Merchants in Attendance - 2013

This was a large number of merchants for the Illini C space, but we got them all to fit. Next year we might have to allow fewer merchants or limit the square footage for each of them.

• Neverland Design
• The Twisted Unicorn 
• Otter Necessities -- This merchant was egregiously rude (to the point of being nasty) to the merchant liaison on the day of the event. I would not recommend inviting them back.
• Viking Archery Supply
• Hearthstone Arts
• Celtic Sun 
• Calontir Trim 
• Dragon Skin Leather Works
• Lady MacSnood 
• Folump Enterprises 
• Firefly Jewels 
• Costume Ladies 
• Bast's Creations 
• Halden Creations 
• Hoard Silver 

(Cindy or Roana -- which was the merchant whom we meant to blacklist this year, but accidentally allowed them to come back? Was it Dragon Skin?)

Information for Merchants -- update for 2014

1. There is no Merchant site fee in addition to the basic individual site fee.
2. Merchants will be allowed to pull their vehicles up closer to the door nearest the Merchant Room for easier drop-off. When you arrive at the site, speak to the gentles who are directing parking for directions on the best route.
3. An advantage of the Illini Union site is additional traffic from the non-SCA university populace, which means a wider market for sales. Merchants at last year's Festival of Maidens were selling items to students, staff, faculty, and visitors to the university who were attracted to the event by all the people in pretty costumes and awesome stuff going on. There is definitely a market here for affordable impulse purchases that would be of interest to non-SCA folk as well as our established populace.
4. The Illini Union used to require a 15% cut of all sales at the event. This is no longer true.

In order to operate a merchant's booth at Maidens:

1. Contact our Merchant Liason, Cindy Mann, with the following information BY DECEMBER 20:
• Your name & the name of your business
• Your phone number, email, other contact information if applicable
• A general description of the items you typically sell (NOT an inventory. I.e., costumes, jewelry, etc.)
• Preferred space requirements: table, corner booth, etc.

   

2. To avoid potential conflict with the Illini Union bookstore, we ask that you please do not bring any books to sell at this event.

    

For more information, please contact Cindy Mann at (email) or visit the Illini Union website at http://union.illinois.edu/.