Important Information About New Wholesaling Event at our Summer Show

This summer, we have decided to include a wholesaling event to our show! We will be inviting shops from all over the great states of Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho to come check out what our amazing vendors have to offer. Buyers from these shops will have a dedicated event, apart from the throngs of excited shoppers, to shop at your booth and speak to you in a less hectic environment.

This event will take place on Friday afternoon (during what has typically been the early load-in time). Whether or not you want to participate in this awesome opportunity to interact directly with buyers, your load-in options will be Friday morning before the event begins, or Saturday morning during the 2 hours before the doors open to the public.

Extended hours at the Exhibition Hall to accommomdate for this event, in addition to regular annual rent increases, are the reasons you're seeing a higher booth fee than for last year's show.

We have discussed this awesome opportunity with our friends at School House Craft, and they have agreed to develop some courses aimed at wholesaling that will be beneficial if this is all new to you. We want you to all feel ready and confident with line sheets, order forms and knowing how to follow up after you start your new relationships with wholesalers. School House Craft has developed classes such as:

Get Ready for Wholesale
Line Sheet Workshop
Pricing for Profit

and so much more! Find a full list here.

As a student coming from UCU you will receive a 10% discounton any class you sign up for using this code: SHC2013

The are continuously working on their list of courses so if you think of something additional that would help you feel confident at this event, please send Kristen an email that she can relay it to them.

We are so excited about this collaboration and hope that it puts you at the top of your game!

2013 Important Dates:

February 1, 2013

Applications go live for 2013 Summer Show

April 13, 2013

Application Deadline for 2013 Summer Show

April 23, 2013

Vendors announced for 2013 Summer Show

July 13th & 14th, 2013

Urban Craft Uprising Summer Show

August 1, 2013

Applications go live for 2013 Winter Show

December 7th & 8th, 2013

Urban Craft Uprising Winter Show

Frequently Asked Questions

We strongly urge you to read this FAQ in its entirety before submitting an application to one of our shows.

To apply for the show, we need to see photos of your work.

Do you really need to see photos of my work?

Yes. The truth is that these 5 photos are what the UCU team is using to evaluate how your work might compare to others, and whether it is a good fit for our event. Please make sure that these represent the best that you have to offer.

In order for your photos to be processed, please use the following file naming protocol: "businessname_photonumber.jpg"

for example:
CoolTshirtCompany_1.jpg
CoolTshirtCompany_2.jpg
CoolTshirtCompany_3.jpg
CoolTshirtCompany_4.jpg
CoolTshirtCompany_5.jpg

Your application is NOT complete and will NOT be reviewed until you submit your photos. Photos should be representative of the merchandise you'll be selling in your booth. If you include more than 5 photos, they will be deleted and it will not be possible to process your application.

I don't think 5 photos is enough to show my work. Can I send more or photoshop a bunch of images into one composite photo?

Nope. Five gives us a good idea of what you do, and keeps us from spending weeks and weeks jurying applicants.

If you send us more than 5, or take several photos of your goods and paste them together into one document, your files will be automatically deleted and your photos will not be reviewed.

My photos aren't really that important because you'll look at my website and blog, right?

Sorry, but we never ever look at websites or blogs. We make our decisions based entirely upon your currently submitted photos and the information you provide in your application. That's why we tell you that your photos are really, really, really important. Really.

I've been a vendor with Urban Craft Uprising before. I can just send you the same photos I did last time, can't I?

Technically, yes… BUT: if we see the same photos each time you apply, we can sometimes get bored, or left with the impression that your work doesn't change. We'd love to see what you are up to now-a-days so we can better see how you fit into the current show.

More info about the application process:

Can I apply to share a booth with a friend?

Sure, but you each need to fill out the application separately, and will be juried separately. If both of you are accepted, we'll make split booth payment arrangements with you. If one of you gets in, but the other doesn't, we will offer you a space of your own, or try and match you up with another shared booth partner. Also, booth shares can only be 10 x 10 spaces. Please email kristen@urbancraftuprising.com with the business name of your desired booth share after you've finished applying.

I've been a vendor with Urban Craft Uprising before. Do I still need to fill out the application?

Yep! We love all our past vendors but each show is a new show and creating a successful balance of vendors can't be accomplished without all new apps every time.

Is there a quick checklist for what I need to do to apply as a vendor for Urban Craft Uprising?

