What is Mermade Market?
Mermade Market is a 3-day, free, heavily curated, fresh, twice a year- show. We are located above the Harbor in Dana Point. We have 40% of our vendors inside an old church building that's been vacant for 30 years and just reopened it a few years ago! Much different than shows around here in So. Cal, half our show is a central checkout show..shoppers come in, grab a basket (and some taffy for kids & kicks), and shop without the vendors there. Our customers really love this because they can shop as they please. Our vendors find that they love it too because they don't have to be sales people for 3 days and can also have their busy lives! The other portion of the market is outside.. with 25 rotating makers each day! These are the makers that just can't part from their goods for a couple of days & are see & talk with you as the customer. Also outside, are fabulous food trucks, free kids crafts & goodies… and live music!
Who is the Mermade Team?
We are a husband and wife team- but the one you'll be talking to and seeing most of the time is me-Elise! Had the idea of starting a market back in 2010 and finally had the guts to just do it in 2014, pregnant with our second boy. We live close by in San Clemente. You can find us at the beach most days with three kiddos! You can read more about us here.
New to the team, Fall 2018, is Beth Butler! She is hardworking, great at communicating & a light to everyone in her life! She has 2 kiddos, a spanish teacher husband from San Clemente… and a cute pup.
Free admission?
YES!! Come!
Are you stroller friendly?
Yes! We get asked this a lot. As the show has grown, we highly recommend bringing a baby carrier if possible, with a single stroller. It can get pretty crowded during the opening morning hours.
What are my chances for getting a space as a maker?
Our inside space only allows 45 MAX. Outside, we have spots for 75 makers… 25 new each day. If you create a fresh product we haven’t seen before, or put a new spin to something we have seen, chances are high you’ll get in. You have great branding & a vision for your online brand? Yes.. can’t wait to have you.
How are makers selected?
The moment applications open & start coming in, we get the wheels turning. We are emailing applicants, requesting new content or a web page they didn’t provide... and we have them categorized. New Makers/Repeat Makers/Need improvement makers. We choose the freshest, best branded shops that come in. We also only select 1-3 makers in each category. 40 inside, 75 total outside.
Do you accept painter artists?
Depends on the art. If your art is being sold in galleries, let’s just tell you right now… our show is NOT a gallery, nor are our customers regularly visiting galleries to seek that one piece for their home. If you MUST come to Mermade for networking and some ad space, then great, but please apply for the outside section and keep your prices realistic. If you want to be an “inside maker”, you must make your work under $100, even maybe under $40.
Is it mandatory to be a "handmade" maker to be accepted?
For the most part, yes. We do not allow for “MLM” companies. If you have a curated shop where you wholesale items from a factory (like clothing) or wholesale from other shops, it’s all good. If we think you have a vision & are working hard to sell that product, let’s do this.
If I don't get in this time, can I get in the next?
Yes! We don't want to accept our old vendors a million times. We gotta keep it FRESH. If you weren't accepted, you were most likely given a reason why so that you can fix it by the next time! Or it was simply because there were 40 kids shoes applications and we could literally only accept one. No hard feelings!