What Makes a Craft Fair Application Different
A general vendor application form asks what a vendor sells. A craft fair application has a harder job: it has to show you whether the work is made by the applicant, whether it is good enough for your show, and whether the category is already full. That means photos, a process description and a handmade statement, reviewed by a jury rather than accepted first come, first served.
- Handmade proof: how the work is made, by whom, and with what tools or production help
- Photos: the work itself and a booth shot, judged side by side with other applicants
- Category: so you can cap jewelry or candles and keep the floor varied
- Price range: so shoppers find a mix of gift-priced and higher-end work
- Booth needs: space size, corner requests, power for lighting, and whether they bring their own canopy outdoors
Copy-Ready Craft Fair Vendor Application
Copy this into your form builder or online checkout, replace the bracketed text and delete what doesn't apply. Put the handmade policy and rules link at the top, so makers who don't qualify stop before they pay a jury fee.
Handmade Policy
Publish a handmade policy before applications open and link to it from the form. Clear wording saves your jury from arguing about borderline cases and gives you a written reason to decline or remove a vendor.
Jury Criteria and Photo Requirements
Score every applicant on the same scale. A simple 1 to 5 score per criterion, from two or three jurors, is enough for most fairs. The craft show jury criteria guide covers scoring sheets and jury process in more depth.
| Criterion | What jurors look for | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Handmade by the applicant | Process description matches the work; no signs of buy-and-sell | Pass / fail |
| Quality of workmanship | Finish, construction and consistency across the photos | 30% |
| Originality | A distinct design voice rather than a copy of common patterns | 25% |
| Booth presentation | A clean, branded, shoppable setup in the booth photo | 20% |
| Fit with the show | Price range and style suit your shoppers | 15% |
| Category balance | Fills a gap rather than adding a tenth jewelry booth | 10% |
Booth Options and Fees
Show every booth option and fee on the application. Makers budget for a season of shows and choose between fairs on cost per space. The vendor fee calculator helps you set fees that cover venue, marketing and staff costs.
| Option | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single space | 10x10 outdoors, or 8x10 or 10x10 indoors | The default for most makers |
| Double space | 10x20 | For furniture, large work or two-person studios |
| Corner space | 10x10 with two open sides | Priced above a single; limited supply |
| Half space or table | 6 ft or 8 ft table | For new makers and small items |
| Electricity | Add-on per space | Lighting for indoor shows; limited circuits |
| Jury fee | Per application | Non-refundable; covers review time |
Rules to Include
List the rules that change what a maker brings or how they behave on the day, and link the full set. Our vendor rules and regulations template has wording for each.
- Setup and teardown times, and no early packing before the fair closes
- Booth must be staffed for the full show hours
- Canopy weights for outdoor shows, and fire-retardant fabrics indoors
- Only juried work may be sold; new product lines need approval
- Sales tax collection is the vendor's responsibility where required
- No subletting or sharing a space without approval
- Cancellation and weather terms, including whether fees are refunded
Acceptance Timeline
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| 5 to 6 months before | Open applications with the handmade policy, fees and deadlines |
| 3 to 4 months before | Close applications; jury within two to three weeks |
| Right after jury | Send acceptances with booth fee and payment deadline, waitlist notices and declines |
| 2 to 3 months before | Booth fees due; release unpaid spaces to the waitlist |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Publish the vendor list and booth map; start promotion with vendors |
| 1 to 2 weeks before | Send load-in times, parking and booth numbers |
If you are running your first fair, the craft fair checklist for organizers covers the rest of the plan. When applications, booth selection and payment start to outgrow email and a spreadsheet, vendor fair software runs them from the same booth map.