Vendor Information Sheet
Thank-you for your interested in being a vendor at the Morden Farmer’s Market. We are looking forward to another very successful year. The Morden Farmer’s Market will be open every Thursday afternoon, June 21 to October 4, 2012 from 4:00pm until 6:30pm. Vendor set-up is between 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. – tear-down no earlier than 6:30 p.m. Regular vendors will have a spot allocated which will be available to them every week. Occasional vendors will be given spots that are available. Vendors must be present and ready to move into their allocated spot no later than 3:00pm. Regular Vendors are required to call the Chamber office at 822-5630 on Thursday before noon if they are not planning to be at the market on any given week. Occasional vendors must call at least one day before the Market to confirm their attendance so that adequate space can be arranged. Vendors must supply their own tables and chairs. Market fees for 2012 are $105.00 for Full season vendors (market members) and $25.00/week for occasional vendors. Once an occasional vendor has attended the market for 5 weeks, no additional fees will be collected. These funds are used for the ongoing administration, advertising and improvement of the market. The Morden Farmer’s Market is now a registered member of the Farmer’s Market Association of Manitoba Co-op Inc. (‘FMAM’). There are many benefits of membership, such as training, conferences, networking etc… There will be no Market Thursday, August 23 to accommodate Corn and Apple Festival set-up. Contact Judy Stambuski at 822-5024 to participate in the Festival Market. Blog Link and Farmer’s Market Page at http//www.mordenchamber.com/morden-farmers-market Please note: vendors not complying with rules and respectful behaviour will be given three warnings before removal from market with no refund. (1st warning-Verbal, 2nd Warning, Written, 3rd removal.)
A few tips for vendors:
Maximize color and texture and use different display equipment to set off your products. Keep your displays full but don’t make them so perfect that customers are afraid to take product for fear of making the whole pile come down. Create ambiance in your stall. Invite your customers into your stall with a u-shaped set-up. When you are at a farmers’ market, you are part of the display. How you portray yourself is as important as what you have for sale. Always be ready to tell your story. Customers want to know how the chicken was raised, how the corn was grown and the story behind the painting. If you receive a customer complaint, make it right even if the customer is wrong. Remember customers tell 3 people about a great customer experience but will tell 10 people if they are dissatisfied. Buy something from another vendor every week. Even if it’s just a cookie, it’s a great way to show support between vendors, and you will get to know the other vendors this way.
Farmer’s Market Policy Updates: Market Mix Policy: The market shall allocate 90% or more vendor display spaces to local farmers and producers. Generally, Manitoba farmer’s markets have a strict MAKE IT – BAKE IT – GROW IT policy. However, the Morden & District Chamber of Commerce (the “Chamber”) will allow up to 10% of the weekly vendor mix to be excused from that policy in order to give home-based businesses an opportunity to promote themselves. In addition, the Chamber shall require vendors to maintain a 90% MAKE IT – BAKE IT – GROW IT mix at their individual displays. For example, books, cookware or spices (10%) that compliment their main products (90%) would be allowed. Market Street Space Policy: Vendor access to the market will be based on a first-come first-served basis where preconfigured street space between Stephen St. and North Railway will determine the maximum number of vendor displays. As such, the market will be deemed full when all the vendor display spaces are occupied. The market coordinator will keep a reservation list so that future vendors may be called on a first-come first-served basis when vendor display spaces become available. For clarity, this policy is not meant to limit the market coordinator’s right to reserve spaces for all regular vendors who have prepaid the annual vendor fee and/or have contacted the market coordinator in advance to advise of their intention to attend on a particular market day.
