vendor "to do" list
1. Create a Vendor Account & Request your Market Dates
From the welcome email, create a vendor account with your email address, and request your market dates from your vendor account dashboard. We'll send you an email confirming the availability of your requested dates. Please note that market dates are not guaranteed until paid (see below for payment info).
2. Watch your inbox for an email from the Flea with your approved/assigned dates
Haven't received an email after a day or two? If you have Gmail, check your promotions folder and if the email is there, drag it to your Primary folder. If you have another email host (yahoo, aol, etc.) check your junk mail folder and move it to your inbox. If your dates are not available because a market or market category is full, you will have the option to choose other dates or be waitlisted for your first choice date(s) or both.
3. Guarantee your dates with payment by paying your invoice located in your Vendor Account
Log in to your Vendor Account here and pay your invoice(s) located at the bottom of your vendor dashboard in the "Vendor Status" section. Click on "Pay now" to pay the invoice and click on the arrow/inbox icon to view and download the invoice and a paid receipt. Please note your dates are not guaranteed until payment is received. PLEASE CHECK YOUR DATES CAREFULLY. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS AFTER PAYMENT. Per the vendor agreement, we don't offer refunds after payment, but with at least two day's notice we will reschedule a paid vendor and apply payment to a future Flea, pending availability, with a $25 rescheduling fee.
4. Required: Flea Market Vendor Permit from the RI Division of Taxation
Vendors selling taxable items will be issued a "Flea Market Vendor Permit" at your first market.
EVEN if you have a RI retail sales/use permit, the State or RI Division of Taxation still requires this of vendors selling taxable items.
You must bring a check or money order for $10 payable to the RI Division of Taxation. NO CASH ACCEPTED.
YOU WILL NEED A PERMIT IF: you're selling candles, soap or apothecary/cosmetic items, plants, clothing AND non-clothing items together, vintage items, upcycled furniture, memorabilia, or other taxable items.
YOU WILL NOT NEED A PERMIT IF: you're an artist or maker (except soap, candles, apothecary items) selling only your handmade works, or you are not selling anything (some nonprofits).
YOU WILL NOT NEED A MOBILE VENDOR LICENSE ("PEDDLER'S LICENSE") FOR THE INDOOR MARKETS. Please disregard the text on the invoice indicating otherwise.
5. Required: Liability Insurance for Soap, Apothecary, Henna, Massage, Facepainting
This year the Flea will require all vendors of soap, apothecary and cosmetic items as well as henna artists to have General/Product Liability Insurance. You will need to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming the Flea as an Additional Insured, similar to the requirement of food vendors. Read more here.
6. Indoor Markets (Winter/Spring):
Vendors are required to bring their own table, chairs, and set-up. The Flea does not provide or rent these. All booths require table coverings that hide anything stored under their tables. Vendors may use their tent canopies if desired, but may not use tent canopies which are a violation of the RI Fire Safety Code.
7. Outdoor Markets (Summer/Fall):
A 10' x 10' market tent or craft vendor tent (preferably white) is REQUIRED this year due to the lack of shade/shelter on the Greenway and each tent requires tent weights at a minimum of 120 lbs total (minimum 30 lbs. per leg, suggested 40 lbs.). See more on Outdoor Markets preparation below. *
8. Site Map & Set-up Info
Upon receipt of your payment, we'll send set-up, parking and site map information closer the week before your market date(s). Let us know if you have any questions at info@providenceflea.com or call us at 401-484-7783.
9. Food Vendors Indoors
In advance of your first set-up, we require food vendors to upload to their vendor dashboard copies of required licensing, valid for the current year and in the name of the owner or business. Please see the list of requirements here.
*OUTDOOR MARKETS
Wind and inclement weather are an inherent risk in vending at outdoor markets. You can mitigate that risk by being prepared.
You must have 120 LBS. TOTAL IN TENT WEIGHTS (30 LBS. PER LEG MINIMUM REQUIRED, 40 LBS. RECOMMENDED).
We will check your weight bags at check-in.
We strongly recommend vinyl tent weight bags (see below) filled with sand or beach stones. They must be firmly fastened and tethered to the tent frame with bungee cords or tie-down straps at the top of the tent frame. No exceptions on weights and fasteners.
NOT ALLOWED, NO EXCEPTIONS: Collar weights, cement blocks, stuffed shopping totes, water jugs, 5-gallon buckets, lifting weights, 5-Lb kitty litter tubs, sandbags, tent legs fastened to tables, etc., No exceptions!
WHERE TO BUY
Big box stores and the Ocean State Job Lot usually have the best prices on sturdy tents with white canopies. Weight bags that actually hold sufficient weight are mostly found on Amazon.com. If you can't find weights, we have limited sets of four tent weight bags with a set of white bungee cords available for $25 for Flea vendors only. Please email us asap for more info.
