Vendor Orientation is April 30, 2013 at 6:30 pm at the Fort Dodge Public Library

Location

Market on Central includes the area of Historic Downtown Fort Dodge along Central Avenue between N. 7th and N. 10th Streets, including the area between the Alley south of Central Avenue to the Alley north of Central Avenue, all sidewalks within, and including the area known as “the Plaza” at 9th and Central, as shown on the map provided with the annually approved Special Event permit.

Time

Market hours of operation are 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The 2013 market season will be the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from June to September, 2013.

Applications for 2013 Market on Central

Applications for the 2013 season will be accepted beginning November 15, 2012.  First priority will be extended to 2012 vendors. Applications must include payment to be considered. Market Management has the right to refuse any application. Click here for 2013 registration information and forms.

Schedule

All vendors must check in with the Market Host at their pre-assigned entrance point. An organized line up of vendors is required at 6:30 am, to best coordinate set-up. Vendor loading and unloading must be completed by 7:45 am at which time vendor should be ready to sell. No late set up will be allowed. For the safety of both customers and vendors, no movement of vehicles will be allowed after 7:45 am. No sales will be allowed prior to the 8:00am opening signal or after the 1:00 pm closing signal, with the exception of Vendor to Vendor purchases. Tear down and clean-up must be completed by 2:00 pm. No early tear down is allowed. Business will be conducted rain or shine/regardless of weather conditions as long as they are not severe as determined by Market Management.

Parking

One vehicle allowed per vendor. Parking of vehicle must be contained within the space(s) assigned. All vehicles not a part of the display must be removed by 7:45 am. No vehicles may be parked on the sidewalk at any time.

Space Allotment

Assignment of vendor locations will be determined by the Market management. Individually marked spaces will equal one assignment space. Stall assignments will be made on the basis of the space needed, size, and electrical needs. Assignment will be made with vendors interspersed throughout the market rather than grouped in similar product areas. This will create more traffic throughout the Market. Vendors may not ‘sub-lease’ to or share their space with any other person or group. Only the registered vendor is allowed to occupy and/or conduct business in the registered space.

Requirements

  1. Awnings/Tents and Tables/Display Racks are required. Tablecloths are required on all tables. Awnings/Tents must be weighted down with adequate poundage on each leg/pole.
  2. No boxes, garbage, etc. may be visible from the front of the booth. Space must be tidy throughout the market day.
  3. Vendors must provide a trash receptacle, within their booth, and trash bags. Each vendor is responsible for cleaning their own space(s) and either taking away the garbage/debris or placing it in available receptacles provided by the Market.
  4. A suitable appearance, as determined by Market management, must be projected throughout the Market day. A Vendor Number Sign, provided by Market Management, must be displayed and visible to customers.
  5. All vendors must have a 50 Amp RV Plug as their standard electric plug in.
  6. All Vendors are required to attend vendor orientation.
  7. The primary vendor must be 18 years or older. Workers under 18 years must be supervised by the primary vendor at all times. Children under 12 years are not allowed in vendor space.

Prohibited Within the Market Boundaries

The following activities are prohibited within the identified boundaries of the Market. Violations shall be determined at the sole discretion of the on-site Market Management.

  1. No alcohol or drugs are to be consumed. Samples from approved, licensed vendors are permitted but may not be carried outside of the boundaries of the registered vendor space(s).
  2. No undesirable or illegal behavior will be tolerated
  3. No animals, except registered service animals, are allowed.
  4. No smoking is allowed.
  5. No bicycles, skateboards, motorcycles, roller blades are allowed to be ridden/operated.
  6. No hand-bills/flyers/leaflets may be distributed without prior approval of Market Management.
  7. No political activities are allowed.
  8. No petitioning is allowed.
  9. Shirt and shoes are required.
  10. Inappropriate Language is not permitted.

Fees

Payment is required with application. The single space vendor fee is $240 for the eight (8) Saturday season ($30 per space, per Saturday) and guarantees the same location each week. Applications are taken on a first come, first served basis. A waiting list will be maintained for pending applications and spaces will be filled from the list if and as space becomes available. Single space vendor fees for any applications less than a full season (eight (8) Saturdays) will be at a cost of $40 per week and will be added to the waiting list. Fees are non-refundable. Vendors qualifying as a VIP Vendor (see details below) a refund of up to $30 at the end of the season may apply.

Vendor Incentive Program (VIP)

Vendor Incentive Program (VIP) is available to all full-season vendors that have paid in full prior to the start of the first Market date. In order to qualify, a vendor must arrive and check-in on time (6:30 AM), attend as scheduled (8 weekends), and consistently follow the rules and regulations of Market on Central.

At the end of the season, each vendor qualifying as a VIP, will be granted a credit for the following Market season in the amount equal to the fee for a single vendor space ($30). Market management will track vendor performance and determine eligibility at their sole discretion. Additional benefits of earning VIP status may include additional advertising, highlights on the Market’s website, and other incentives as determined by the Market Management.

