Vendors Insurance

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Apr 22, 2014
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I've gotten to the point where I want to start selling my wares at local Craft Fairs, specifically the local Renaissance Faire. Some of these places require me to have insurance. Anyone here know of a good source? Who do you use? I found one site that specializes in craft fairs, but they wont do knives. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
While I am sure you will get advice here, too, the place you need to be asking is an insurance agent. Call one that specializes in small businesses and clubs. IIRC our Scottish Society uses State Farm.

The fair probably requires basic liability insurance from the vendors. This is usually a $1,000,000 policy. Our society pays about $250 a year, IIRC.

Just because they ask for it, don't run out and get a policy. Get specifics from the fair directors on what type of coverage and limits they require. In some cases they ask for your insurance certificate, but if you press the issue, they don't actually require it.

Another way to get around the insurance requirement is to be a demonstrator. Those folks usually get to sell their wares in return for doing the demonstrations. They are covered under the fair's insurance as being part of the fair.
 
I've gotten to the point where I want to start selling my wares at local Craft Fairs, specifically the local Renaissance Faire. Some of these places require me to have insurance. Anyone here know of a good source? Who do you use? I found one site that specializes in craft fairs, but they wont do knives. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

google "liability insurance" and go from there. make a cutting board or two. i said i made cutting boards, utensils and related cooking tools.
scott
 
I have business liability through my home owners policy due to operating as a farm. American family.
 
google "liability insurance" and go from there. make a cutting board or two. i said i made cutting boards, utensils and related cooking tools.
scott

My concern here is that I trust insurance companies about as far as I can throw an elephant. If I need to make a claim involving an axe, dagger, or whatnot, I am pretty sure they will jump all over that kind of discrepancy in order to refuse a claim.

I don't have homeowners insurance, only on my car.
 
My concern here is that I trust insurance companies about as far as I can throw an elephant. If I need to make a claim involving an axe, dagger, or whatnot, I am pretty sure they will jump all over that kind of discrepancy in order to refuse a claim.

I don't have homeowners insurance, only on my car.

You just need to be up front, so "oddities" like that are put into the policy in clear language. I've had nothing but good experiences with American Family, and insure everything with them because of it. I have an abnormally (apparently) large gun collection, and rather than special insurance, I have riders in my policy giving me full coverage, all I have to do is keep a log of what I own, which I do anyway. But the trick is that they know about it up front, and not after the fact.

FWIW, since my wife and I have been with AF, we've had a total claim on a Harley Superglide that I crashed, a 2 year old car that my father in law fell asleep at the wheel in, and a comprehensive claim for a deer strike on my wife's car, and our rates really haven't changed, and the claims process was painless. I've heard enough horror stories that the way they've treated us has made me a customer for life.
 
This isn't that type of insurance. It is liability insurance against a claim of damage or injury. If someone gets cut/stabbed, or your forge burns the tents down, there is a $1,000,000 policy to pay the damage. It isn't you who is being protected ... it is the fair.

The church our society meets at requires we have a liability policy for the same reasons. When a parade or event is held, the host/location almost always require this type insurance. Same for renting a shop or store space. It covers the place from claims, not you.

If you have a business policy ( which covers you and your business) the liability policy is part of that insurance.
 
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