OMG. Our biggest Friend Fest ever. Happening on Feb. 24-25, 2024, Friend Fest will feature our largest Friend Fest vendor lineup to date: 350 makers, artists & creative small businesses all celebrating best friends, new friends, old friends, "we're just friends", "wanna be more than friends" or whatever!
Located at downtown San José's South Hall at 435 South Market Street, San José, CA 95110. In addition to our largest Friend Fest vendor lineup to date, Friend Fest 2024 will also feature lots of special Friend Fest programming and activities, special Friend Fest door giveaways and most importantly, lots and lots of friendship vibes.
Free admission for attendees. Open from 11 AM to 5 PM each day. This venue is indoors. Face masks for vendors, staff and attendees are mandatory. All ages. Service animals only.
Event Details
- Dates: Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 and Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024
- Times: 11 AM to 5 PM each day
- Venue: South Hall
- Address: 435 South Market Street, San José, CA 95110 (indoors)
- Pet Policy: Service animals only.
- Attendance: Free admission.
- Parking: Paid parking lots and garages are available in the neighborhood. Street parking is free on Sundays.
- Door Giveaways: Special Friend Fest 2024 door giveaways for the first 1,000 attendees each day.
- COVID Policy: Face masks for vendors, staff and attendees are mandatory.
Instructions on How to Apply to Vend - PLEASE READ
Your Business Info
- Fill out the fields of the form with your business info.
- If you do NOT have a website / online shop / social media, you will need to email us at info@sanjosemade.com with a description of what you will be selling as well as photos of what you will be selling (BONUS if you have a photo of a past booth setup).
- If you do NOT have a valid seller's permit or temporary seller's permit yet, you may still apply to vend at Friend Fest. Please leave the seller's permit field blank. However, you will be required to have one prior to the event and will need to email us at info@sanjosemade.com your valid seller's permit number at least five (5) business days before the event.
Selling Space Type
- Full Booth - Corner Location (10'x10') ($600). You can arrange this space within the parameters of the 10'x10' space however you'd like. This option GUARANTEES you a corner location.
- Full Booth (10'x10') ($450). You can arrange this space within the parameters of the 10'x10' space however you'd like.
- Shared Booth (5'x10') ($300). If you do not need a full 10'x10' booth space, the Shared Booth option is the next option. If you apply to vend using this option and your application is accepted, you will share a 10'x10' booth space with another vendor. You may specify another vendor with whom you would like to share a booth however that vendor must also apply for a Shared Booth and specify you as their preferred boothmate and be accepted. If you do NOT specify a preferred boothmate, we will pair you with another Shared Booth applicant who has also not specified a preferred boothmate. If you have any questions about this, please email us at info@sanjosemade.com. We will be requiring all Shared Booths to follow the configuration in this diagram unless there is explicit consent from both vendors. If you do NOT want to share a booth with another vendor, we recommend you apply for a Full Booth.
- Double Booth (20'x10') ($1,000). You can arrange this space within the parameters of the 20'x10' space however you'd like. This option GUARANTEES you a corner location also.
NOTES
- While we don't have specific criteria for accepting Friend Fest vendor applicants, bonus points for mentioning in the comments section of the Friend Fest application about how your work (be it all your products or even just one or two products) aligns with the Friend Fest theme and how it will contribute to the "celebration of friendship" vibes of the event. It could be a specific product(s) you sell that aligns with the theme. It could be a promotion you'll run during the event that, for example, gives discounts to people who purchase in pairs or in groups. It could be a particular product or facet of your craft that was inspired by a friend(s).
- We will NOT accept a single application for more than one vendor. Each vendor who wants to vend at the event must submit their own individual application. Any vendors who have NOT been officially accepted to vend at Friend Fest will not be allowed to vend at the event. Booths are non-transferable. If you decide to withdraw from the event, you will not be able to sell or transfer your booth to another vendor.
Food/Drink Vendors
- If you plan to sell food and/or drink items during the event, please select the food/drink vendor option. The overall fee for food/drink vendor applicants INCLUDES your $99 RC1 Low Risk Temporary Food Facility Permit Fee. If what you sell requires a Temporary Food Facility Permit above the RC1 Low Risk permit, we will NOT accept your application to vend (e.g. food that requires on-site preparation and cooking). To read more about Temporary Food Facility Permits, view the Santa Clara County's page on them: https://cpd.sccgov.org/programs-and-services/temporary-events. If you'd like to ask us whether or not your food/drink vendor application qualifies for consideration, please email us at info@sanjosemade.com with your business name, website / social media (if available) and a description of what you'd be selling.
Application Process
To successfully submit your application, you must go through the online checkout process. Don't worry about the pick-up / delivery method, just choose whatever. Since this is a digital vendor application, whichever option you choose will not matter.
Instructions
- Fill out the form on this vendor application page.
- Click "Checkout" or click the shopping cart icon in the top-right corner.
- To successfully submit your application, you must go through the online checkout process (i.e. paying for your booth). Don't worry about the pick-up / delivery method, just choose whatever. Since this is a digital vendor application, whichever option you choose will not matter.
- Our team will send you an admission notification (accepted / waitlisted / rejected) within the stated time (scroll down to the "Notification" section).
FAQ: "I successfully submitted my application and paid the fees. Does this mean I'm automatically confirmed to vend for the event date(s)."
