This page has not been updated for 2015 yet. Please be patient!
General Policies
- Penguicon’s goal is to have a Dealers Room filled with a wide variety of quality merchandise. To facilitate this goal, dealers will be selected by a jury process.
- We’ll accept applications until November 2nd, 2013.
- If you are accepted as a Dealer, we’ll notify you by December 7th, 2013. The email will come from [email protected], so be sure to keep an eye on your spam filter in case it decides to be overly judicious. That email will contain payment instructions, as well as other important things you’ll need to know.
- If you’re accepted, you will have until January 10th, 2014 to purchase the table. If you’ve been accepted but have not paid, we’ll send you a reminder a week before. If you decide not to purchase a table, or the date lapses, your table will be sold to someone else.
- In order to preserve the sanctity of the Dealers Room, selling anything outside of The Dealers Room is expressly forbidden (with approved exceptions made for Artist Alley and sales related to official convention events). Anyone caught doing so will receive one warning, then have their badge revoked.
- Dealers will be expected to adhere to any applicable laws governing the sale of merchandise. No bootleg merchandise or copyright infringement will be allowed in Dealers Room.
- Merchants are responsible for collecting their own Michigan Sales Tax.
- Anyone working your booth must have a badge. One badge is included for every dealer; if you need more badges, you may request them when filling out your application at a discounted price. Any additional badges not pre-purchased with table will have to be purchased through registration at the regular price when you arrive. Badges grant the person wearing it full attendee rights — including free food, beverages, and beer in the Convention Hospitality Suite.
- This is a convention where people have fun and get rowdy at times, but please remember that the Dealers Room is a professional environment. If you see a person/friend shopping at another table, please do not distract them from their shopping.
Dealers Room Hours of Operation
The Dealer Room/Artist-Maker Space will be open to the public: Friday – 4pm to 8pm Saturday – 11am to 7pm Sunday – 11am to 3pm The Dealer’s Room will open 1 hour early for merchants every day before opening to the public. After the Dealer Room is locked for the night, there will be no admittance for any reason.
Setup Procedures
- Setup time on Friday will be at 12pm (noon, no sooner) to 4pm.
- Tables not claimed by close on Friday are forfeited.
- Your setup needs to be complete (or at least mostly) by 4pm on Friday for the fire marshall inspection. The fire marshall inspects for handicap access and fire escape routes.
- Your set-up and Merchandise must stay in your area.
- We will have a few volunteers for load in and load out; however, you should not rely on this additional benefit to be able to setup.
- If you need a cart, please bring one. Do not use the hotel luggage carts. The hotel may have flatbed carts available.
- Tables and chairs will be in your display area if you requested them.
- If you need electricity, please bring a heavy-duty extension cord.
During the Event…
- No infringing on your neighbors area. Example: If you have a clothing rack the bottom legs or wheels must be in your allotted area. Any hanging items cannot hang over someone else’s table or from hotel lights on the wall.
- Any questions or violation, contact the Dealer Room Minions. The minions are Penguicon staff members and can resolve or escalate issues as necessary. At least one will be in the room at all times.
- No candles, open flames or incense are allowed to be burning in the Dealers Room or any room of the hotel.
- Please do not wear excessive amounts of perfume or cologne.
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the hotel. There will be a designated smoking area outside.
Teardown Procedures
- The room will close on Sunday at 3pm. Please do not pull your vehicle into the loading area until you are completely packed as to not block the loading ramp. Everyone will have to use it.
- You must be finished with packing and out of the room by 6pm on Sunday.
- All trash must be removed from your area. The hotel will not clean it up. Any trash left becomes the responsibility of our Dealer Room Supervisor, who isn’t going to be happy. If your area isn’t cleaned, you may not be welcome back for future Penguicons… or, we may call your mother. Trash includes, but is not limited to: packing materials, merchandise boxes, price stickers dropped on the floor, cans, bottles and feathers.
We hope this FAQ has answered any questions you may have. If something hasn’t been covered, please contact the dealers staff at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to answer your questions in a timely fashion.
Dealer Room coordinator – Jamie Liss
Dealer Room Minions – Jo James, Ben James