RESERVED STATUS:

• The fee for a 10×10 reserved spot is $100  per market with a 5 date minimum. You are making a commitment to participate on your reserved dates and will be responsible for payment of those dates. Carefully review the payment, cancellation and date change policies before applying.
• Reserved status is the only way to guarantee a confirmed spot at the SoWa Open Market. To qualify for reserved status, you must sign up for a minimum of 5 dates.
• If accepted, you will receive an electronic invoice. Payment is due no later than 10 days prior to each reserved market.
• Failure to pay on time will result in a $25 late fee.
• If you pay in full within 10 days of receiving your original invoice, you receive an additional date for free. This promotion is applies only to the original application and only to artist, artisan, crafter and designer vendors. If you take advantage of this promotion, free date availability is contingent on market and category availability. The free date promotion ends on April 10. You must reserve the free date no later than June 10.
• You may reserve as many additional dates as you like during the season as long as spots are still available in your product category. Email requests for additional dates to info@sowaopenmarket.com
• IMPORTANT: by choosing reserved status, you are making a commitment to the SoWa Open Market and are responsible for timely payment of your reserved dates whether you attend or not. You are automatically put into the system for those dates and will be billed. If you are not prepared to make this commitment, please apply as a Stand-by vendor.

STAND-BY STATUS:

• The stand-by fee for a 10 x 10 spot is is $125 cash ($130 via credit card or Paypal). Personal checks not accepted. Stand-by fees are payable the day of the market.
• Stand-by vendors must submit an application and be juried into the market. On the application, choose “stand-by” and do not select any dates. There is no minimum date requirement for stand-by vendors.
• Stand-by vendors may not make advance reservations.
• On market day, juried stand-by vendors should check-in no later than 9am and will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis once reserved vendors have checked-in.
• IMPORTANT: Please be aware that there is no guarantee that stand-by space will be available. You will be turned away if the market and/or your product category are full. Stand-by vendors who have not juried into the market will be turned away.

VENDOR FEES:
Reserved Status:
10’ x 10’ – $100  paid at least 10 days in advance
10’ x 20’ – $175  paid at least 10 days in advance

Stand-By Status:
10’ x 10’ – $125 – paid day of event (cash or money order only)
10’ x 20’ – $200 – paid day of event (cash or money order only)

JEWELRY VENDORS:
If you include jewelry among your product line, you must apply under the jewelry category. Exceptions to this policy require advance approval from market management. Vendors who applied under a non-jewelry category and are selling jewelry at the market will be expected to remove jewelry items from their display if asked to do so by the Market Manager.

Jewelry applications will be reviewed in three waves. Please do not apply more than once as duplicate applications will be deleted. The jewelry category is very competitive and sells out early!   

• Jewelry applications received by February 10 will be notified by February 15
• Jewelry applications received from February 11 – March 10 will be notified by March 15
• Jewelry applications received between March 11 – April 7 will be notified by April 12
• After April 7, applications will be considered on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

VIP PASSES:
A limited number of VIP Season Passes are available for the 2013 season. As a VIP you enjoy significant savings and do not need to reserve ahead of time. Just show up and be guaranteed a spot at the market! And there is no waiting in line – simply show your pass to the check-in person and go directly to the front of the line. Plus, VIP Pass holders get coveted corner spots at SoWa and prime locations at Greenway!

2013 SoWa Season Pass  -  $1,900
The SoWa VIP Pass includes all 26 SoWa Open Markets. A $700 savings!

2013 SoWa and Greenway Combo Season Pass – $3,100
The SoWa and Greenway Combo Pass includes all 49 SoWa and Greenway Open Markets. An $1800 savings!

If you wish to apply for a VIP pass, select VIP Pass on the application and do not check any dates. Payment in full for VIP passes will be due 10 days after acceptance. VIP passes are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

PAYMENT:
Upon acceptance you will be sent a link to your personal payment page. Please bookmark the link for fast and easy payment of your reserved market dates. If you prefer, you may also pay via the drop-down menus on the Vendor Payment Page of the website.

Pay-As-You-Go Reservations:
Payments are due 10 days prior to each reserved market. Late payments will incur a $25 late fee.

Prepaid Reservations:
You may wish to pay in full and in advance for all your reserved dates. To do so, please click on the ‘pay invoice online’ button on your electronic invoice.

If you pay in full within 10 days of receiving your original invoice, you receive an additional date for free. This promotion is applies only to the original application and only to artist, artisan, crafter and designer vendors. If you take advantage of this promotion, free date availability is contingent on market and category availability. The free date promotion ends on April 10. You must reserve the free date no later than June 10.

Check Payments:
You may pay by check if you prefer. Checks must be received in our office by market due dates. Please include your invoice number, business name and dates in the memo area of the check. Make check payable to NE Open Markets LLC and send to:

NE Open Mar­kets LLC
41 Sweeney Lane
Plymouth MA 02360

LATE FEES:
All payments are due 10 days prior to reserved market dates. If you miss the deadline you will incur a $25.00 late fee.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
The SoWa Open Market is a rain or shine market. Booth fees are non-refundable. You are responsible for payment of your reserved dates, whether you attend or not. No credits or make-up dates will be granted for cancellations received in the 10 days prior to the market or for no-shows.

Pay-As-You-Go Cancellation Policy:
Once you have fulfilled the 5 date minimum requirement, you may cancel one of your remaining dates as long as you give us 10 days advance notice. All additional date cancellations will incur a cancellation fee of up to 100% of your invoice balance. Exceptions to the cancellation policy will be considered on a case by case basis and only in the event of a personal or family emergency. You may be required to submit official proof of the emergency.

Paid Market Cancellation Policy:
No refunds will be given for cancellation of paid reservations, however a credit toward future market dates will be issued for cancellation of paid dates received in writing via email or letter at least 10 days in advance. Credits apply only to the SoWa Open Market and expire at the end of the season if not used. Cred­its may not be applied to sold-out dates and/or categories or to other markets. Exceptions to the cancellation policy will be considered on a case by case basis and only in the event of a personal or family emergency. You may be required to submit official proof of the emergency.

SWITCHING RESERVED DATES and CHANGE FEE:
In order to switch a date we need at least 10 days e-mailed notice. Vendors are permitted one free date change per season.  Additional date changes will incur a $25 change fee. Date changes are contingent on market and/or category availability. Please use our Contact Form to request a date switch.

ADDING DATES:
Additional dates above and beyond the market minimums may be added at any time during the season. Change fees do not apply when reserving additional dates. Confirmation of additional dates is subject to market and/or category availability. To add dates, please use the Contact Form on the website.

WEATHER POLICY:
The SoWa Open Market is a rain or shine market. By choosing to participate in a rain or shine market, vendors assume all risks associated with adverse weather conditions. No refunds, credits or make-up dates will be given to vendors who choose not to attend a market for weather related reasons.

Market cancellation will be considered only in the very rare event of an official severe weather warning or a 100% chance of heavy rain for the entire duration of the market. Market cancellations are at the sole discretion of NE Open Markets, LLC. No refunds, credits or make-up dates will be granted in the event of a market cancellation due to weather or if the market closes early due to weather.

SETUP & OPERATION OF VENDOR BOOTHS:

• Set up times are assigned in groups. An email with spe­cific set-up times and instructions is sent to reserved vendors the Fri­day prior to each mar­ket.
• Our staff will assign spaces to vendors as they arrive at the mar­ket.
• Booth set-up is not per­mit­ted before 6:30AM on mar­ket day and ven­dors must be ready for oper­a­tion by 10:00AM.
• Booths must be staffed dur­ing oper­at­ing hours, 10:00AM-4:00PM. Break­down of your booth before 4:00PM is not per­mit­ted, unless per­mis­sion is first obtained by the mar­ket man­ager. Oper­a­tions of the mar­ket should not be dis­rupted, nor the safety and con­ve­nience of shop­pers or ven­dors be jeopardized.
• Ven­dors shall pro­vide their own booths/tables/tents and sun/rain covers.
• Weights for tents are manda­tory at each of our mar­kets. At least 40lbs per tent leg. For instruc­tions on how to make your own and pur­chase, please click HERE
• Ven­dors should dis­play a sign iden­ti­fy­ing the artists or busi­ness name. Sig­nage must be securely attached to booth or stall as not to inter­fere or impede foot traffic.
• Ven­dor park­ing is located two blocks away at 500 Albany Street for $5/day. Ven­dors and their employ­ees are not per­mit­ted to park in the mar­ket park­ing lot.
• The SoWa Open Mar­ket is a rain or shine mar­ket, please be pre­pared by bring­ing the nec­es­sary tents or awnings.
• Ven­dors are respon­si­ble for keep­ing their space attrac­tive dur­ing mar­ket hours and for clean­ing up their space after the mar­ket closes, includ­ing removal of garbage and sweep­ing up any loose debris.
• The SoWa Open Mar­ket reserves the right to refuse or ter­mi­nate any ven­dor who does not com­ply with the above guidelines.

The SoWa Open Mar­ket man­agers and pro­mot­ers reserves the right to remove, with­out refund or recourse, any exhibitor who mis­rep­re­sents him­self or his prod­uct. In addi­tion, the pro­moter reserves the right not to select ven­dors who may not be suit­able for the market.

The SoWa Open Mar­ket reserves the right to amend or add to the applic­a­ble rules per­tain­ing to and gov­ern­ing the SoWa Open Mar­ket at any time dur­ing and before the oper­at­ing sea­son. All par­tic­i­pat­ing ven­dors at the SoWa Open Mar­ket will be made aware of all addi­tions or amend­ments. The inter­pre­ta­tion of all the rules by the pro­mot­ers shall be final.