Trade Show ??

KnuckleDownKnives

KnuckleDownKnives

Time to make the doughnuts..
Joined
Feb 12, 2015
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This is probably the wrong forum to be asking, but I want to get some information on what I may need in order to sell at knife shows. Where should I be posting my questions? Mainly questions on retail licencing stuff like that.
 
Each show promoter will help with those types of things. Usually each state and sometimes local governments will have rules and collect taxes and/or fees.

New Orleans was the worst. The guild had to make room for multiple state and local reps to set up and collect money from table holders at the end of the show.

Hoss
 
All you need to do for many shows is merely rent a table space. You are responsible to do any paperwork needed for the state ... if you choose to do so. Some folks are hobby sellers, and don't need a license, others run as a business and have tax numbers, licenses, etc. Check with the promoter or group operating the show. I would venture a guess that 95% of the guys at shows don't collect taxes or have licenses.
 
I use to attend lots of shows every year just not as a knife builder or seller but most all shows demand a copy of your insurance usually with the deposit. So be sure to ask rather than pay a deposit and show up and someone say we don't have a copy of your insurance. Just saying.
 
LCoop said:
I use to attend lots of shows every year just not as a knife builder or seller but most all shows demand a copy of your insurance usually with the deposit. So be sure to ask rather than pay a deposit and show up and someone say we don't have a copy of your insurance. Just saying.
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That's exactly why I started asking around here. I got a message back from the promoter with a phone number to the guy running it need to talk to with all the information. Calling him tomorrow.
 
LCoop said:
I use to attend lots of shows every year just not as a knife builder or seller but most all shows demand a copy of your insurance usually with the deposit. So be sure to ask rather than pay a deposit and show up and someone say we don't have a copy of your insurance. Just saying.
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"....demand a copy of your insurance."??
I've been doing knife shows for 18 years from Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota - even New York! - and was never once asked for insurance.
I've never been required to do anything other than pay the table fee.
 
I don't do knife shows per se, mostly western/cowboy/ranch roping type shows, my niche market. I have done shows that required insurance. If you didn't have your own they always have a "guy" to sell it to you just for the weekend. One of em I'm pretty sure was a racket cause have done the show since many times and no longer a deal. Have also done shows that want your tax id info. Did one out of state where the state was set up collecting sales tax from out of state vendors before you left. Have done one show here in CA where the state came through and collected id numbers.
 
Yeah I guess I should have been more specific. I meant the shows I attended that required insurance wasn't a knife and or gun show. But the shows were a lot more dangerous, wedding bridal shows! lol And actually I had to have a copy of my insurance or they would "provide" it for me for a fee. But pretty much every wedding show I attended required insurance to be a vendor at their show.
 
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Well the promoter told me not to worry about any licensing or anything for at least the first one. In SC if you don't sell at more than 1 show per year it's not required. If the chance they show up to the show and say anything they'll just give me the forms and have to mail them in with the $50 for the lifetime retail license.
 
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