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 10,000 square feet with 125 vendors. The store is open 7 days a week, 10am-7pm. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

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

Ask for a copy of the event schedule. 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.

Don’t just think horizontal, think vertical. Build up to8′ high. Customers will ask the staff to reach items. Have shelves & props for sale. It 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 would you 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.

Break apart sets when possible. You will sell one tea cup faster than a set of eight. Same with glassware, book sets, dish collections, more. Each piece of a set needs a tag (tea cups w/ saucers, salt & pepper, etc.) Include ‘set’ or ‘set of two’ on the tag.

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 signa non compete agreement. This does not allow vendors to “play store” in other retail location in Grundy County. This does not include participating in markets, events or garage sales. We are trying to do something different.

We suggest all vendors can 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 signa 3 month contract. After the 3 months, the contract auto renews monthly. Please fill out everyone section and click submit. You will not be allowed to move in without submitting the contract here.