Frequently Asked Questions for Vendors

To get on the mailing list for information on our next event, follow the instructions below. Over 3000 people will be attending this event. Can't make it but want to be part of the action? How about placing an ad in our Program Book. Click <<HERE>> for to download ad rates.

How do I get on your mailing list to receive registration info?

If you want to get information on participating in the Fetish Fair Fleamarket ^(TM), you need to send me a letter with your name, company name, address, PHONE NUMBER, e-mail address if you have one, and a description of what you sell, on paper, written out.  Don't e-mail it to me--I'll lose it and you'll never get your packet of info.  If you are really uncomfortable giving out information like your phone number or address, you really need to think seriously about how much you want to do this show.  Tell me if you need me to be discreet when calling you; I'll just say "fleamarket" and not mention fetish/leather/etc if that is necessary.  Send info to:

Cecilia Tan, FFF Director
c/o Circlet Press
PMB #278, 1770 Mass. Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140

How do I become a vendor?

See above.  Info packets go out to all interested parties about 2 months before the date of a show.  Depending on venue, space will be assigned either as first-come, first-serve, or may be done by a lottery.  Please do not try to send a deposit if we are not yet registering vendors for a particular fleamarket.

What does it cost to vend at the flea?

I try to keep overhead down as much as possible, to increase everyone's profit.  A typical space is between $100 and $125, with the maximum being around $350. You can pay more for specialties like electrical power, wall placement, etc, or, if you really only need tabletop space and not floor space we have a "low rent" option of $65 for small crafters (table top only display), but there is a limit of one per vendor on those.  The small crafter option is meant for folks who either don't have much to sell, aren't sure how much to invest, or just don't take up much space.

Why isn't the show longer?  Why not evening hours?  Why not two days?

In Boston, our current pattern is to run a weekend long fleamarket in the winter, and a one-day show in the summer. Check the main fleamarket info page for what upcoming dates have been booked.  The shorter events have their advantages, while longer events have a different set of advantages.  We will continue to adapt the event to fit both venues and the needs of the community.

I firmly believe that the shorter day/single day works to the advantage of the vendors by creating an atmosphere where the focus is on shopping and instant gratification, resulting in high volume sales in a short period of time.  Unlike a big leather conference, the thrust of the Flea is shopping and selling.  There are some other activities going on (demos, lectures, etc.) during the selling hours, but with shopping the main focus, people come with their money, expecting to buy.  This is why many vendors report they make more sales in the five or six hours of a single-day Fetish Flea than they do in two full days of a leather conference.  Wouldn't you rather just stand up for five hours of intense action than stand around bored for two days?

Now that we have tried a longer event, I can say that some vendors preferred the shorter event, while others found it worthwhile to spend more on travel and overhead in order to sell for longer hours, over both days.  One of the other advantages of the weekend-long event is that it allows us to take over an entire hotel for the weekend, which makes it affordable for us to inhabit that type of venue.

How much stuff should I bring to sell?  What can I expect?

Attendance at the last flea came close to 3500 people.  Prior to that, it was averaging more like 2200 people each time, but remember not everyone who walks in will buy everything they see or want...!   Are you coming from far away?   How difficult is it to pack your stock?   The audience is a mixture of male and female, gay and straight, married and single, suburban and urban.  There are practitioners of many styles of BDSM, plus those on the fringes of leather communities, goths, body art enthusiasts, science fiction fans, Renaissance Faire types.  Remember you only get two-three hours to set up, so don't over do it.  But when an item is hot or in demand, be sure you have more than one of it...  The crowd is also a mix of novices and experienced players.  Some people come intended to stock up and spend a lot, while others are there just to see what's available.  For many people this is their first ever fetish or leather event!

How can I get the most out of the fleamarket?

Bring business cards or catalogs.  Many people will want to refer to them later.  We also publish a program book that lists every vendor free of charge that will help attendees find you later if they regret not buying something on the spot or if they want custom work.  You can also buy ad space in the program book, which may help people to remember who you were or what product they wanted.  Have an attractive display, a nice table covering, maybe a nice-looking sign.  Note that if your items for sale are black, don't put them on a black table cover or no one will be able to see them.  Some vendors put out a candy dish to lure people closer... Have fun!  Use the flea as an opportunity to network, meet people, talk with other vendors.  The best sales pitch, I find, is not a sales pitch.

Do I have to take credit cards?  How about checks?

Some vendors of high priced items take as many as half their orders with credit cards, whereas others report less than 5% of their sales were with credit cards.  Many vendors accept only cash and seem to do good business.  We have had isolated cases of credit card and check fraud.

Should I worry about shoplifting?  How can I minimize it?

Most vendors have reported little or no shoplifting, although one vendor had one major loss in 1996 where he was tag-teamed by some smooth thieves.  Overall, try to have at least one employee or worker per 8 feet of frontage space in your vending area.  Don't let people loiter behind you if you are selling from racks or floor displays rather than a table top.  On a tabletop, if you have small, high priced items, keep them pinned to your table cloth or keep them under glass.  By and large this has not been a problem, but it is good to keep an eye out.  If you suspect someone, please ask them politely to show you.  If they are innocent, they will have no problem emptying their pockets.