Updated: February 2025
Prohibited Vendor Categories:
Henna
Permanent Jewelry
Ear/Body Piercing
Tattoo
New Vendor Applications are now OPEN!
Only approved vendors may participate in our markets and events. We open the application process generally twice a year - typically in early February and again in early July. Application categories are updated each time we open applications, so if your category is not open in February, check back in July to see if there has been an update, or vice versa. Some categories open more frequently than others. While it may be frustrating, please understand that we do this to ensure that your time and resources aren’t wasted.
Our standards are consistent across all of our markets and events, so your approval is more or less universal — once accepted, you can participate in any market provided space is available. However, some venues have product restrictions; food trucks are not allowed at several locations, as an example. For further information regarding availability in specific markets read through the remainder of the Vendor’s Handbook.
Steps involved to becoming a market vendor:
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VERIFY that your desired product category is currently accepting new vendors from the table above. If your category is “limited,” you should message the application team at apply@chattanoogamarket.com before applying. Please note, even if you do fall within a category we are accepting, we will not accept any items that are not handmade locally. Therefore, we do not accept vendors who are part of a national franchise or brand, or who are part of a multi-level marketing organization.
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REVIEW our general vendor standards and your product category-specific standards listed in the Vendor Handbook on this website. Some products require government licensing, permitting and inspections; we can not accept you until you have those details in order. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction and try to connect you with the information and people you need to operate legally, but ultimately it’s your responsibility to know the laws, regulations and requirements for your business activity.
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ATTEND the market several times as a customer, observe the way other experienced vendors are setup and decide if market participation is a good thing for you. It’s a long day, often warm and loud, requires significant inventory and preparation, and most definitely qualifies as hard work — make sure you are mentally and physically prepared for the challenges ahead. It can also be a lot of fun!
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TALK with a member of our staff before you apply if you have questions, or are uncertain if your product/activity will be a good fit for our markets. We offer email and phone support – we’re happy to answer questions before you apply, but will not be able to refund application fees if you fail to understand our requirements for participation.
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LOGIN to the vendor forum, so that you can receive announcements and important information about upcoming events. The forum is our primary communication mechanism, and it will email you on a regular basis with important info. You can also view the latest news from your phone or tablet, as email sometimes fails - the forum is always accessible.
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APPLY to become a market vendor using our online application process by clicking on the link below.
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RESPOND to requests for documentation, product and workspace photos and other information which may be necessary to complete your process. Each year, numerous applicants fail to respond to a simple requests for photos and documentation after submitting their applications. Don’t be that person!
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PARTICIPATE in a new vendor orientation, which are offered once each month at each market location. Learn how to load-in at each market, where to park, who your neighbors are and the names of the market staff in charge of each event. The more you interact with others around you, the more likely you are to enjoy the experience.
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RSVP for your first market!
After Acceptance
Newer vendors will be anonymously inspected by members of our review panel during the course of live market events; it is expected that the vendor will have a booth presentation, product selection and overall quality level that was conveyed through photos and description when their application was selected.
