Want to do an Event?

Here's some information on an upcoming event.I just got the application today but I'm not going this year. Check out the fee sections.
Dear Vendor,
The 2007 Fair Saint Louis will celebrate the 27th Anniversary of “Celebrating Community” and continue as “The Great American Celebration” in America’s heartland on the banks of the Mississippi July 3rd and 4th.
Last year Fair Saint Louis merged with Celebrate St. Louis and together we are continuing the tradition to produce an entire summer of great food, FREE quality national entertainment and phenomenal fireworks on the St. Louis Riverfront. Marketing efforts to educate festival goers about the importance of supporting the event by their food and beverage purchases.
Assurance that similar products won’t be sold within close proximity of one another.

“Recommended pricing” lists to protect your profit margins.
Upon commitment, information will be distributed regarding upcoming meeting dates. Also, please visit the new website at www.celebratestlouis.org for continuous entertainment and programming updates.

FAIR SAINT LOUIS 2008
LIVE on the Levee 2008
COMMERCIAL VENDOR INFORMATION
2008 Fair Saint. Louis, Tuesday, July 3 and Wednesday, July 4th
Fair Saint Louis is held around the National Park Service’s Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch), overlooking the historic downtown St. Louis Riverfront.

Tuesday July 3 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Live Music Great Food and Fantastic
Fireworks
Wednesday July 4 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Live Music, Great Food and
Fantastic Fireworks

2007 LIVE on the Levee
Every Friday and Saturday for 5 weeks

LIVE dates are as follows:
July 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 and August 3, 4
* All event times are from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Live Music, Great Food and Fantastic Fireworks

We are restricting the number of items that may be sold to four (4) per booth. Experience has shown that large numbers of items will slow down your sales performance. Every effort should be made to reduce the time needed for each purchase. Some vendors listing ice tea or lemonade on their application menu may be asked to eliminate that item.
COMMISSARY
There will be NO Commissary available for restocking of products. Please come prepared with enough inventories for one and half days of sales for FSL and 2 days for LIVE on the Levee.

APPLICATIONS FEES AND DUE DATE
A $500.00 check or money order payable to Hanpo, LLC must accompany your application for your 10’ x 30’ booth space by Friday, March 16. (Additional frontage is available, please see Booth Rent.)

Applications and fees are due immediately. The application fee will hold your booth space and will be used as a security deposit if selected as a vendor.
SALES TAX
Each booth is responsible for paying its own sales tax (7.616 %) in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Revenue will contact you after the Fair. Tax is computed on gross sales. When pricing products, take into consideration sales tax and percentage rent.
BOOTH RENT/PARKING
Rent for Fair Saint Louis is $3,500 for a 10’ x 30’ area for duration of event and $1000 for each additional 10’ x 10’ space thereafter. Rent for LIVE on the Levee is $7,500.00 for all ten (10) dates. (Vendor’s who participate will be obligated for the entire five (5) week period.Vendors are allowed access to their booths up to one hour prior to opening and beginning one hour after closing.

ELECTRICITY
Electricity is purchased in 20 amp increments:
120-volt first 20 amp single phasing $150.00
$150 for every 20 amp increment after that
120-volt first 20 amp double/triple phasing $400.00
$150 for every 20 amp increment after that
220-volt first 20 amp single/double/triple phasing $400.00
$150 for every 20 amp increment after that

Jack

I want to say OUCH, but then I see several days are involved.. I can imagine the start to be good with the holiday, but wonder what happens after that sales wise.

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic
I want to say OUCH, but then I see several days are involved.. I can imagine the start to be good with the holiday, but wonder what happens after that sales wise.

Oh I think your first impression is right on. By the time you add electricity, and all the other cost I think it's outrageously high. Travel time, gas,employees time,food cost, and insurance, you had better be able to sell a ton of food in a very short period of time.Throw in a little bad weather and you've lost a ton of money.
Jack

These events really piss me off. Why do these event organizers expect vendors (especially food vendors as we are always charged much more that other type of vendor)to pay for their so called "FREE" Event? These folks have already made their money in advance. They have no real incentive to promote the event as attendance doesn't really matter, except for profitable beverage sales that they control. Usually they can return unsold beverages for a full refund if attendance doesn't materialize.

The only thing they have on the line is their reputation, assuming they had one in the first place.

Events that chrage similar outragious rates and then turn around and also charge an attendance limiting admission tick me off even more.

WOW!!! I've paid high rent before but that takes the cake. The only person that makes any money on this event is the promoter

If you do these things to make money it's always a crap shoot. If you do them to build your customer base then it's a different decision. Will you be serving potential future customers? If the event is in your market area and you have the budget, consider giving something away free to get them to your store later. Now it's marketing and not sales.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr of BBQ

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic
I want to say OUCH, but then I see several days are involved.. I can imagine the start to be good with the holiday, but wonder what happens after that sales wise.

Oh I think your first impression is right on. By the time you add electricity, and all the other cost I think it's outrageously high. Travel time, gas,employees time,food cost, and insurance, you had better be able to sell a ton of food in a very short period of time.Throw in a little bad weather and you've lost a ton of money.
Jack

Jack

I have tried running #'s for this several ways, and each time I have come up with the same conclusion.
Bend Over and..... (You can figure the rest of that one out)

They are limiting you on what you sell and most likely won't let you sell drinks, which on a HOT JULY day in St Louis would sell QUICKLY.

I think I would definately skip this one.

Best think you can sell is frozen lemonade for $3-5

quote:

Originally posted by Rootsman
Best think you can sell is frozen lemonade for $3-5

From the contract "Some vendors listing ice tea or lemonade on their application menu may be asked to eliminate that item".
Jack

quote:

Originally posted by AlBondiga
If you do these things to make money it's always a crap shoot. If you do them to build your customer base then it's a different decision. Will you be serving potential future customers? If the event is in your market area and you have the budget, consider giving something away free to get them to your store later. Now it's marketing and not sales.

I can tell you've never done a really good event. First of all you don't have time to give anything away if it's a good event. More importantly if your doing an event in or very near your home town or business location a sign indicating where your business is will do the trick. But doing events is not always a crap shoot. Sure you have the weather to deal with but if you research the event carefully and the promoter even more carefully you'll know going in pretty much what to expect. If you don't do your research then your going to lose money one way or another.

LOL
Jack