Journal

Notes from the road.

Guides and tips for vendors who sell at markets, fairs, and festivals.

GeorgiaState GuidesVendor Tips

The 30 Best Craft Fairs and Festivals in Georgia for Vendors in 2026

A real list of the Georgia events worth applying to in 2026. Booth fees, deadlines, and what each show is known for. Built from the data on VendorsMap.

James Westcott·May 20, 2026·11 min read
Vendor TipsBusinessBeginner

Are Craft Fairs Worth It? The Honest Vendor Math for 2026

Most vendors who quit craft fairs do so because of bad event selection, not bad product. Here is the actual math on whether a craft fair pays off, with three signs an event is worth your weekend and three signs it isn't.

James Westcott·May 20, 2026·9 min read
AnnouncementVendor TipsReviews

How to Vet a Craft Fair Before You Apply (Vendor Reviews Are Now Live on VendorsMap)

Every event on VendorsMap now has honest reviews from vendors who actually sold there. Three trust tiers, 48-hour edit window, free preview + full Member access. Here is how to read and write them.

James Westcott·May 18, 2026·5 min read
OrganizersVendor RecruitmentMarketing

How to Find Vendors for Your Craft Fair, Market, or Festival

A practical guide for event organizers who need to fill booths. Where vendors actually look for events, how to write a listing that converts, and the five things vendors check before they apply.

James Westcott·May 12, 2026·11 min read
OrganizersFood TrucksFestivals

How to Attract Food Trucks to Your Event (A Practical Guide)

Food trucks operate differently than craft vendors. This guide covers how to find food truck operators, what they need from your venue, payment models that actually work, and the permits to plan for.

James Westcott·May 12, 2026·10 min read
OrganizersVendor RecruitmentMarketing

Why Vendors Aren't Applying to Your Event (5 Reasons That Are Easy to Fix)

Five specific, fixable reasons your event has lower vendor application volume than it should. A self-audit checklist for organizers wondering why the inbox is quiet.

James Westcott·May 12, 2026·9 min read
AnnouncementMembershipVendor Tips

Introducing VendorsMap Membership: $40 a Year, Pays for Itself at One Event

VendorsMap Membership is now live at $40/year. Full access to 13,700+ events, organizer contact info, deadlines, the Application Library, and member alerts. 30-day refund if you don't find one event worth applying to.

James Westcott·May 9, 2026·5 min read
AnnouncementOrganizersEvent Promotion

Promote Your Event to Thousands of Vendors: Spotlight Listings Now Available

Listing on VendorsMap stays free for organizers. When you need to fill spots fast, paid Spotlight listings now put your event on top of the map and into our weekly vendor email digest. From $19.

James Westcott·May 9, 2026·4 min read
OrganizersVendor RecruitmentCraft FairsFarmers Markets

How to Find Vendors for Your Craft Fair (2026 Guide for Organizers)

Five proven channels for filling vendor booths at your craft fair, farmers market, or festival. Real outreach templates, screening tactics, and how to use VendorsMap to recruit fast.

James Westcott·May 4, 2026·11 min read
OrganizersMarketingCraft FairsEvent Promotion

How to Advertise Your Craft Fair (To Vendors AND Attendees, 2026 Playbook)

A 90-day marketing timeline for craft fair organizers. How to attract quality vendors and shopper foot traffic with the right channels, copy, and budget at each stage.

James Westcott·May 4, 2026·12 min read
OrganizersFarmers MarketsMarketingEvent Promotion

How to Promote a Farmers Market: Grow Vendor and Shopper Counts in 2026

A practical guide for farmers market managers to grow vendor lineup and shopper attendance. SNAP/WIC marketing, USDA grants, vendor associations, and seasonal cadence.

James Westcott·May 4, 2026·11 min read
OrganizersVendor RecruitmentLast MinuteCraft Fairs

How to Fill Empty Booth Spaces Fast (Last-Minute Vendor Outreach)

You're 14-30 days from your craft fair and 30% of booths are empty. A tactical playbook to fill spots fast: vendor directory outreach, message templates, waitlist activation, and pricing levers.

James Westcott·May 4, 2026·9 min read
OrganizersPricingBooth FeesEvent Planning

How to Set Booth Fees for Your Vendor Event (2026 Pricing Guide with Real Data)

What to charge for a craft fair, farmers market, festival, or pop-up booth. Real median fees by event type, how to think about per-booth math, and when to charge an application fee.

James Westcott·May 4, 2026·10 min read
OrganizersFarmers MarketsStarting an Event

How to Start a Farmers Market: A Guide for New Organizers in 2026

A practical, step-by-step guide for community members, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs who want to start a farmers market. Permits, vendor recruitment, location, fees, and the realistic timeline.

