VENDOR MARKET GUIDE
Welcome to the San Joaquin Clay & Glass Festival!
We’re thrilled to have you be part of this long-running Fresno tradition. For 45 years, the festival has brought together talented artists, makers, collectors, gift shoppers, and art lovers for a fun day celebrating handmade clay and glass.
This is a retail marketplace, and thousands of shoppers come ready to discover something special. Our goal is to create an energetic, welcoming environment where artists can showcase their work, connect with customers, make sales, and have a great time doing it.
Think of this guide as your festival playbook—with the important details, practical reminders, and ideas to help you make the most of your day.
Questions before the festival?
Contact Rhomie Thompson at festival@sjcga.org
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, November 21, 2026 • Festival Hours: 10 AM–3 PM
Friday Setup
You may begin setting up your booth on Friday, November 20 at 10AM.
Overnight security will be provided, but your booth must be securely anchored for overnight conditions. Tents must be secured with weights, tie-downs, or stakes. We will inspect booths to make sure they are safely secured in case of inclement weather.
Saturday Morning
Your booth must be fully set up and ready to welcome shoppers by 9 AM.
If you have not arrived by 9 AM, you will be considered a no-show and your space may be reassigned. Booth fees are non-refundable.
Vendor Parking
Vendor parking is off-site.
After unloading your vehicle at the festival, please move it to the northwest shopping center at Palm & Bullard Avenues, behind the car wash–a map will be provided.
All vendor vehicles must be moved from the festival area by 9:30 AM so on-site parking remains available for customers.
Please do not leave your vehicle in the festival parking area after unloading.
Tear-Down
Please stay with us until the very end!
No early packing or breakdown. The festival ends at 3 PM. After the event, please remove all trash and leave your space clean before departing.
WHAT YOU CAN SELL
Handmade clay and glass art
All work must be original, handcrafted work created by the exhibiting artist. Clay or glass must be the primary material of the finished piece.
Other materials may absolutely be incorporated into your work. For example, clay or glass pieces may include wood, metal, fiber, leather, beads, found objects, or other materials as part of the finished artwork—as long as clay or glass remains the primary material.
Products that fall outside of these guidelines—including clothing, textiles, books, or unrelated merchandise—are not appropriate for the festival and may not be displayed or sold.
If you're wondering whether a particular piece or product fits the festival, please contact us before the event. We're happy to answer questions and help clarify what belongs in your booth. When in doubt, just ask!
YOUR BOOTH & FEES
10' x 10' Booth Space or 6’ Table Space
Booth Fees: 10’ x 10” - $50
6’ Table Space - $40
Each vendor is responsible for providing their own tent, tables, chairs, display fixtures, and other booth equipment.
Commission
The SJCGA collects a 10% commission on sales.
Why do we do it this way? Keeping the booth fee low and collecting a percentage of sales allows us to make the festival accessible to artists without requiring a large upfront investment.
Your commission helps support the festival and the work of the San Joaquin Clay & Glass Association.
Please keep accurate sales records and calculate your 10% commission carefully. If you have questions about how to calculate or report your sales, we're happy to help.
BOOTH SPACE & DISPLAY GUIDELINES
We want every booth to look welcoming, professional, and thoughtfully curated. Since vendors are positioned very close together, please be mindful of your space and your neighbors.
Stay Within Your Booth
Everything must fit within your assigned 10' x 10' space. There are only a few inches between most booths, so please keep displays, tables, products, signs, chairs, and other items within your footprint.
Certain booth locations, such as end spaces, may have additional room beyond the 10' x 10' footprint. If your assigned space allows for this, we will let you know. Additional space is not guaranteed and should not be assumed when planning your booth.
You may extend slightly forward of the front of your tent, but you may not block or narrow customer walkways.
Keep Storage Out of Sight
Boxes must be covered. Many booth backs face the parking lot, and visible boxes create an unfinished look. Any stored boxes must be completely covered and out of sight.
Store boxes and supplies under tables and covered with a floor-length tablecloth, or completely out of sight and out of the way.
