PACKET: one

True North (TN) began as a small 1,000 square foot store downtown Morris in 2013 with 12 vendors. Over time we have grown to nearly 30,000 square feet with 250 vendors. The store is open 7 days a week, 10am-7pm. Closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Read this packet. Keep your booth full. Price your items at home. Price the items affordably. Restock on a regular basis. Rotate your merchandise. Make sure your tags are legible. Have a good attitude. Ask questions. Communicate. Be a team player. Have fun.

The event schedule is on this website. Keep it handy. Restock before event days and soon after. The store tends to be busy on event days. Vendors are not required to participate or attend events. No restocking during events! Share events on your social media.

There are many events in Morris, such as 3 French Hens Market and more. We will notify you of upcoming events in your monthly email, but we ask you to treat these like TN event days. No restocking.

Make your space what you want. It’s your own mini store. Paint, wallpaper, give it a personality. Don’t worry about what others are doing. TN is 250 different personalities, and that’ s what make shopping our store fun.

One: Fill your entire space.
Two: Keep your space changing.
Three: Price the majority of your items under $20.

Don’t just think horizontal, think vertical. Build up to 8′ high. Customers will ask the staff to reach items. Have shelves & props for sale. A booth shouldn’t be “pretty” like a home, it should be full and feel like a treasure hunt. Use all your space. Stack. Ask staff for ideas.

When pricing, consider what you would pay for it. Don’t use eBay as a price a guide. Place tags on the bottom or back. Avoid string tags. Try not to price items less than $1.00. Never less than .25 cents. Use whole numbers such as $2, not $2.99.

Put sticker tags on the back or bottom. The customer will need to pick it up to check the price, therefore creating an emotional attachment. Use good tags. (one or two). Do not use string tags. All items, even NFS (not for sale) must have your vendor number. For clothing, use a safety pinned tag.

Break apart sets when possible. You will sell one tea cup faster than a set of eight. Same with glassware, book sets, dish collections, etc. Each piece of a set needs a tag (tea cups w/ saucers, salt & pepper, etc.) Include ‘1 of 2’ or ‘w/saucer’ on the tag. The word ‘set’ gets confusing. Include vendor number on both.

The average item sold is $5. Put small items in baggies if it can not be priced with a tag. Do not use ziploc bags. (sample) We strive for a finished look. For added security, staple a card or paper on the top. Shop TN for examples.

Jewelry can be tricky. Avoid string tags, they tangle and fall off. We suggest these for necklaces, rings, brooches, and bracelets. You are allowed to have a locked case for items if you wish. Tip: put earrings on playing cards or old photos. Don’t forget, price on back.

TN asks all vendors to sign a non-compete agreement. This means vendors are not allowed to “play store” in other retail locations in Grundy County. This does not include participating in markets, events or garage sales.

We suggest all vendors sign up for direct deposit. Your sales check will arrive much quicker than if mailed. If you owe rent, you will receive a PayPal invoice. The name on the contract must match the Tax ID/social security and the bank account.

Vendors are required to sign a 4 month contract. After the initial 4 months, the contract auto renews monthly. Please fill out every section and click submit. You will not be allowed to move in without submitting the contract here.