Booth Boss: Vendors Don’t Belong to Us
Today I had the opportunity to help an injured vendor set up at another local market. I was not there representing my own events. I was simply there helping someone who needed an extra set of hands. While setting up, I met the event organizer. Instead of pretending not to know the industry or quietly […]
Booth Boss: Stop Paying for Electricity (Seriously)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen vendors get hit with electricity fees… …but this one took the cake. I was at a venue once where we were told it would be $125 just to use an outlet. For an outlet. Needless to say, that was a quick “no.” And honestly? It got […]
Pricing Handmade Products: How to Charge What Your Work Is Worth
If you’ve ever stood behind your booth thinking, “Are my prices too high… or too low?” — you’re not alone. Pricing handmade products is one of the biggest challenges makers face. You’re not just selling an item—you’re selling your time, your skill, and your creativity. Here’s how to price your handmade goods with confidence (and […]
Phone Use at Made in Iowa Markets – Please Read
A few weeks ago, I was about to watch a movie on a plane when a message popped up reminding me to check my surroundings because some content may not be appropriate for those seated nearby. It made me think about our markets. We never want vendors sitting with “down time.” There is always something […]
Raising Entrepreneurial Kids: Practical Market Lessons for Parents
I’m a serial entrepreneur — and apparently I always have been. My first side business started when I was about four years old, picking dandelions and selling them to neighbors who were more than happy to pay a few coins for a tidy yard. I didn’t know words like pricing, margins, or customer service — […]
Booth Boss Blog: How Made in Iowa Curates Vendors (and Why It Matters)
Made in Iowa markets are curated events, not first-come, first-served vendor shows. Our goal is to create a balanced, high-quality shopping experience for customers while also protecting vendor success. If you’ve ever wondered how vendors are selected—or why a market may not be the right fit—here’s a transparent look at how the process works. Start […]
Why Great Photos Matter: A Guide for Made in Iowa Vendors
One of the most common reasons vendors are declined for Made in Iowa markets isn’t the quality of their work — it’s the quality of their photos. You may have poured countless hours into perfecting your product, but if your photographs don’t clearly and professionally represent that work, we can’t confidently promote you. Photos are […]
Booth Boss Blog: How Not to Get Invited Back to a Market
We don’t love writing posts like this—but it’s necessary. Over the years, we’ve made the decision not to invite certain vendors back to our markets. It’s never personal, and it’s rarely about the product itself. This is a small world, and market organizers talk. We regularly get calls from other organizers asking, “Would you recommend […]
How to Evaluate a Market: Is This Event Right for You?
One of the most important (and often expensive) lessons vendors learn is this:Not every market is right for every vendor. That doesn’t mean the market is bad.It doesn’t mean you failed.It simply means that markets—like vendors—are all different. Event organizers design markets for specific audiences, and vendors have different goals, time commitments, and reasons for […]
Booth Boss Blog: How to Be the Vendor Every Event, Market, and Client Wants Back
This isn’t just about markets. The same behaviors that get vendors invited back to events are the ones that get freelancers rehired, artists recommissioned, and small businesses recommended. Whether you’re selling at a market, working a pop-up, partnering with a venue, or collaborating with another business, the rules are remarkably consistent. If you want to […]