Sharing a Booth
Two vendors may share one 10' x 10' booth. Both vendors must sign the Vendor Agreement and are responsible for following all festival requirements.
Please curate your shared booth as one cohesive space. Coordinate displays, colors, signage, and product placement so the booth feels intentional and inviting.
6' Table Spaces
For vendors who choose 6' table space, the SJCGA will provide the table if needed. You must provide a floor-length tablecloth that reaches the ground.
You may bring your own 6' table set-up instead and may add small tables, crates, risers, or other display elements, as long as everything stays within your assigned area.
Table-space vendors may also bring an umbrella for shade. We recommend a solid neutral color umbrella with a sturdy, appropriate stand. Please avoid colorful beach umbrellas so the overall festival maintains a clean, cohesive aesthetic.
All umbrellas must remain safely within your assigned space and may not interfere with walkways or neighboring vendors.
WHAT TO BRING
Use this as your pre-festival packing list:
Your finished products
10' x 10' tent or 6’ table space set up.
Mandatory tent weights, tie-downs, or stakes
Tables and chairs
Tablecloths or other finished surfaces
Shelves, risers, racks, or display fixtures
Large, readable business signage
Clearly marked prices
Payment system, such as Square
Reliable cellular/data plan
Cash and plenty of change
Shopping bags, boxes, tissue, or other packaging
Business cards or promotional materials
Helpers for setup and teardown
Water, snacks, and anything you need to stay comfortable
Insurance, not required but recommended
TENT & SAFETY
A 10' x 10' tent is required.
White or beige tents are preferred. Please use a tent without large branding, patterns, or distracting designs so the overall festival maintains a cohesive, professional appearance.
We recommend EZ-UP-style tents with straight legs rather than slanted sports or beach canopies.
Weights are mandatory. Your tent must be properly secured for both the festival and overnight conditions.
Protect Your Work
We highly recommend zip-up or zippered tent walls for extra protection.
Tent walls provide an additional layer of security for your artwork, especially when your booth is set up overnight. They can help protect your work from wind, weather, and neighboring activity, while also giving your booth a more polished, finished appearance.
Canvas or fabric walls can also help create a defined space and provide additional privacy between neighboring booths.
Insurance
Event insurance is not required, but we highly recommend obtaining ACT insurance or similar event coverage to protect yourself, your inventory, and your business during the festival.
It’s a relatively simple precaution that can provide peace of mind when participating in an outdoor marketplace.
https://www.actinsurance.com/art-shows-and-festivals-insurance
MAKE YOUR BOOTH YOUR STORE
Your booth isn't just a place to put your work—it's your storefront for the day. You have a small space and a lot of opportunity. Think about what will make someone walking past stop, look, and step inside.
Make a strong first impression.
Put your most eye-catching pieces where shoppers can see them immediately. Don't hide your best work in the back!
Create height.
Tables alone can make a booth feel flat. Use shelves, risers, crates, pedestals, or display stands to create different levels and draw the eye upward.
Group your work.
Organize pieces by collection, color, function, price point, or style. A thoughtful arrangement makes browsing easier and helps customers understand your work.
Keep it clean.
Your booth should feel intentional and inviting. Remove empty boxes, packaging materials, personal belongings, and clutter from view.
Make pricing easy.
Customers shouldn't have to ask the price of every piece. Clear, readable pricing makes shopping more comfortable and helps customers make decisions.
Don't forget your name.
Have a large, easy-to-read sign with your business name. If someone loves your work but doesn't buy today, make it easy for them to find you later.
CREATE AN EXPERIENCE
Think about the feeling you want your booth to create.
Maybe it's calm and minimalist. Maybe it's colorful and energetic. Maybe it's rustic, sophisticated, playful, or completely unexpected.
You get to create the vibe.
Beautiful presentation, interesting displays, thoughtful packaging, and a little storytelling can turn a quick browse into a memorable experience.
CONNECT WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS
Your work is the reason people stopped. Your story is often the reason they buy.
Be welcoming.