1) Sign up for our e-mail newsletter
2) Fill out the online application and upload your 5 excellent photos
3) Pay $10 application fee via PayPal
4) Be patient

All about the jurying process:

What do you mean when you say UCU is a juried show? How do you pick who gets in?

Part of what makes Urban Craft Uprising a successful show is the careful selection of vendors we think will create the best balanced and quality show. With previous attendee surveys in hand, we sit down as a team to look at application info and photos and make decisions based on originality, aesthetic, marketability, general appeal, price range, etc. We also consider the variety of the show overall, making sure that we don't have too many similar items or vendors. Take a look at our vendor list and our Flickr pool to get a sense of previous shows.

I've been a vendor with Urban Craft Uprising before so I have a better chance of getting accepted, right?

Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. We love all of our previous vendors but every show is a new show and we believe part of our continued success is that we always, always start entirely from scratch.

How will I know if I get in or not?

Because we receive so many applications, it's no longer possible for us to email each and every applicant with their status. What we do instead is post a "cast list" on our website of the vendors that have been accepted to the show. We announce the posting on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter, etc. If your name is not on the cast list, it's because we didn't feel your work to be a good match for the show and encourage you to try again for the next one.

If I don't get in, will you tell me why?

Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we can't give specific feedback to each person. When time permits, we will respond to respectful inquiries from applicants with details as best we can.

Details about the business side of applying to UCU:

Aside from a booth space, what perks do I receive for being a vendor with UCU?

UCU vendors gain exposure to thousands of potential fans and shoppers. The UCU vendor will have their business name and website listed on the main UCU Vendors page for approximately six months, and archived on our Past Vendors page for the forseeable future. (Web Stats from 2012: over 490K hits and 10,000+ visits per month).

In addition, your business name and booth location will be included in the UCU show program, which will be handed out at the show, and is also inserted in nearly 100,000 copies of our popular local papers (The Stranger or The Seattle Weekly), the week before the show. Vendors will also be given the opportunity to take advantage of additional advertising in this same weekly, at a deep discount.

What are the fees and costs involved in the show?

Required Fees (Summer Show):

Booth Fees ($390 for a 10x10 booth / $290 for a 5 x 10 booth). Vendor provides all tables, chairs and display items.
Contribution of $25 (retail value) worth of swag, OR a $25 swag fee.
Processing fee ($10), included in your booth fee invoice if accepted.

Additional/optional costs may include:

Inclusion in our umbrella business license if you do not have a Seattle City Business License ($10)
Table Rental Fee ($15)
Electricity at your booth ($75)

Why have the booth costs gone up from last year?

Extended hours at the Exhibition Hall to accommomdate for this event, in addition to regular annual rent increases, are the reasons you're seeing a higher booth fee than for last year's show.

We will be working with School House Craft so that our vendors feel well prepared for this amazing opportunity that will allow your work to reach a much vaster audience! If you have any questions about this event before applying, please contact Kristen.

What is your refund policy?

If you are accepted to the show and later decide that you are unable to participate, we will refund your booth fee in full, provided that you let us know six weeks before the show date. No refunds will be offered to vendors who drop out less than six weeks prior to the show.

Is there a penalty for last-minute vendor dropouts?

Yes, because of the huge time burden that goes along with withdrawing a vendor from the show so close to the show date, as well as finding a replacement, there is a $50 penalty for any vendor dropouts that happen within four weeks of the show. Please consider your ability to vend carefully before you commit to the show!

I see that you're asking for my Seattle City Business License. What if I don't have one?

A Seattle City Business License is required for all businesses operating in the city of Seattle. If you do not already have one and your business is operational in the city, you should apply for one right away. All the info you need to do this can be found here.

However, if you do not typically operate your business in Seattle, you may request to be included in our umbrella license which we purchase for out-of-town and temporary vendors. Inclusion in this license costs $10. If you do not have your own Seattle City License, make sure to choose this option on the application.

Even if you think you have this license, but don't happen to have it on you when you fill out the application, you must choose this option. If accepted, and you are then able to provide us with your license number within 1 month of acceptance, we will refund this $10 fee to you.

I'm an out-of-state vendor. Do I still have to collect and pay sales tax?

Yes. All vendors are responsible for paying their own sales tax for business conducted within Washington, regardless of whether they are Washington residents. You may choose to add on sales tax at the time of purchase, or design your pricing system to already include sales tax. Either way, you are responsible for paying the appropriate taxes on revenue collected at the show.

