2025 Spring Market takes place in days! Tickets on sale May 1st
Our 2025 application is open December 6th, 2024 - January 10, 2025.
Before diving into the online application process, please take the time to read carefully below – there are important changes since our last application.
**Please note that if you are a food truck, this application does not apply to you. Our food trucks are selected through an invite-only process. If you are a food truck and you want to put yourself on our radar, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
December 6, 2024 - Application goes live
January 10, 2025 Deadline to Apply
January 11-31, 2025 Curation (application Status Notifications begin to go out)
May 30/31 and June 6/7, 2025 - Spring HandMade Market takes place at 13th Street Winery
November 21-22-23, 2025 - Holiday HandMade Market takes place at Niagara Falls Convention Centre
The HandMade Market accepts applications from Canadian-based makers, artisans, visual artists and small cottage industry businesses across all creative disciplines that meet our curation criteria and the general ethos of the HandMade Market. It is mandatory that all of our artisans are the creators and designers of their products.
We do not accept or curate applications that include any buy/sell items (ie. 'Made in China'). No exceptions.
We do not accept or curate applications containing products or work manufactured/produced outside of Canada; products or work imported for resale; products or work where the majority of the primary ingredients are manufactured/produced outside of Canada; any Fair trade products or works.
The HandMade Market is artisan focused and in order to ensure that each artisan has a captive audience, we maintain a strict cap on any one ‘type’ of artisan at each market. This cap minimizes sales dilution and provides a more diverse selection for our guests.
We get many questions from artisans wondering what they could “do better” to increase their chance of being curated into one of our markets. Curating is a complicated process and often it is not for one reason, but several, that we may decline your application and/or place you on a waiting list.
We hope the following information will help shed some light on our processes.
Product Relevance: This is where we consider how your product will be received by our HMM guests. Will they find it interesting? Does it meet a unique need? Is it satisfying a hankering for a current trend? How does your product align with today’s fashion sense or collective ethos? Does your product connect with today’s marketplace?
The Right Fit: The HMM has a very distinct clientele. We’d have nothing without our fabulous and loyal guests spending their hard earned cash on your work. To make and keep our guests happy, we select artisans who have the most appeal specifically to them. If you are interested in discovering more about our HMM guests, talk to other artisans who have been to the HMM and/or come and visit an HMM and discover for yourself!
Display: Your display is your calling card. Does it stand out? Does it draw people in? Is it engaging? If you are simply laying items on a table, it’s time to rethink this aspect of your booth design. Those who design a space which is both professional looking and interesting have a better chance of being curated in.
Originality: Originality is important. If you are known to be purposefully copying the creative work of another artisan, the HMM is not for you.
Photography: Your photos must be high resolution. Do they tell a clear story of your product and your process? Details are important. We use these images for marketing purposes, so the better you look, the better we look. Professional shots are not mandatory, but they certainly help the cause.
Category Saturation: We can’t control the number of applications we get ‘per category’ and when we have high demand for a fixed number of spaces, the competition can be stiff in certain areas. At times, even the most qualified of artisans won’t be curated into the HMM because of category saturation. We really don’t relish turning down great talent, but at the same time, we feel privileged to be choosing from among the best.
Buy and Sell: We don’t accept artisans who are purchasing and selling through third party sourcing under any circumstances.
We do not accept or curate applications containing products or work manufactured/produced outside of Canada; products or work imported for resale; products or work where the majority of the primary ingredients are manufactured/produced outside of Canada; any Fair trade products or works.
Late Applications: Due to high demand, late applicants are not considered in the initial jury process. At our discretion, we may put you onto a waiting list in case a space becomes available within your category.
A growing area of concern for us is ‘category creep’.
We’ve observed an increasing number of Makers who are including and exhibiting items/products that fall outside of the category they apply under.
Examples: Maker applies under ‘art’, but is also exhibiting ‘clothing’. Maker applies under ‘candles’, but is also exhibiting ‘bath / body’. Maker is presenting as a ‘lifestyle brand’ and has multiple product lines in one booth.
We have caps on the number of Makers in each category to ensure there is appropriate variety throughout the market and to help protect the market share of the Makers in each category. Category Creep undermines our category caps by chipping away at the market share of those Makers who were curated into in a specific category.
Makers whose applications are diluted across multiple categories will find it harder to be curated into our markets and/or maybe be asked to remove items that would not fall under the category for which they have applied.