A smile and a simple "Hi! Thanks for coming!" can make someone feel comfortable entering your booth.
Be approachable.
Give shoppers room to browse, but stay engaged and available when they have questions.
Know your craft.
Be ready to talk about your materials, techniques, process, and inspirations. When customers ask, tell your story!
Be prepared to share a little about who you are, what inspires you, how you make your work, and what makes it special. Customers love connecting with the person behind the art, and a good story can turn a beautiful piece into something they truly value.
Stay engaged.
Put the phone away when possible. Move around your booth, straighten displays, interact with your work, and pay attention to shoppers.
Let people touch!
When appropriate, encourage customers to pick up and experience your work. Handmade objects are meant to be seen—and often felt.
DON'T FORGET YOUR NEIGHBORS
Introduce yourself to the artists around you!
The festival is about more than selling. It's also a chance to meet other makers, share ideas, exchange resources, and build creative relationships.
Your neighboring artist could become a future collaborator, friend, studio connection, or source of your next great idea.
And let's be honest—having someone nearby to watch your booth while you grab a bathroom break is pretty great, too.
PROMOTE YOUR PARTICIPATION
We work hard to bring shoppers to the festival through:
Social media
Email marketing
Online event listings
Local publications and television
Posters and postcard handouts
Word-of-mouth promotion
But the strongest promotion is all of us promoting together.
Social Media
Let your followers know you'll be at the festival!
Tag @sanjoaquinclayandglass on Instagram
Repost the reels and posts created by the SJCGA
Consider sharing
A sneak peek of what you're bringing
A favorite piece
A behind-the-scenes studio video
A "What I'm bringing to the festival" post
A special festival-only piece or promotion
A photo of you making your work
Email Your Customers
If you have an email list, invite your customers personally. Tell them where you'll be and give them a reason to come see you.
Invite Your People
Friends, family, collectors, coworkers, neighbors, and past customers can all become festival shoppers. We will provide you with postcards and posters for you to distribute in your workplaces and neighborhoods.
The more people who know you're here, the better!
BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS
All vendors must have a valid California Seller’s Permit to participate in the festival. Seller’s Permits are issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and can be obtained through their website.
Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable local, state, and federal business licensing, seller’s permit, sales tax, and use tax requirements.
Please bring a copy of your current California Seller’s Permit with you to the festival. SJCGA staff may ask to see your permit during check-in or at any time during the event.
The SJCGA provides the marketplace and event venue. Each vendor is responsible for maintaining their own business compliance and understanding their tax obligations for sales made at the festival.
A FEW SMART SALES TIPS
Have gift-ready packaging.
Boxes, bags, tissue, and simple presentation can make purchasing handmade work feel even more special.
Have a backup payment plan.
Technology is wonderful—until it isn't. Bring cash, a backup payment option, and a reliable data connection.
Have business cards.
Not everyone will buy today. Give interested shoppers an easy way to find you later.
Bring your best energy.
People remember how a place made them feel. A friendly, enthusiastic artist can make a booth memorable long after the festival ends
MOST IMPORTANT: HAVE FUN!
You spent countless hours making the work that brought you here.
Take a breath. Look around. Talk to people. Meet other artists. Enjoy seeing your work displayed together. Celebrate the fact that you're part of a creative community that has been gathering around clay and glass for 45 years in beautiful Central Valley California.
And, of course... Sell lots of art!
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
Never done a show before? Feeling a little nervous? That’s okay—we’ve got you!
We want you to feel prepared, confident, and excited to be part of the festival. If you have questions, please ask!
Not sure how to set up your booth? Wondering how much inventory to bring? Curious about how other artists price their work? Not sure what’s expected of you or what you should bring?
We’re happy to help.
Whether this is your first market or you’re a seasoned vendor, there are always questions—and we’d much rather have you ask than worry about it.
Reach out to Rhomie Thompson at festival@sjcga.org with anything you’re wondering about. We’re here to help you have a successful, enjoyable festival experience.
You make the art. We’ll help you navigate the market.