South Bend Artisan Market Rules & FAQ’s

Date: March 8-9, 2025

Shopping Hours: 

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location: 

Century Center 

120 Doctor M.L.K. Jr. BLVD

South Bend, IN 46601

a. To apply, visit southbendartisanmarket.com and click VENDOR SUBMISSION INFORMATION on the homepage. Please review the details within the application and the vendor FAQ page carefully prior to applying and reach out if you have any questions.

b. We accept vendors on a rolling basis. Spaces are ONLY guaranteed once payment is received.

c. Due to category limitations, vendors may only sell items that were presented on the original application. 

• i. Any additional items that a vendor would like to add needs to be approved by the event coordinator prior to setup date.
• ii. Any products on display that have not been approved by the event coordinator must be immediately removed from the vendor display.

d. Accepted vendors will receive their acceptance letter via email within approximately 5 business days after the application has been received. They will then have 5 business days to confirm their acceptance of all terms and arrange payment. 

e. If you skip questions, or do not include enough information, we may be unable to evaluate your business to determine your acceptance. 

• i. If you do not receive a response within 7 business days after your submission, please call: 574-273-9300 x247 to check on your application.
• ii. Please be sure to check your spam and junk email folders for your response letter.

a. Booth space locations are subject to change by administrator. 

• i. Change of booth location is not grounds for refund of fees. 
• iii. Numerous factors go into determining the layout, it is not based on first come first serve.

b. Booth fees are $150 per 10x10 space.

• i. We ask that you please measure any tent or trailer appropriately and select the correct amount of booth space you will need.
• ii. Displays, tables, awnings or other extensions of a renter that go out beyond the 10x10 rented space will be moved or removed. 
• iii. If a vendor arrives during setup and needs more space than originally requested, additional fees may apply.

c. Electricity is $50 in advance & $75 day of event.

d. Limited extra tables can be provided for an additional $5 (table sizes are determined by availability).

e. Currently there are no one-day only booth spaces available.

f. This is an inside event.

g. Tables, chairs, and electricity are provided by companies other than the organizer and we cannot guarantee that other companies will be set up prior to the event or that they will respond in a timely manner to late requests. 

a. Deadline for applications is February 22, 2025; applications after this date will only be accepted if there is space available.

b. After accepted, payment MUST be made in full to reserve your space and be included in social media and website presence.

a. Layout and booth locations are subject to change as determined by the event coordinator.

• i. A tentative layout will be sent out the week of the event. 
• ii. Spaces are assigned by the event coordinator and are not guaranteed.

b. All special requests need to be submitted with application to be considered and are on a first come first serve basis after payment is made.

• i. There is no guarantee that special placement requests will be feasible or honored. 

a. Food Vendors are responsible for all applicable permits. 

• i. Failure to obtain appropriate permits is the full responsibility of the renter. 

b. All Food Vendors must check with the St. Joseph Co. Health Department prior to the event to obtain proper permits for what they are selling. If you are selling food items that need to be kept cold or hot, you must contact St. Joseph County Health Department at 574-235-9750. You have 7 days prior to the event to obtain your proper permits to sell at the South Bend Artisan Market. Home Based Vendor Law (Indiana) and Cottage Law (Michigan) applies. 

c. Please bring proof of your paperwork to the market in case you are asked for it by event administrators or the Health Department. 

d. If you are selling any type of food items, please just double check with the St. Joseph Co. Health Department to make sure you have the proper permits for the South Bend Artisan Market Weekend.

a. Vendors MUST give a minimum of 30 calendar days (by 2/8/25) written notice (via email) prior to the Saturday event date if unable to attend to be eligible for a full refund.

b. If cancellation happens between 2/8/25-2/22/25; vendors are subject to an advertising/marketing fee of 25% of their total invoiced booth fee, as well as a refund processing fee of $10.

c. After 2/22/25 no refunds will be granted & vendors will be responsible for full invoices amount even if they are a no show.

a. Setup will be Friday, March 7th, 2025, starting at 2:00PM (EST). 

• i. There will be no early admittance for setup before 2:00PM.
  • 1. Exception: trucks & trailers must arrange setup in advance to be able to get into the building. 
• ii. Upon arrival, please check in with a staff member (loading dock, front doors, or overhead doors) to ensure you have the correct booth space prior to setup, as changes may happen at the last minute. 

b. Setup on Saturday, March 8th is available to a limited number of vendors only. 

