Know Before You Show!
The Vendor Kit has been created by your show team to help our vendors have a great show!
Please review the vendor kit below and let us know if you have any questions as you prepare for the show.
From your show team - Hannah, Jennifer, and Stephanie
Everything you need to know about move-in, move-out, booth regulations, and more!
MUST READ for ALL Participants - Click the green links below
2024 Vendor Manual AND Fire & Safety Regulations
----- NEW Political Merchandise Policy for 2024 -----
As we enter a highly volatile political environment in advance of the 2024 General Election, Marketplace Events (MPE) wants to make clear its position on what content will not be permitted on its exhibit floors in all its US consumer home and holiday shows effective January 1, 2024. MPE shows are welcoming environments built solely to encourage face-to-face commerce. Creating respectful, safe marketplaces where our attendees and exhibitors can come together to learn, shop, compare pricing and do business together is our highest priority.
MPE’s acceptability standards do not permit political candidates, parties or other groups promoting issues or ballot initiatives to participate as exhibitors. In addition, the display or sale of any products or services that are political/partisan in nature or that can be interpreted to promote, incite, or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance are prohibited. MPE’s judgment in applying these standards will be final.
MPE maintains these policies to ensure a welcoming environment for all attendees and exhibitors.
RESOURCES
- Vendor FAQ's - Frequently asked questions by our vendors.
- Floor Covering (Required) - What is floor covering and why are vendors required to have it?
- General Electrical Do's & Don'ts
- Emergency Evacuation Points
- Merchandise Policies
- Facility Food Menu
- City BBQ will be catering the cafe in Freedom Hall once the show opens
FORMS & ANCILLARY DOCS
- Utilities - The Park Expo & Conference Center - Electricity, internet, parking, and storage
- Show Decorator - Rent booth supplies, carpet, freight, standard shipments, and move-in labor
- Food & Beverage Vendors - For those selling immediately consumable products at the show
- Insurance
- Taxes
- Hotel Partners - Discounted pricing on select hotels
- Enhanced Vendor Listing - Establish your online presence with attendees before the show opens!
- Traffic Drivers - COMING SOON - Promotional material to use online to let your customers know you'll be at the show.
SCAM ALERT FOR VENDORS
As per our privacy policy, Marketplace Events is a permission-based email sender. We do not share, rent, or sell any email lists.
SCAM WARNING
There have been a number of spam emails offering our attendee lists. These are scams and the senders are unauthorized to use the Marketplace Events’ name. These scammers are attempting to receive monies from exhibiting companies without providing anything in return. These emails are not approved by Marketplace Events, and Marketplace Events would never ask for bank information or other sensitive information over email.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Holiday Décor
It is required for all vendors to incorporate holiday décor in your booth display.
2024 MOVE-IN
Olde Towne Shops Only (#1-50)*:
Saturday, November 9: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 10: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
*Tent vendors (booths #100-125) may not begin set-up till Monday.
All Vendors:
Monday, November 11: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 12: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday,
November 13: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
All exhibits must be fully set-up by Wednesday, November 13 at 12:00 p.m.
Doors to the show open at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 13 and there is usually a crowd waiting at the door to start shopping!
2024 MOVE-OUT
Vendors should not begin to move-out or dismantle any part of their exhibit before 6:00 p.m, Sunday, November 19th. Any vendor whose display is not intact at 6:00 p.m. will not be invited to return the following year.
Tents (Booths #100-125)
Sunday, November 24: 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
All Other Vendors
Sunday, November 24: 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Monday, November 25: 8:00 a.m. - Noon
All exhibits must be moved out by Monday, November 25 by Noon.
Utilities - The Park Expo & Conference Center
The Park Expo & Conference Center provides facility services.
2024 Ancillary Order Form -
Download and fill in the form to order electricity, internet & reserved parking*. Once form is filled in, please email to ancillary@theparkexponc.com.
If you have questions, leave a voicemail to receive a callback. The phone number does not connect to a live representative and will not show as a missed call unless you leave a voicemail, 704-499-6805.
**Deadline to receive advance pricing is October 22, 2024.
STORAGE (Limited Availability) - Storage can be rented through The Park Expo & Conference Center. Please call Henry Mills at 704.274.0220 to book storage.
*Reserved parking often fills at the close of the previous year. For additional information on general parking, please refer to the Vendor FAQs.
Do you use a SQUARE device for your POS (point of sale) system?
Getting it paired with Wi-Fi on show site is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Order Wi-Fi. (Recommend ordering by Oct. 22, 2024 to save time AND money!)
- Once on show site, go to the building services desk to pick up your Wi-Fi code(s).
- When picking up your Wi-Fi code, make sure to let them know that you will be using the Wi-Fi for a square device. By doing this, they will provide a special version of the Wi-Fi code to make it compatible with both your device and your square.
**Please Note: You do not have to use Square as your POS system or purchase WiFi for the Southern Christmas Show at The Park Expo if your business does not require the use of it. This is merely a disclaimer for those who currently and already have the Square POS system in use for their company.
