Melbourne Design Market FAQs

View Melbourne Design Market trader application form.


When and where is the Melbourne Design Market held?
What can I sell at the Melbourne Design Market?
What will be provided for traders?
Can I park my car there?
What about the weather?
Who can attend the Market?
Can anyone have a trader stall at the Market?
What time should I arrive and pack up?
How will the public hear about the Market?
If my application is accepted, what type of marketing material should I provide?
Can I sell by catalogue?
What about signage?
What if I don’t have credit card facilities available at the Market?
Can I have more than one stall on the day?
What about staffing?
What about Public Liability Insurance?
Will there be power?
What other facilities will be available?
Will there be food and entertainment?
How much space will I have?
What if I have to cancel my application?
How much does it cost to hold a stall?
What’s next?


When and where is the Melbourne Design Market held?

The Melbourne Design Market is held on Sunday 20th July 2008, from 10am – 5pm at Federation Square undercover carpark.
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What can I sell at the Melbourne Design Market?

Consider Melbourne Design Market an open-air extension of your showroom or studio: you may choose to display a selection of goods that you would normally sell, or use this opportunity to launch a new product or service. Items under $100 sell more readily, but this should not exclude larger items being part of the story.

As part of the site online application form we will ask you to describe and attach 1-2 PowerPoint slide(s) of what you plan to sell at the market.
Please note that consumable food and beverages (as listed in the terms and conditions) must not be sold at the market, unless you hold a City of Melbourne food licence and are registering yourself as catering trader via the food trader site application form (available on application).
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What will be provided for traders?

Two standard trestle tables with quality linen white cloths, two chairs and stall signage will be provided for each stall at Melbourne Design Market.

Trestle table sizes:1 x 2.4m and 1 x 1.8m

Other equipment, such as clothes racks and easels can be ordered through Melbourne Design Market administration: email market@nationaldesigncentre.com to indicate your needs.
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Can I park my car there?

Yes. Once you have delivered all the components for your stall you will need to remove your vehicle from the market site into the lower floors of the car park, although there is a grace period of 30 mins for stallholders to remove their cars without charge during bump-in.

Please note that every vehicle that enters the car-park is charged a flat rate of around $8 for the entire day. Vehicles are not permitted within the market site during the market operating hours.
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What about the weather?

The show will go on, whatever the weather!

The car park is an enclosed space, providing shelter from rain and wind. Lighting and heating will be provided throughout the market vicinity.
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Who can attend the Market?

Melbourne Design Market is a public event, so anyone and everyone can attend free of charge. The venue has wheelchair access.
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Can anyone have a trader stall at the Market?

No. Only high quality design products and design-led businesses are permitted. A panel will consider each trader application individually on its merit, selecting those that demonstrate sensitivity to design and the intention to sell goods that are of high quality. Not for profit and other businesses will also be considered for trader sites – these opportunities will be limited. A proportion of stall spaces are reserved for new stallholders each year.
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What time should I arrive and pack up?

Bump-in commences at 7:30am and a second ‘wave’ at 8:15am. Between 7:30am and 9:00am traders will have access to the site to drop off any goods to their site. At 9:00am no vehicles will be allowed onsite, and all vehicles must be out of the market area. At 9.30am there will be a Traders’ Safety Briefing in the main entrance – each stall must send at least one representative to this 5 minute briefing. Official trading begins at 10am – all traders must be ready for business before 10am.

Trading must finish at 5pm. Between 5.30-6pm, or at the earliest moment that the site is determined safe for vehicle access, traders will be given vehicle access to the site. Bump-out must be completed by 7.30pm. All traders will be briefed in more detail about the bump-in and out process prior to the event.
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How will the public hear about the Market?

Melbourne Design Market will be promoted through a publicity and promotional campaign as one of the major events of the Melbourne International Design Festival, produced by the National Design Centre.
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If my application is accepted, what type of marketing material should I provide?

A short company background document/biography, product information and prices, and high resolution product images (JPEG format, 300dpi, maximum 2MB file size) should be posted on a CD to: Maureen Devlin, National Design Centre, PO Box 18235 Collins St East, Melbourne Vic 8003.
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Can I sell by catalogue?

An important objective of the Melbourne Design Market is to make good design visible and accessible to the community. As such, you are welcome to supplement sales with catalogues and by taking orders, but our preference is that you make the most of your stall space by bringing a range of physical products for display and sale.
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What about signage?

We will provide external stall signage with the name of each business or designer.
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What if I don’t have credit card facilities available at the Market?

It is a stipulation of the MDM Management that all traders provide purchasers with the option of using not only cash but also credit card/eftpos. This can be done independently or by using the facility described here:

The Market office will have credit card facilities set up. Each transaction will be recorded, held in the festival account, and then payments will be forwarded to your account. If you require the Market office to provide you access to banking facilities on the market day you must register your account details with us prior to the event. We will not be able to set up accounts on the day.
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Can I have more than one stall on the day?

Depending on availability, traders are very welcome to request as many sites as they wish. The Market office will advise you if your application has been successful.
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What about staffing?

Each trader is responsible for their own staffing needs.
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What about Public Liability Insurance?

Traders must have their own public liability insurance for conducting business outside of normal premises. Melbourne Design Market and its employees must be released from any claims by traders. A scanned copy of your liability insurance must accompany the site application form. Emerging designers without insurance can obtain insurance for the day with the MDM for a small fee – please indicate this on the application.
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Will there be power?

There is access to power through power onsite. If you require power you must indicate very clearly on the application form exactly what your requirements are. If you notify us after your application has been processed we may not be in a position to assist you with your power requirements, depending on other traders who have already been accommodated. There is a charge of $70 for access.
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What other facilities will be available?

First aid, OHS, security, stall signage, gas heating, lighting and credit card facilities via Market office.
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Will there be food and entertainment?

Yes.
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How much space will I have?

Each single site is approximately 2.5x5m. Double sites are double the size and so forth. Depending on the site, there may be an opportunity to hang visual material from overhead beams or walls. Sites are positioned 2.5m across the ‘front’ of the stall, and 5m deep, (just as a carpark space is).
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What if I have to cancel my application?

The Market office can only process refunds for traders who notify us in writing prior to the 10th July 2008. All cancellations post this date will be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of the National Design Centre.
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How much does it cost to hold a stall?

Single site fee incl. gst (approx. 2.5x5m) – $430
Intermediate site fee incl. gst (approx. 3.75m x 5m) – $580
Double site fee incl. gst (approx. 5x5m) – $740
Super site fee (size on application) – $POA
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What’s next?

To apply for a stall, visit www.nationaldesigncentre.com , click on the Melbourne Design Market link and complete the online application form. (We will no longer be accepting faxed applications unless by prior arrangement.) This needs to be done by 5pm Wednesday June 4th, 2008.

Please note that stalls for Melbourne Design Market are limited and we are not able to guarantee a market space for each application. Participation in previous years does not guarantee selection.

If successful, you will be sent an acceptance letter with further details and information. Once payment is forwarded by cheque, direct transfer or credit card your site is confirmed. Closer to the date emails will give a running sheet and site map (covering bump-in and out process) and other more detailed reminders for the day.

If you have any other queries, email Elizabeth Collins at market@nationaldesigncentre.com
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