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Vendor Qualifications and Our Promise

We want creative people to create. Our mission is to expose and expand black brands by empowering Black entrepreneurs and provide customers with unique and stylish options that celebrate diversity and inclusivity. ITS The Room manifests Black culture and its wealth of history, vowing respect while helping to build a unified community.

We help inspired professionals give life to their ideas by establishing and growing successful businesses and products. To foster this creative economy, we strive to include in our store items that are handmade, unique, produced or sold by local entrepreneurs. By agreeing to our terms and conditions, you commit to only sell products and offerings that fall under this criteria. Anything not in compliance with these efforts, delightful as it may be, will not be accepted to the show.

If we have questions regarding the nature of your products, we will email you to clarify before disqualifying you. Our store is juried to ensure our vendors are the cream of the crop. We sure hope that’s you!

Store Location

ITS the Room - 1201 Boston Post Rd. Milford, Ct 06460

Dates for Each Cycle

- Fall Cycle: 9/22/23 - 1/21/24
- Winter/Spring Cycle: 1/22/24 - 5/21/24
- Summer Cycle: 5/22/24 - 9/21/24
ALL applications must be submitted prior to the cycle you would like to be a part of!

Products and Prices

Your products must be marked with your price in order to get credit for the sale.
New products you add must fall within the descriptions and categories you listed in your application.
Products you bring to the store must be in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws for the type of products you offer. It is your responsibility to know which laws apply to your products and to ensure that they are in compliance with all copyright, labeling, labor, and any other laws, rules or regulations that apply. All products from vendors that are found to be in violation will be removed from the store immediately.
As you design, produce and package your products, please do your best to minimize packaging, reduce waste, reuse materials and recycle. Please also do your best to ensure your products are sourced ethically. Trust us, any additional cost or effort will pay off in the long run, plus we'll love you all the more.
We do require a pricing sheet to be sent to us, and just make sure all your products are labeled correctly.

Setup

ITS The Room staff will check in all vendors and verify that your fee invoice is paid. Additional storage for inventory is not available. If your product sells out we will contact you to replenish your inventory.

Stocking

You will be notified of a date during store hours to bring your inventory into the store, at least two weeks before your season begins.

Checkout

We provide a central checkout for all vendors. We will accept cash, Apple PAY and all major credit cards.

Pickup

Consignee has 7 calendar days to remove merchandise from the store. Consignee will receive a courtesy call on the 2nd day after contract season has ended if merchandise remains. If merchandise is not picked up at the end of business on the 7th calendar day, the merchandise becomes the property of ITS the Room.Consigneewill not be accepted into future contracts.
Vendors who apply for more than one season are not required to pick up items but will be required to show up for inventory for the next season
Please be prompt and move as quickly as possible, if you are picking up in the middle of our day. We have a limited window to get seasonal vendors moved out and the next season moved in.

Advertising

You may be spotlighted on our website, blog, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, during the season. We’ll pull from your feeds, We mostly just repost things that have been posted already on Instagram or FB so post lots!
We will release announcements to the press, do extensive social media advertising.
We encourage vendors to advertise through their own Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and other social media.

Theft and Liability

We will do everything within our power to prevent theft of products and displays, but we cannot guarantee that items will not go missing or get broken. It’s a cruel world, even in nice places like Milford.. Our staff will be trained to spot and stop shoplifters, and we will make every effort to prevent any incidents; however, we will not be held responsible if minor theft does occur, and if our store is broken into we can not be responsible for mass loss.
The store will be monitored by video and locked securely after hours.

Payment

All vendors will receive payment at the end of your season's contract. You will receive monthly statements during the season.

Fees

Vendor Fee

If accepted into the market, you will receive an invoice for your fee. Due three weeks before the season begins.
If you are under the age of 18 and would like to participate you are eligible for a partial waiver of your fee, but not commissions.

Commission Fee

See your contract.

Other Fees

If an excessive number of your items are mislabeled or not on the inventory sheet. (requiring extra work on our part to track down the correct information).

Drop Outs

For those who decide not to participate, we will be sad to see you go, but we will refund 65% of your fees only until a specific date listed in each contract. After that date, fees are non-refundable. Then you’ll be sad to see you go.
Late cancellations put us in a bind and it can be difficult to get a wait list vendor in your space in a short amount of time. If you miss the due date your spot will be given to a waitlisted vendor.

Taxes

When accepted into the store All vendors must provide either your EIN or SS #. You may be subjected to a penalty by the IRS if you do not provide this form. We only need one W-9 from you each year.
Sales tax will be collected through the central checkout and paid to you by check. You are responsible for paying your own taxes.

How this benefits you (Finally, the fun part!)

Increased Exposure and Building Brand Identity: Our expanding customer base and strong market presence will provide your products with excellent visibility and exposure that sets your business a part from competitors in the market.
Reliable Distribution Channel: Our efficient logistics and distribution network ensure timely delivery and seamless handling of your products.
Marketing Support: We are committed to promoting our vendor partners and will actively market your products through various channels, including social media, newsletters, and targeted advertising campaigns.
Collaborative Relationship: We genuinely value your partnership and are open to discussing customized terms and agreements that work best for both parties.
Vendor Day: This is event happens once per cycle and it is a day dedicated to you, the business owner. Each vendor will be invited to participate in this event that celebrates your hard work as a business owner. It is a night full of raffles, giveaways, free food, and live poetry. This is also the perfect opportunity for you to network with other vendors on the team and connect with your customers face to face. This Super Dope Day party will include exclusive first-chance shopping where attendees (and you!) can purchase all products for 10% off—all on us!
Loyalty Discounts: Returning vendors are offered discounts on cycle fees.

Other events include:

Annual fashion show: This event kicks off the Winter/Spring Cycle. The show is covered by various local media outlets and is our largest social event. Our first show in January 21, 2023 included 200+ attendees and 15+ brands and it is our intention to make each show bigger and better than the previous one.
Author Day: A day that specifically honors the authors in the store. This event includes an author meet and greet and live readings from the author's recent works.

We are always looking for more ways to engage with our customers, so feel free to reach out with any event ideas that you may have!

Special Reminders:

Please note that YOU are a part of our marketing team. In order to get the word out about what's happening here at ITS the Room, it takes all of us to make the magic happen. Per your contract, please market on all of your social media platforms. We get out exactly what we put in.

This agreement is subject to change.