UNIQUE x PLATFORM FAQ
What are the dates and times of the UNIQUE X PLATFORM?
There will be two weekends of Unique at Platform.
September 15th and 16th
and September 22nd and 23rd
The market takes place from 10am-5pm
Vendor move-in starts at 8AM
Vendor move-out begins at 5PM and ends at 6PM. All vendor's must be completely vacated by 6:00 PM.
You cannot leave anything overnight at Platform, there will be complete breakdown and set up every morning/evening.
Where is it held?
At Platform in Culver City.
- 8850 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA 90232
How much does it cost to participate?
It costs $500 to participate for one weekend at Platform. If you are applying for both weekends (a total of 4 days) it is $1000
It costs 30 dollar non-refundable fee to apply.
What does the vendor fee include?
The vendor fee includes a 10x10 space, a sign with your business name and an 8 ft umbrella if you are exposed to the sun . You can set up your space however you'd like. Please bring whatever can fit to help you sell and be UNIQUE, such as a table, chairs, racks etc.. Be sure to be courteous and kind to your neighbors. Be aware: We will be dealing with a completely outdoor venue, which means the sun moves and your products will be exposed to the sun at different points of the day.
What's vendor placement like?
There will be no tents allowed, we will make sure there is enough shade and we want to keep the look chic, minimal and uniform.
It would be wise to visit Platform to get an idea of the space, it's beautiful! We will be placing vendors along the street (sidewalk facing Washington blvd) amongst the stores on the sidewalk, and also in the lot under the train tracks which is fenced in.
We will not be accepting any placement requests. We are tactful and thoughtful about placement for optimal success for each specific business in respect to the tenants, overall there is not a bad spot at Platform :)
No electricity will be provided. Note: this event will be outside.
Do I have to purchase a booth at the same time of my application submission?
No, you will be paying just the the non-refundable application fee when you submit the application. When/if you are accepted We will invoice you via email. You must pay within 48 hours of the invoice. We will reach out once more to collect payment if we have not received it. And if you do not respond, we will automatically give your space to a new vendor.
Do I have to have my own insurance?
Yes! You must hold your own insurance and auto-liability. We are not responsible for lost/stolen/damaged products and we or the event space are not liable for auto-insurance on the premises.
Will you provide Wifi?
Yes Wifi will be available from the event space. That information will be inluded in the vendor packet. It is always a smart idea to have a hotspot or personal data usage for payment methods in case of wifi problems.
Will you provide free parking for the vendors day-of the event?
Yes there will be 1 validated parking per day per booth space.
Do my products have to made in the U.S.A?
No. Our goal is to support American owned, small businesses and designers (which sometimes means some of their products are made elsewhere). The goal of Unique Markets is to showcase goods that are designed, made and sold by the owners themselves. We pride ourselves on getting the community to discover and interact with amazing entrepreneurs.
Can I share a space with another vendor?
No, there can only be one vendor per space.
How do you choose the vendors?
To ensure the vendors are diverse, match the aesthetic of the show, and meet shoppers’ expectations, UNIQUE LA is juried. We look for small businesses that are modern and have products that we think our customers would purchase. We also choose businesses that are ready and are at scale to be able to sell at a market our size. Rest assured that we review and consider every single application, and the corresponding website and product images. Your website, social media channels, submitted photos and application are the only things we have to determine whether or not you are accepted.
When will I know if I’m accepted or not?
Applications close at the begging of August and you will be notified of acceptance by August 6th. If you are accepted you will receive an invoice via the email you put on the application. You must pay that invoice within 48 hours. The 30 dollar application fee is non-refundable and you must pay it during the time of application.
What if I need to cancel?
There will be no cancellations.
Do I need any permits to participate, what taxes do I collect?
No, sellers do not need any temporary permits to participate in Los Angeles, unless you are a food vendor (selling either hot food or packaged food). If you are a food vendor, you will need to obtain a temporary event health permit (which will cost you $71-160) which we will help secure if you are accepted.
All vendors are responsible for registering with the IRS, and collecting sales tax. When it’s time to do your taxes, you’ll have to pay income tax on items you sold, plus pay California sales tax and possibly a City of LA tax. We recommend that you call California’s department of revenue and the IRS for more info: California Dept. of Revenue: 1-800-852-5711 or www.ftb.ca.gov IRS: 1-800-829-4933 or www.irs.gov
Do I have to live in LA to participate?
No, our goal is to get people to buy and support independent design and small business owners, 85% of the vendors reside in California, but we accept people from all over the country and Canada, and love sharing great talent from all around!