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. Refer to the market description in your vendor account for cancellation policies for the applicable market.
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. Valid for a 30-day period, issued at the Flea!
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 ALSO NEED A CITY OF PROVIDENCE MOBILE VENDOR LICENSE (formerly "PEDDLER'S LICENSE") FOR THE OUTDOOR MARKETS.
Vendors selling at the outdoor markets will be issued this license at your first market. This license is $10 annually (valid May through April).
5. Required: Liability Insurance for Soap, Apothecary, Henna, Massage, Food
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 (new Covid restrictions apply) that hide anything stored under their tables. Vendors may not use tents with canopies or tent frames indoors--it's a violation of the RI Fire Safety Code.
7. Outdoor Markets (Summer/Fall):
A 10' x 10' market tent or craft vendor tent is REQUIRED 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 [email protected] 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 the new "ingot" bar weights or vinyl tent weight bags (see below) filled with sand or smooth 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. Collar weights are NOT allowed and are not reliable. If a strong wind shakes your tent, they can fall off and are pretty useless because they can't be secured to the tent leg.
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!
WHAT AND 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. Make sure they indicate individual weight capacity of a MINIMUM of 30 lbs required (40 lbs recommended), so that you're not overstuffing them and wearing them out prematurely.
The new "ingot weights" below are probably the best on the market right now, but they're expensive at about $75 per set of 4 on Amazon. BUT, you'll need 8 total because they are only 15 lbs each. They can be stacked, and as the ad says, they're small and unobtrusive. An added benefit is, because they are plastic, they can be easily hosed off if they get muddy or a dog pees on them! They are also made in the USA. Woot.
(***We are not an affiliate and don't receive any compensation. for our recommendations.)
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. Refer to the market description in your vendor account for cancellation policies for the applicable market.
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. Valid for a 30-day period, issued at the Flea!
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 ALSO NEED A CITY OF PROVIDENCE MOBILE VENDOR LICENSE (formerly "PEDDLER'S LICENSE") FOR THE OUTDOOR MARKETS.
Vendors selling at the outdoor markets will be issued this license at your first market. This license is $10 annually (valid May through April).
5. Required: Liability Insurance for Soap, Apothecary, Henna, Massage, Food
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 (new Covid restrictions apply) that hide anything stored under their tables. Vendors may not use tents with canopies or tent frames indoors--it's a violation of the RI Fire Safety Code.
7. Outdoor Markets (Summer/Fall):
A 10' x 10' market tent or craft vendor tent is REQUIRED 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 [email protected] 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 the new "ingot" bar weights or vinyl tent weight bags (see below) filled with sand or smooth 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. Collar weights are NOT allowed and are not reliable. If a strong wind shakes your tent, they can fall off and are pretty useless because they can't be secured to the tent leg.
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!
WHAT AND 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. Make sure they indicate individual weight capacity of a MINIMUM of 30 lbs required (40 lbs recommended), so that you're not overstuffing them and wearing them out prematurely.
The new "ingot weights" below are probably the best on the market right now, but they're expensive at about $75 per set of 4 on Amazon. BUT, you'll need 8 total because they are only 15 lbs each. They can be stacked, and as the ad says, they're small and unobtrusive. An added benefit is, because they are plastic, they can be easily hosed off if they get muddy or a dog pees on them! They are also made in the USA. Woot.
(***We are not an affiliate and don't receive any compensation. for our recommendations.)