- No. Submitting your application on our website and paying the fees associated with the application simply means that you've successfully applied to the event.
- Once we receive your application (and fees), our team will review your application. You will receive an admission notification (accepted / waitlisted / rejected) within the stated amount of time on the vendor application page. If your application is accepted, you're all set. If your application is rejected, we will fully refund your fees. If your application is waitlisted, you will have the option of staying on the waitlist OR withdrawing your application and receiving a full refund of your fees.
- What do we review? For every applicant, we will review your website (if any), Instagram (if any) and any additional content you shared with us about your work (photos, descriptions). Additionally, if you've done events with us before, we will take into consideration our past experiences with having you vend at our event(s). Please note that if you do NOT include a website our Instagram in your application, you should email us at info@sanjosemade.com with photos of your work and a description of your work and your business. Without this content, we will be unable to review your application
- Why do we jury applications? Our goal in jurying applications is to ensure that the vendors who participate in our events are good fits for the event and, therefore, are positioned for success in both sales and customer engagement. If your application is not accepted, this does not mean we don't like your work. It also does not mean that future applications from you will not be accepted. We have had many, many, many vendor applicants whose application was rejected for one event, go on to do many events with us beyond that. Additionally, we jury applications so that we can achieve a healthy balance to the diversity of product types offered at an event (i.e. not having too much of a product type represented at the event).
Any questions? Email us at info@sanjosemade.com. Make sure the subject line is "Friend Fest 2024 - Vendor Inquiry: [INSERT YOUR BUSINESS NAME]".
Notification
- If you apply before Oct. 31, 2023 at 11:59 PM PST, you will receive admission notification before or by Nov. 7, 2024.
- If you apply AFTER Oct. 31, 2023, you will receive an admission notification within six (6) business days of us receiving your application.
- If your application is accepted, you're all set. You'll receive further instructions and information about vending.
- If your application is waitlisted, you will have the option to remain on the waitlist OR withdraw from the waitlist and receive a full refund of your fee. Your waitlisted notification will contain additional information to help guide you through the waitlist process.
- If your application is rejected, you will receive a full refund of your fee.
Any questions? Email us at info@sanjosemade.com. Make sure the subject line is "Friend Fest 2024 - Vendor Inquiry: [INSERT YOUR BUSINESS NAME]".
Vendor Booth Details
- Vendors will need to bring their own table(s) and chair(s).
- Parking for vendors is available on-site and in the neighborhood (lots, garages, street parking). All parking is paid. Street parking is free on Sundays.
- The use of canopy frames with the canopy covers will NOT be permitted. Only canopy frames may be used. This is an indoor event so shade structures are not necessary.
- We will offer rentals for table, chair and electricity access in December and January.
- The venue provides free wifi. As always, we recommend vendors have their mobile data or a wifi hotspot handy to take transactions in case there are issues with the wifi.
- Friday (Feb. 23) load-in will be offered, likely from 12 PM to 7 PM.
- You will be able to leave your booth setup overnight. As always, we recommend taking home personal valuables and electronics.
Refund Policy
- To withdraw your participation from your Sidewalk Shops event date, please email info@sanjosemade.com and include your business name, full name and, if possible, order number.
- If you withdraw for your Sidewalk Shop event date at least ten (10) business days prior to the event date, you will be eligible for a full refund.
- If you withdraw for your Sidewalk Shop event date within ten (10) business days prior to the event date, you will not be eligible for a refund.
- If your application to vend is NOT accepted, we will process a full refund of your fee upon sending you the notification email.
Terms
- SAFETY: Participant will act with the highest regard for the safety of the attendees and other participants of the Event, and will adhere to all laws, policies, rules, and regulations applicable to the goods and/or activities of Participant, including obtaining all licenses, permits, and approvals that may be required to enable Participant to conduct its activities at the Event and fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
- LIABILITY: San José Made will not be responsible for any loss or damage to Participant’s property, injury to, or death of the Participant (or its agents, employees, and/or personnel), or Participant sales. Participant expressly assumes all risks of loss, damage, liability, injury, or destruction resulting from any cause whatsoever, including but not limited to acts or omissions by Participant, and hereby releases and waives any claims against San José Made related to such loss, damage, liability, injury, and/or destruction.
- INSURANCE: Participant represents that it has, or will have at the time of the Event, appropriate insurance to cover liability for the types of activities Participant will conduct at the Event. Participant covenants to be fully responsible for any of its liabilities, actions, or omissions, and will indemnify, defend, and hold San José Made (and its officers, employees, agents, vendors, affiliates, and representatives) harmless against any claims related to Participant’s liabilities, actions, or omissions.
Vendor Code of Conduct
- View the 2023-204 Vendor Code of Conduct
- By applying to and being accepted to our events, each vendor is agreeing to adhere to the 2023-2024 Vendor Code of Conduct.
- We are asking everyone to read this document before participating in any SJMADE events this year and to try their best to adhere to the following vendor code of conduct. Failure to do so may negatively affect the jurying of a vendor's future applications to our events. Egregious flouting of the vendor code of conduct may result in a vendor's removal from the event in question.
- We will exhaust every opportunity to avoid these situations (because we love having yall at our events!) however as our events have grown, it's become clear that we need to define our expectations for the participating vendors at our events and how they exist within an event's community of vendors. If you believe you'll be unable to adhere to this code of conduct, please let us know and we can discuss.