Permits/Licenses/Taxes

The Market on Central will follow the Iowa Code and The City of Fort Dodge requirements. The Market will make an annual request for a City of Fort Dodge Special Events Permit that will cover all vendors selling at the Market. Individual vendors are not required to obtain any other City permits, unless they will be vending elsewhere in the City. Vendors are responsible for obtaining licenses for hazardous food products and meeting State food safety requirements. Vendors shall maintain, at their expense, comprehensive general liability insurance with policy limits not less than a combined single limit for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury liability of $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate, and provide proof of this insurance to the Market Management with their application. Vendors are responsible for obtaining a State of Iowa Sales Tax Permit and filing proper reports and paying all tax due on taxable sales.

Merchandise

Seventy percent (70%) of the product sold at Market on Central will be original or locally made, grown, or created in Iowa or within a close proximity to the borders of Iowa by the approved vendor. The products allowed for sale at the Market on Central are:

  1. Honey packaged by the vendor.
  2. Meat produced by the vendor and packed at a State or federally approved facility.
  3. Eggs produced by the vendor and sold according to State or Federal regulations.
  4. Fresh fruits and vegetables grown by the vendor.
  5. Flowers, trees, plants and other similar types of vegetation grown by the vendor.
  6. Baked goods made by the vendor that are not potentially hazardous unless the vendor has purchased a license to sell potentially hazardous food from a Public Health official.
  7. Crafts items made by the vendor.
  8. Art work crafted by the vendor.
  9. Sales of wine from vineyards may be allowed as long as the vendor has the proper license.
  10. Potentially hazardous food products must be shelf-stable, sold for consumption off premise, and must not require refrigeration. (Examples include, but are not limited to, jams, jellies, dried noodles, pasta.)
  11. Vendors of food for consumption on the market site. Examples include donuts, coffee, hot dogs, tacos, funnel cakes, etc. Vendors of food for consumption are subject to permit, regulation, and inspection by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
  12. Any other merchandise approved by Market management that is made, grown or crafted by the vendor.

Merchandise sold at the Market on Central must meet all state and federal health guidelines. Any food product that is deemed potentially hazardous must be approved by an appropriate Health Department official. If you are selling product by weight, you must have an NTEP or Class 3 Certified Scale. The acceptance of food stamps will be left up to the individual vendor. Products purchased from other vendors or businesses may not be resold at the Market. Each vendor application will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the type and quality of the products sold and their relevance to the goals of the Market. The Market reserves the right to limit the number of vendors in each category. Market management will determine compliance at the time of application.

Entertainment

Market management will be responsible for selecting and approving entertainment.

All forms of entertainment will be considered. A variety of acts is desired.

Groups or individuals must apply to participate in the market entertainment. No group or individual entertainment will be allowed without management approval. Entertainment applications must be submitted prior to each Market event. A theme or focus maybe used to guide the selection of entertainment. Application must include a description of the performance and genre of the material to be performed. Language, appearance and content of material must be acceptable to community standards for general audiences of all ages and may not include profanity, obscenity, or sexually suggestive content. No illegal or inappropriate entertainment will be allowed, and will be determined by the Market management. Individuals and/or groups performing at the Market may display promotional materials related to future performances and sell, without vendor fee, merchandise related to their performance such as CD’s, DVD’s and t-shirts or posters.

Market Ambassadors

Market Ambassadors can represent any service organization or volunteer group able and willing to assist with the following:

  1. Market Ambassadors will provide a warm welcome to Market customers. They meet and greet people entering Market boundaries, distribute Market Maps, help enforce market rules, and assist in counting patrons of the Market.
  2. Ambassadors will be requested to volunteer for the duration of the Market.
  3. Ambassadors are asked to arrive on-site at least 15 minutes before a scheduled shift.
  4. Ambassadors will be located at the six (6) entrance points of Market on Central. Ideally we would like to see 2 people stationed at each entrance point.
  5. Ambassadors are permitted to promote their company, organization or cause on clothing worn during the Market on Central.
  6. Ambassadors are encouraged to bring chairs, umbrellas, water, or other items to make themselves comfortable for their stay during Market.
  7. Any materials distributed by Ambassadors must be approved prior to distribution. Typically, only events or community activities are permitted to hand out materials. No sales, political, petitions, or religious materials will be permitted.
  8. Ambassadors are not permitted to sell any products.
  9. Political and religious advocacy organizations are excluded from participating.
  10. If an Ambassador organization cannot participate in an allotted time frame, Market management must be given at least two (2) weeks verbal notice.

Loss of Privilege

A reprimand will be issued to any vendor for violating any rules or regulations which may be verbal or in writing, and may limit further participation in the Market. The Market management will enforce this rule, all fees are non-refundable, and all Market management decisions are final.

Disclaimer

The Market on Central management may change these rules and regulations at their discretion at anytime and without prior notice.

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