How Vendors Should Categorize Booth Fees and Jury Fees on Their Taxes
A great question was asked today, and it’s one we hear often from vendors preparing for tax season. If you sell at markets, fairs, or juried shows, you’ve likely paid booth fees and application (jury) fees throughout the year. When tax time comes, many vendors aren’t sure where these expenses belong. Here’s a clear, practical way […]
No Photos Please
Today we answer a reader question: Q. My question is what is the best way to handle those people who slide up to my booth and snap a sly photo of my crafts, but never pick up a business card, just slink away. Usually I just keep quiet. But sometimes they come right out and ask […]
When Other Events Bad-Mouth You in Public (and You’re Just Trying to Do Your Job)
This past weekend—Small Business Saturday AND Artists Sunday—we held our market with 177 registered vendors.Despite the winter weather, 155 vendors showed up from across Eastern Iowa.27 canceled, and we fully supported their decisions. Safety first, always. While other markets chose to close, we were the only event that stayed open.And here’s the amazing part: The […]
Local Holiday Markets Give Home-Based Entrepreneurs a Vital Lifeline During the Busiest Shopping Season of the Year
While November and December are widely recognized as the biggest shopping period of the year, thousands of home-based entrepreneurs across Iowa have traditionally been left out. Without storefronts, most bakers, crafters, artists, and makers simply cannot participate in a shopping season designed to uplift small businesses. But across Iowa, holiday markets – large and small […]
Iowa Sales Tax: A Simple Guide for Market Vendors
Because taxes shouldn’t be harder than setting up your booth. If you’re selling at pop-up markets, craft fairs, farmers markets, or Made in Iowa events, you’ve probably heard different answers from different people about whether you need a Sales Tax Permit (sometimes called a Tax ID). Iowa’s rules can feel confusing—but the basics are actually […]
Growing your business & online presence
Running a successful booth is both an art and a strategy. I was chatting with a group of vendors at a recent craft meetup, and one of them said, ‘I wish someone would just teach a class on how to grow my business and online presence.’ That resonated with me — I hear this often, […]
Vendors Beware — Your Random Clicks Can Have Serious Consequences
Social media can be a powerful tool for small businesses, but it can also cause real harm when used carelessly. Recently, we had to make one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever faced — permanently banning one of our beloved vendors. The reason? A false report on Facebook. It may have been an accidental click […]
The Booth Boss: When You Don’t Want to Be Promoted
Not every vendor wants their business featured in articles or social posts—and that’s okay! In this week’s Booth Boss, I’m diving into why visibility matters, how event marketing benefits your business, and what we can do when a vendor prefers a little more privacy. Spoiler: there’s always a middle ground that keeps everyone shining. Every […]
When Sales Don’t Match the Crowd
From the Booth Boss: I Want You to Thrive Hey friends — I want to take a moment to talk about something I see at almost every market. You’ve worked hard, your booth looks great, but for some reason… the sales just aren’t coming the way you hoped. Meanwhile, it feels like everyone around you […]
The Mysterious “We”
Running a small business often means wearing all the hats—owner, operator, social media manager, web designer, product developer, graphic designer, and more. It’s long hours and a lot of hard work, and sometimes it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. That’s why I loved something Wesley Bryant from The Blue Strawberry […]