If you are an out-of-state vendor, you must call the Washington State Department of Revenue 1-2 months before the show date, to file a temporary registration for their business.

To do this, call 1.800.647.7706 and let them know that you need a single-event registration for participating in a craft show; they will send you the appropriate paperwork. Or, if you've already obtained a temporary UBI in the past, you can just do it online here.

Are there any special conditions for food vendors?

To be a food vendor, you'll need to have the following available for inspection on the show days:

King County Food Handler's Permit (apply online!)
Temporary Food Service Permit, unless you already have a permit through the county for selling regularly at shows or farmers' markets. This is a fairly simple process (click here, then scroll down to bullet point 2, Temporary Food Service Permit Application, for all the info), and you may even qualify for an exemption, depending on your product. Call our area representative at 206.263.8457 and see if your business may qualify for an exemption.

Please note: While we will not be checking for these permits, there is a good chance that inspectors may be at the show to do so; we highly recommend taking care of this early to avoid last-minute scrambling or penalties.

The Seattle Center has allowed us to use the sink in the concessions stand kitchen to satisfy all hand washing sink requirements outlined by the Health Department.

What is swag?

The reason dozens of shoppers line up at our doors for hours before we open is clear: We are known for our great swag bags. We want to continue that legacy and hope the information below will make our swag contribution guidelines clear.

Of course swag is a tool for promoting you and your business, but this is also something our customers should be excited about.

We want these to be bags full of goodies - real examples of unique, hand-crafted arts and crafts that will be fun for the audience and a great way to reach a new market of interested crafting fans.

Here are a few things that, when contributed alone*, do not meet the $25 swag minimum:

business cards
buttons with your logo or trademark
stickers with your logo or trademark
postcards with your logo or trademark
magnets with your logo or trademark
coupons

* Business cards, stickers, logo buttons and coupons are ok when they are attached to actual swag items. (In the past, we have accepted stacks of cards or coupons to be added to swag bags once your $25 contribution has been met -- we will no longer be doing this and will have to toss these if you include them, so please don't!)

Simply put:

$25 of actual merchandise = required minimum swag contribution

A piece of jewelry (for example) valued at $25+, with a coupon, business card, or promotional item included in the box = awesome

A piece of jewelry valued at $25+, with 500 business cards or coupons to be included in additional swag bags = not awesome

Basically the swag recipient should open that bag and be floored by what awaits them. Things that intrigue the customer to come and see what else you have in store is what we are looking for.

If you really do not want to make your own swag, you have the option to contribute $25 instead, which will be factored into your application fee, and will go towards the purchase of additional swag and swag accessories to be included in our world-famous swag bags.

Note to food vendors: Because of obvious spoilage issues, your swag will be due during Friday load-in, or day of show. If we do not receive your swag at this point, you will be expected to pay the $25 swag fee in cash before doors open to the public.

When I applied, I said I didn't want to rent a table, but now I do. Is this possible?

Up until a month before the show, you may email us with your requests regarding table rentals, electricity, booth size, etc., and we will do our best to accommodate. However, once we've hit the four-week mark, service orders have been finalized and the booth map has been set, so we will be unable to grant any changes to your booth setup at that point.

A few more tidbits you should know:

I see all kinds of email addresses on your website. Would you like me to sign you all up for my newsletter?

No. Please, please don't do that. We will absolutely notice you, but not in the way you were hoping for. We are overwhelmed with correspondence already and if you sign us up for your newsletter without our permission it makes us more overwhelmed, and very very sad.

Can I volunteer at Urban Craft Uprising?

Yes. We love our Street Team, and would be happy to have you join us... even if you just want to pass out postcards in your neighborhood before the show! Drop an email to kristen@urbancraftuprising.com to get on our volunteer list.

How do I become a sponsor of Urban Craft Uprising?

Being a sponsor gets you in front of a large and growing community of crafters and artists, and their fans. This year, you get "two for the price of one" as we now have an exciting new Summer show as well as our big annual show in December.

We have sponsorship options from small to large for any type of business. Please send an email to kristen@urbancraftuprising.com to get the details.

I've read this whole FAQ, but my question isn't here. What should I do?

Double check the FAQ, and if you still can't find your answer, go ahead and email kristen@urbancraftuprising.com and ask away!

I want to send you money but I forget how. What is your Paypal address?

Please make all Paypal application and booth payments to payment@urbancraftuprising.com.

*****Important Information About New Wholesaling Event at our Summer Show*****