Our preference is for focused and well defined booths that clearly communicate the essence of the category the Maker has applied under.
The 13th Edition of the Spring HandMade Market will be held OUTSIDE in the vineyards at 13th Street Winery in Niagara.
The spring market will once again operate as one event split across 2 consecutive weekends on May 30/31 and June 6/7, 2025. You can apply to one or both of the weekends. There will be up to 135 artisans per weekend.
10'x10' Regular Space: $285 + HST per weekend
10'x20' Double Space: $570 + HST per weekend
IMPORTANT NOTES: Exhibition fee is for outdoor space rental only and does not include tent, table(s), chair(s) or other props. You are responsible to supply your own covered 10x10 tent and all props for this outdoor event. Electricity is not available/not provided. Shared spaces are not allowed. You are responsible for the safety and liability of your display and product. A limited number of corners will be available for an additional fee offered on a lottery basis approx. 4-6 weeks before event date. Free on-site field parking is available.
Makers retain 100% of their profits.
Our flagship annual event, the 15th Edition of the Holiday HandMade Market, will be held at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre on November 21-22-23, 2025. Artisan load-in/setup will be November 20th and in the early morning of November 21st, depending on booth size.
Total space availability is +/- 220 booths.
5'x10': $470 + $95 electrical + HST
5'x20': $940 + $95 electrical + HST
10'x10': $590 + $95 electrical + HST
10'x20': $1180 + $95 electrical + HST
Booth measurements are nominal and actual available exhibitor floor space is reduced by the physical dimensions of the pipe and drape (approx. 3" reduction on each of the 3 sides)
Exhibition fee includes space rental, single 15 amp electrical connection (for lights and charging only) and white 8ft pipe & drape on three sides.
Overhead venue lights will be dimmed by 67% (operating at 33% capacity) and you MUST light your booth – no exceptons. Electricity is not optional. You are responsible for supplying your own lights and all props, ordering any additional crossbars, etc.
Aisles will be carpeted. Shared booths are not allowed.
A limited number of corners will be available for an additional fee offered on a lottery basis approximately 6 weeks before event date.
On site parking available, but charged separately by venue.
Makers retain 100% of their profits.
Applications must be submitted online. The link to the application will be at the bottom of this page.
Before you click the 'apply' button, you'll want to prepare ahead by gathering up your images and text content.
Your product images *MUST* be high-resolution marketing-ready at a min. of 1250px wide / max. 2500px wide (height is irrelevant). Product photos will be used for marketing purposes, so use your absolute best product shots.
All completed applications meeting our criteria will be curated and notified of acceptance, decline or wait list status by email.
If you are notified of acceptance, you will be required to submit payment to secure your space.
Payment in full is required for the Spring Markets.
A deposit of 35% of your total booth fees (including electrical and HST) is required for the Holiday Market.
You will also be required to submit a signed contract for each Market to be sent to you digitally early in the new year.
If we don't receive your deposit payment within 48 hours of our emailed notification, your space will be returned to the pool and offered to another eligible participant. Due to high demand for a fixed number of spaces, we cannot hold spaces without payment.
E-transfer instructions will be provided inside the acceptance notification email. Please do not send money unless requested.
There will be no refunds available for cancellations on your part for any reason within 90 days of a market event.
All other cancellations are subject to the following cancellation fees: 50% (Spring) and/or 35% (Holiday) of your total booth fees (including electrical and HST).
Are you on our Maker Email Notification List? If not, be sure to sign up and you'll get advance notice by email when we release our annual applications!
Our 2025 application will be open from December 6, 2024 to January 10th, 2025.
If after reading above you still have unanswered questions or concerns that need to be addressed before you apply, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Our singular digital application allows you to apply to any number of our market events at the same time.
**IMPORTANT**: There is a 2 hour security time-out on the application, so, before you click below to start the application process, we highly recommend that you gather up all your text and images (using guidelines above) so that you will not face any time constraint issues. Being prepared will make the application process go much smoother for you. If the application times out before you complete it, you'll need to reload the page and start from scratch.
Ready? Click below to apply now!
We HIGHLY recommend NOT using Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook or Rogers email addresses as your primary contact on the application. In the past, we have noticed issues with these types of email addresses receiving email from us.
IMPORTANT: Our receipt of your application does not guarantee or imply you have secured a spot regardless of whether or not you’ve been at the HandMade Market previously. We curate each event / each year individually.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW