How can I make myself stand out as an applicant?

We look for vendors who have an excellent web presence. The more we learn about your business from your website and social media, the better. Vendors don’t need thousands of followers on Instagram or a website, but we do look for vendors who are active online.

We want to see photos of your items to see if they fit with the market.

What categories are most competitive?

The category that typically faces the highest level of competition is food and bakery, comprising approximately 25% of all applicants, with the majority of them being bakers. Additionally, jewelry and clothing are other categories that receive a substantial number of applicants.

How involved are the venues with the vendor selection process?

It varies! Certain venues collaborate with us to select vendors and have a particular vision for their market, while others grant us full creative control over the market.

Why wasn’t I selected as a vendor?

As small business owners and fellow market vendors, we know it’s a bummer to get waitlisted or not get accepted to a market.

Numerous factors can lead to a vendor not being chosen, including a high number of applicants vying for limited positions, a scarcity of product photos for us to review, or an imbalance in the number of applicants within your category.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still apply for future markets.

If I’m selected as a vendor for one market, am I “in” for all future markets?

Just because you've been approved for one market doesn't guarantee selection for all future markets. Our goal is to ensure we choose the best vendors for each market, offering a diverse range of products so shoppers can discover something new every time they visit a Handmade Dayton market.