Vendor Information
ucu show logistics
winter show 2025
Load-In: Friday, December 5th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Vendor load-in will begin at 10:00 a.m. (and no earlier!). We’ll be sending out an email for load-in time requests a few weeks after notification emails are sent, and we’ll be publishing the load-in schedule a couple weeks after that. Please show up at your designated time, and be sure to account for the fact that traffic can be INSANE in Seattle on Friday afternoons. If you will be coming from out of town (even from Portland) we recommend driving up a day early to account for this. The more everyone adheres to this schedule, the more smoothly load-in will go for all of us.
Ex Hall Loading Map (look for “Gate 7” and “Loading Area”)
We strongly recommend bringing a hand truck if you have a lot of stuff to haul! We will have volunteers on hand to help out, but bringing a buddy if you are able is always a good idea. This is a very long ramp so hand trucks and extra hands can be extremely helpful for load-in!
When you arrive, a Seattle Center guard will be regulating traffic in and out of the loading area. Please wait for instructions from them and proceed as directed. Once in the loading area (entrance via Republican Street — see map and directions below), you can find a Seattle Center dolly (there are 4-5 available), or if you have your own hand cart, begin unloading and wheeling your stuff up the ramp as quickly as you can. We will have some volunteers on hand to help out but they could already be helping other vendors. If you would like help, free to ask at check-in so we can send someone as soon as someone is available.
At the top of the ramp you’ll see Vendor Check-In. Please be sure to stop here first before proceeding to your booth space. Once in a blue moon a vendor begins setting up before checking in only to discover they are in the wrong spot so please do yourself a solid and check-in first! Once you do so, unload your gear in your booth space as quickly as possible, and return to your car to move it out of the loading area. Once you have reparked your car, you may return to your booth to begin your setup.
You must be finished setting up your booth by 4:30 p.m. AT THE LATEST. We will be opening doors for Preview Night promptly at 5:00 p.m. and you must be ready to sell when this happens. Shoppers will be eager! Be sure you give yourself a chance to eat something, drink some water, and use the bathroom before 5:00.
Saturday Booth Refresh: Saturday, December 6th, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
You are welcome to come as early as 8:00 a.m. to refresh your booth for a full day of vending, before doors open at 10:00.
Showtime! Saturday, december 6th, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sell lots of stuff! Make lots of money and new customers!
VENDOR HAPPY HOUR
Join us right after doors close on Saturday night for our much-loved vendor happy hour! This Saturday night tradition is a great way to catch up with old friends, meet some new ones, and swap stories from the day. This will be taking place at The Maxwell Hotel, which is just a couple of blocks from the venue. Head on over after you close down your booth and we’ll see ya there!
Sunday Morning Vendor Time: Sunday, december 7th, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
On Sunday, all vendors will be allowed back in the building at 8:00 a.m. You’ll probably want to freshen up your booth and restock, but this is also a great time to shop and trade with other vendors, so be sure to come early so you have time to do so! We’ll be handing out fun little trading cards at check-in in case you’re shy about asking other vendors for trades.
Showtime! Sunday, december 7th, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tear-Down: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
You may begin tearing down your booth at 5:00 p.m., and no earlier.
We will not be assigning load-out times on this end of things. Instead, you will first pack up your booth completely, then come see us at the check-out table in the back to receive your load-out pass. You’ll need this pass to get your car past the guard booth at the top of the entrance to the loading dock, so make sure you don’t dash out to get your car without checking out with us first.
Once you are 100% packed up, bring your load over to the back loading ramp using hand trucks or dollies, where we will have volunteers stationed to watch your things while you retrieve your car.
To reiterate: You are NOT allowed to get your vehicle until your booth space is empty, and your goods are at the load zone.
Maps and Driving Directions to the Exhibition Hall
Driving Directions: Set your sights on 301 Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98109 (cross streets are 3rd Ave. & Mercer). The Ex Hall doesn’t have an official address, so you can also try Googling “McCaw Hall” (the Ballet that is just above the Ex Hall) if you’re unable to find it using that address.