Show Decorator
Southern Exhibition Services is the Show Decorator.
2024 Decorator Services Order Form - Download the form and email order form for items such as flooring/carpet, furniture, freight & shipping, signage and other booth decor items.**
** Order by October 22, 2024 for advance discount pricing
Food & Beverage
ALL food products and sales must receive prior authorization from both show management AND The Park Expo & Conference Center. Pending review, an additional fee may be required.
North Carolina requires foodservice operators at the Southern Christmas Show to obtain a permit from the local health department, to prepare and sell food to the public. A permit is NOT required for sampling or food prepared off-site.
The event organizer/show management turns in ALL Food Vendor Applications and fees to the Mecklenburg County Health Department together. Vendors must submit applications and fees by September 3, 2024 to Hannah Lewis, HannahL@mpeshows.com. Failure to follow this process could result in your products not being permitted for the show.
- Pay Permit Fee - A fee of $75.00 (per permit) must be paid with each Food Vendor Application. The fee is paid via the online payment portal to show management, Marketplace Events.
- Submit Food Vendor Application - Application(s) for the Mecklenburg County Health Department must be emailed.
- Click here or visit the Mecklenburg County Health Department website for the Food Vendor Application.
- Under Temporary Food Establishments download the following documents:
- Food Vendor Application
- Regulations
- Quick Reference Checklist
- Under Temporary Food Establishments download the following documents:
Any products that require a permit will be inspected at the venue prior to the start of the show. To confirm if your products require a food permit, please contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department at (980) 314-1620.
Insurance
COMING SOON - Show Insurance Made Easy - A simple way to establish insurance for the show. Click HERE
A few things to be aware of:
- Vendors will have to pick the show from a drop-down list that includes shows other than just those run by MPE.
- Marketplace Events is not selling this insurance and doesn’t profit from it in any way. This is simply a resource for those vendors who don’t already have the required insurance coverage per their contracts.
The Insurance clause is #5 on the Terms and Conditions page of all booth space contracts. You may use any insurance company for insurance but it must meet the following requirements:
- Comprehensive General Liability and All Risk Property insurance
- Coverage must be from the start of move in to the end of move out
- Coverage of at least $1,000,000 for each separate occurrence
- Name Marketplace Events LLC and the venue as additional insured
- Provide a copy of the certificate of insurance (COI) to MPE if requested
2024 Hotel Partners
Book hotel by October 18, 2024 for the Southern Christmas Show special rates. Limited availability.
4808 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
- $99 for 2 Queens or 1 King Bed - Special rate available ONLY by CLICKING HERE or calling 704-227-1802.
- Free Parking, Free WiFi, Pet Friendly, On-site Restaurant
- 15-20 minutes from the venue surrounded by shopping and local restaurant choices
201 South McDowell Street, Charlotte, NC 28204
- $129 for 2 Queens or 1 King Bed - Special rate available ONLY by CLICKING HERE.
- Free Breakfast, Free high-speed internet, On-site Restaurant, $10 Parking
- Only 2 exits away from the venue in beautiful Downtown Charlotte
ENHANCE YOUR COMPANY’S ONLINE VENDOR LISTING
Maximize your business’s exposure and attract more customers by upgrading your vendor listing. As a vendor, you have a basic listing live on the website, and now you can Enhance It! This is included in the contracted space cost and is no additional charge.
Within 24 hours, you will receive an automated email providing a link to elevate your listing. This link gives you the flexibility to make updates and changes to your listing as frequently as you like until one day after the show ends. Your listing will stay active for as long as you participate in the show.
If you have any questions regarding the online vendor listing or if you do not receive the email with the link, please email our digital coordinator at JenK@mpeshows.com.
For any assistance with your listing, please consult the FAQ section.
We believe this opportunity will greatly benefit your business and we are excited to assist in maximizing your presence at the show.
Learn more about the benefits of creating your enhanced listing.
GO FROM BASIC TO ENHANCED!
SOCIAL MEDIA
#LetsGetSocial
Share your show pics or your holiday décor and celebrations with us.
Hashtags: #SouthernChristmasShow
In efforts to protect potential joint customers from fraudulent events and scammers, we request that you do not create your own Facebook Event. This helps us manage ticket sales for the event, and ensures that our team are available to support both
exhibitors and potential attendees with any questions, comments, or concerns that they have. Please feel free to reach out to your show manager or show marketing manager with your companies’ Facebook page and we can add you as a co-host to the
official event. Limited spots are available for co-hosting the Southern Christmas Show event.
Click Here for the Social Media Marketing Kit
Click Here for a short video on the 4 C's of Social Media
Click Here for the 2024 Facebook Event.
Invite your customers to shop the show!
Upload the photos above to your social media, email blasts, and website to share where your company will be in November!
Click HERE for the 2024 Shareable Graphics - Click on the photos to enlarge the image. Right-click on the image and select save-as to save onto your computer.
Click HERE, download and print postcards to give or mail to your customers.
Click HERE
to learn more about our additional traffic drivers opportunities for your company at the show!