James Westcott·April 27, 2026·14 min read
OrganizersCraft FairsStarting an Event

How to Organize a Craft Fair: Vendor Recruitment, Permits, Insurance

A complete playbook for first-time craft fair organizers in 2026. How to choose a venue, set booth fees, recruit quality vendors, get the right permits, and run a smooth event day.

James Westcott·April 25, 2026·13 min read
Vendor TipsTaxesBusiness

Tax Write-Offs for Craft Fair and Farmers Market Vendors (2026)

Practical guide to deductions for craft fair, farmers market, and festival vendors. Booth fees, mileage, supplies, equipment, and the common mistakes that cost vendors money at tax time.

James Westcott·April 22, 2026·11 min read
Vendor TipsJuried ShowsApplication Tips

How to Get Accepted to Juried Art Shows (2026)

Why most juried show applications get rejected and the specific changes that move you from waitlist to accepted. Photos, statements, body of work, and category strategy.

James Westcott·April 19, 2026·10 min read
Vendor TipsPaymentsEquipment

How to Take Credit Cards at Craft Fairs: Square vs Stripe vs PayPal (2026)

Honest comparison of card readers and mobile payment options for craft fair, farmers market, and festival vendors. Fees, hardware, offline mode, and which is best for your situation.

James Westcott·April 16, 2026·10 min read
Vendor TipsSellingTrends

What Sells Best at Craft Fairs in 2026 (Real Vendor Data)

Honest breakdown of the categories that consistently outperform at craft fairs, farmers markets, and festivals in 2026 — based on application data across 12,600+ events.

James Westcott·April 13, 2026·11 min read
PlatformsVendor TipsCraft FairsFarmers Markets

The Best Platforms to Find Craft Fairs, Markets, and Festivals to Sell At (2026 Guide)

An honest breakdown of the best websites and platforms for vendors looking to find craft fairs, farmers markets, festivals, and pop-ups in 2026. Free and paid options compared.

James Westcott·April 11, 2026·10 min read
Vendor TipsEquipmentOutdoor Markets

Best Tents and Canopies for Craft Fair Vendors (2026 Buyer's Guide)

Which tent will survive five seasons of outdoor markets and which will collapse in your second windstorm. Honest comparison of E-Z UP, Caravan, Eurmax, Impact, and what weights you actually need.

James Westcott·April 10, 2026·10 min read
PlatformsVendor TipsApplication Tips

Eventeny vs Zapplication (ZAPP): Which Should Vendors Use in 2026?

Honest head-to-head comparison of Eventeny and Zapplication for craft fair, festival, and fine art vendors. Coverage, fees, application UX, and which works for your career stage.

James Westcott·April 7, 2026·9 min read
Vendor TipsJewelryBooth Design

How to Display Jewelry at Craft Fairs (and Make More Sales)

Display tactics that consistently raise jewelry sales at craft fairs and festivals. Lighting, height, materials, signage, and the small changes that move a $400 day to a $1,200 day.

James Westcott·April 4, 2026·10 min read
Platform GuideGetting Started

How to Use VendorsMap: Find Events, Apply, and Start Selling

A walkthrough of everything VendorsMap offers: the interactive map, filters, applications, vendor tools, consignment stores, and the latest updates.

James Westcott·April 3, 2026·6 min read
Getting StartedFarmers Markets

How to Sell at a Farmers Market: A Complete Guide for New Vendors

Everything you need to know about selling at a farmers market for the first time, from finding markets and applying to pricing, displays, and permits.

James Westcott·April 3, 2026·8 min read
CostsCraft Fairs

How Much Does a Craft Fair Booth Cost in 2026?

A detailed breakdown of craft fair booth costs by event type, including hidden expenses most vendors overlook and how to evaluate if a booth fee is worth it.

James Westcott·April 3, 2026·7 min read
Finding EventsCraft Fairs

How to Find Craft Fairs and Vendor Events Near You

The best methods for finding craft fairs, farmers markets, festivals, and pop-up markets in your area, plus tips for evaluating which events are worth applying to.

James Westcott·April 3, 2026·7 min read
PricingBusiness Tips

How to Price Handmade Goods for Craft Fairs and Markets

Learn proven pricing strategies for handmade products, including the cost-plus formula, hourly rate method, and price anchoring techniques for your booth.

James Westcott·April 3, 2026·8 min read
ChecklistsGetting Started

The Ultimate Vendor Event Packing List

A comprehensive, categorized checklist of everything you need to bring to a craft fair, farmers market, or vendor event, with tips for different event types.

James Westcott·April 3, 2026·7 min read
Vendor TipsEarningsBusiness

How Much Money Can You Make at a Craft Fair? (Real Vendor Numbers)

Honest ranges for craft fair, farmers market, and festival earnings in 2026 — what drives high-revenue days, what kills them, and how to estimate before you book your next event.

James Westcott·April 1, 2026·11 min read