Applicant FAQ

We’re excited to announce our 4th Annual Holiday Show! Good luck and thank you for your interest!

When and where is the 4th Annual Holiday Show being held?
The Holiday Show will be held Saturday and Sunday December 3&4, from 11am-6pm. The show takes place in the Penthouse of California Market Center in Downtown LA.

How much does it cost to participate and what does it include?
Aside from your space for two days there are numerous extras that we include for our vendors… Your business name and booth number will be printed in 20,000 copies of the free directory and map we give the shoppers. You will also get your business name and link on our website. Plus each vendor also gets 5 free guest passes ($50 value), to allow friends, buyers and family to come to the show.
- 6 foot Table Spot* (includes a 6ft table and 2 chairs): $250 + $25 application fee
- 10X10 Booth (includes a 6ft table and 2 chairs + lighting provided): $500 + $25 application fee
- 10X20 Booth (includes a 6ft table and 2 chairs + lighting provided): $1000 + $25 application fee
*Please note that the Table Spot is literally a table, not a booth. A Table Spot is for ONE vendor only with small items that fit on a table/in an area 6ft X 3ft (such as jewelry, edibles and stationery).

How do I apply and submit payment? What is the deadline?
All interested sellers, including past vendors, must fill out the Application and send the two required payment checks post-marked no later then midnight Friday October 14th, 2011. Applications will not be considered unless we receive the 2 payment checks. One check is for the non-refundable $25 application fee. The amount for the second check depends on what size space you choose: $500 for 10X10, $1000 for 10X20, $250 for a 6 ft Table Spot. CHECKS MUST BE PAYABLE TO ‘UNIQUE INC.’ (not Unique LA) and should list your corresponding Business Name in the memo area, so we know who it’s from. Payments should be sent to Unique Inc. at 440 Seaton Street #206, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Applications are online here.
*If you are sharing a booth, please help us by sending just one envelope with the $25 application fee check and one booth payment check. Please list all sharing vendor business names in the memo area of the checks. Thx!

I want to share a booth, how should we apply?
Each person sharing the booth (maximum of three vendors) must fill out the application so we have all of your email addresses and contact information. Simply choose the “Shared” space option in the designated field on the application, and then provide the names of ALL the vendors in the space (including yours). Also please see the above FAQ question to see how to make the payment. THX!

Are there equipment rentals available, such as tables and chairs?
Tables and chairs are provided at UNIQUE LA! However if you’d like to rent additional equipment from our rental provider all accepted vendors will get more information and pricing details once accepted. And of course vendors are always free to bring anything they’d like to use for their space including furniture. :)

Is my application fee refundable? What do you do with my checks?
Sorry, the $25 check for the application fee is non-refundable, and is used to cover the growing admin and staff costs associated with reviewing the hundreds and hundreds of applications each show. If you are not accepted we shred all space fee checks – we first however email you and give you the option of having us send back your Booth Fee check via snail mail. :)

How do you choose the vendors?
To ensure the vendors are diverse, match the aesthetic of the show, and meet shoppers’ expectations, UNIQUE LA is juried. There is more demand then we have room for, so please understand that we cannot accept everyone – about 600 people will apply for 300 spots. Rest assured that we review and consider every single application, and the corresponding website and product images.

When will I know if I’m accepted or not?
We will notify everyone by email on Friday October 21st, whether you’ve been accepted or not. Remember to check your junk mail folder and add ‘uniquela@gmail.com’ to your safe list, as we send mass emails which may get flagged by your email provider as junk!

What if I need to cancel?
If you need to cancel you must notify us via email by Friday October 28th to receive a refund of your Booth Fee. Any cancellations after October 28th will not get a refund – you forfeit your fee and spot. If you have to cancel because of an urgent family or health matter, you will be given a booth at the next show.

When do selected vendors set-up?
Move-in for all vendors takes place on Friday, December 2nd, 2011. Accepted vendors receive a move-in schedule with detailed instructions closer to the show.

Do I need a vendor’s permit?
All vendors are responsible for registering with the IRS, and collecting sales tax. When it’s time to do your taxes, you’ll have to pay income tax on items you sold, plus pay California sales tax. We recommend that you call California’s department of revenue and the IRS for more info:

California Dept. of Revenue: 1-800-852-5711 or www.ftb.ca.gov
IRS: 1-800-829-4933 or www.irs.gov

Do I have to live in LA to participate?
No, our goal is to get people to buy local, meaning ‘made in America’. 85% of the vendors reside in California, but we accept people from all over the country from Brooklyn to Portland to Dallas. If your line is not made in the US, you’ll have to explain why in your application. We do accept a handful of vendors who don’t make their products in the US, but we weigh it on what value the product brings to consumers: For example San Francisco company Earthlust’s reusable bottles are made in China, however they use ethical production practices and more important, we believe in their eco-products.

Who visits the show?
We attract an amazing demographic of shoppers who are design-savvy, affluent and take pride in spending money on local-made products. We expect around 20,000 shoppers at the Holiday Show. They are trendsetters who have exceptional taste and style, and truly support independent art and design. Many celebrities such as Jimmy Kimmel, Sandra Oh, Ricky Gervais and Jason Lee have been spotted at our events. Take a look at photos from previous events here!