• i. Setup MUST be completed no later than 9:00AM March 8th or you will forfeit your booth space with no refunds. 

c. The Artisan Market opens to the public promptly at 10AM on Saturday and Sunday, if you have not arrived or notified us by 9:00AM we will remove your space – with no refunds.

d. Vendors are responsible for all their own setup and breakdown needs. Should you need to bring additional help with load-in or tear-down you are welcome to bring any help you need. 

e. No booths or displays may be taken down or removed prior to 3PM, Sunday, March 9th. Like any other business, hours of operation are vital, we ask that you keep your commitment to us as well as the customers attending the South Bend Artisan Market. 

a. Vendor fees cover the costs associated with producing the South Bend Artisan Market, including but not limited to, marketing and advertising, space and venue rentals, permit fees, security, table and chair rentals, pipe and drape (where applicable), onsite staff, insurance, website, mailing list costs and various other expenses. 

a. Yes. A maximum of two vendors per 10x10 space is permitted. Each prospective vendor will need to submit individual applications. Please include the vendor’s name you wish to share a space with on your application. Should one vendor be accepted and the other not, the accepted vendor is able to continue with their own 10x10 space. 

a. Yes. Apply for as many spaces as you need. Again, please measure tents and trailers to ensure you are reserving the correct amount of space. Each 10x10 space is $150.

a. The South Bend Artisan Market will be promoted via traditional advertising channels – radio, television, print, etc. As well as virtually via e-mail blasts, website, and social media. 

b. All vendors will receive a logo/photo with link to their respective web or social media sites on southbendartisanmarket.com.

c. All vendors are asked to collaborate with the marketing efforts via their professional/personal marketing channels (social media, e-blasts, word-of-mouth) to cross-promote the Artisan Market. 

a. An ‘Artisan Market’ is defined as – a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand. We are looking for a majority of vendors that fit that description. 

b. With the size of our market, we will also take innovators, designers, and entrepreneurs who are promoting their local businesses which may include resale items. We are also accepting sponsors for the event. 

c. Due to category limitations, vendors may only sell items that were presented on the original application. 

a. Sound Management is not responsible for insuring vendor items or displays and cannot accept responsibility for theft or damage. 

a. Vendor parking during the show is available in the Crowe parking lot across the street starting Saturday morning at no charge. Otherwise, it is $5 per vehicle during show hours per the Century Center policy. Additional free parking is available in the surrounding downtown South Bend area. 

b. We ask that Vendors utilize the Crowe Parking Lot during the event so that shoppers will be able to park close to the event. 

c. There is no overnight parking in the Century Center lot. 

d. Vendors must obey all posted parking signs; this includes handicapped parking spaces during load-in and load-out. 

a. Two wristbands will be supplied to each vendor into the show. Additional passes may be purchased at the door for $5. 

b. Children 12 and under enter at no charge. 

a. Any abusive behavior towards customers, other vendors, or event staff will result in immediate removal from the event with no refund and will no longer receive invitations to participate in future events. 

b. Sound Management and the Century Center reserve the right to expel or refuse admittance to any vendor or customer who violates any market rules or exhibits disruptive behavior. 

c. No vendor will be allowed to walk around and sample out their goods. 

d. Walkways must be kept clear for customers.

e. Vendors are responsible for cleaning their areas prior to leaving.

f. Be aware of neighboring vendors, and their displays. Set up your booth in a way that does not block a customer’s view of your neighbor. 

g. Please keep all displays within your defined booth space.

h. Please plan for an assistant to help have your booth managed at all hours that the market is open.

i. There is no smoking on the property.

j. Any vendor or customer caught shaming other vendors, customers, the Century Center, or Sound Management via word of mouth, social media, or any other forms of communication, will be grounds for removal from the event and rejection from future events.

a. All items for sale must be legal in the state of Indiana. Sound reserves the right to restrict the sale of any inappropriate items at their sole discretion. 

b. All vendors are responsible for filing their own state tax records in the state of Indiana.

c. SOUND cannot guarantee foot traffic at this event.

• i. We have seen between 2500 and 4500 attendees at past events, but past performance does not guarantee traffic for this event.

d. SOUND cannot guarantee that shoppers will spend money with individual booth venders. 

• i. While we hope that every vender does a reasonable amount of business, SOUND cannot be held responsible for the spending of participants. 

e. Constructive criticism is appreciated.

• i. Rudeness, profanity, or other forms of abuse will not be tolerated and could be grounds for booth removal. 
• ii. Social media shaming will not be tolerated and will be grounds for removal from this event and rejection from future events.