How to become a
Black Market Place Vendor Package

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Spring 2008

What Is Black Market Place?
           
            Black Market Place was created to showcase businesses owned by Howard students, alumni, faculty, and staff.  All members of the Howard University community are encouraged to participate. Black Market Place provides an opportunity for Howard University’s entrepreneurs to promote and sell their goods and services.  Black Market Place vendors will have the chance to meet potential customers, network with other student business owners, and gain first-hand sales experience. The ELI Institute hosts this event the first Friday of each month. The event will take place in the Blackburn Center on the ground floor plaza level (in front of the Café and The Punch Out). The ELI Institute will continue to serve the campus of Howard University with the entrepreneurial resources necessary for success.

The Mission of Black Market Place:

“Providing Opportunities through the Power of Entrepreneurship”

Benefits of Participating

• Introducing your goods and services to a qualified, professional and interested audience.
• Exposure
• Network, Network, and Network!
• Make Money!

The Application Process

• Fill out an application: this will include an ELI Institute application and a short-term vending license form.
• Read the ELI Institutes terms and conditions for vending for Black Market Place. Sign that you have received and will read the terms and conditions.
• Read the Howard University conditions for vending on this campus. Sign that you have.
• 10 – 15 interview session. You will need to bring the application, student id, and a sample of the product or marketing materials for the service that you want to promote.
• This 10 – 15 minute interview session will be to make sure that you meet all the requirements for vending at Howard University.  You will need to bring a sample so that we know what you will be promoting and/or selling at Black Market Place.

The ELI Institute’s Black Market Place Terms and Conditions:        

Eligibility: You must be a Howard University student, alumni, faculty, or staff to participate. All vendors are required to attend all mandatory vendor meetings prior to The Black Marketplace to eligible to participate.  *Every meeting may or may not be considered mandatory.*

1. Must submit a copy of your Howard University identification.
2. Schedule a 10 minute interview with staff. At interview bring a sample of product or brochure of service.

Applications: All vendors are required to re-apply each time. Vendors must turn applications in two weeks prior to each Black Market Place. Late applications will not be accepted!

Unaccepted Applications: All applications must be complete; any incomplete applications will not be accepted. This includes not filing out a particular section or failing to providing requested information.

Vendor Area: Two chairs and a skirted eight-foot table will be split and provided for each vendor. Vendor must arrange any other booth furnishings and equipment. Vendors must fit within the confines of their assigned space so as not to impede traffic flow, infringe on the space of other vendors, or violate the emergency exit routes set forth by the Blackburn facility. Any 

Set-Up/Removal: Vendors agree to abide by the installation and dismantling times set and to have at least one person staffing their table from 12 – 5pm. Set up times are from 10:30 to 11:30. By 11:45 we have the right to adjust the floor accordingly.

 Floor Plan: Vendors will have an opportunity to pick their space, only at the attendance of a vendor meeting. We reserve the right to rearrange the floor plan based on unoccupied vendor space by 11:45. All vendors will be notified of any changes or this event.

Liability: The vendor shall be held liable for any damage to the building and/or furniture and fixtures contained therein, which shall occur through acts of omission of sponsor. No children under the age of 12 are allowed in the vendor area at any time.

NO MUSIC is allowed to be played during The Black Market Place.

Insurance Requirements: Any vendor selling and/or distributing food or health care products must obtain the right certifications, licenses, and insurance to participate.

Revenue Reporting: Vendors are requested to report revenue earned at the end of their respective Black Market Place session. Note: ELI Institute is mandated to report to their funding organization the impact of its programs, services, or activities as it relates to its target audiences. Information provided is kept private and solely used for statistical analysis and reporting. Revenue earned information shared with ELI Institute through Black Market Place is not a criterion for determining an applicant’s’ status (i.e. approval or decline) as it pertains to vending. 

Vendor Expectations

• Complete the required application paperwork and attend scheduled meetings as necessary.
• Sign in and out upon arrival and departure. Greet staff to let them know you have arrived and before you leave. Also a survey is to be completed.
• Be prompt and dependable. If possible, please call at least one day in advance to let staff know you will not be there at your scheduled time and what time you will arrive for Black Market Place.
• Cancellations. If you have signed up for Black Market Place and know that you will not participate you need to let the coordinator know at least a week in advance. No-show vendors will not be eligible to participate for the next two Black Market Places.
• Communicate. Ask questions, share ideas, get to know the staff and other vendors. Don’t hesitate to call, leave a note, or ask for a meeting with the management staff or the Black Market Place Coordinator to discuss any problems or concerns that may arise. Every problem can be solved with respect and honest open communication.
• Clean up your work area. Please make sure that the vending area is free of trash and leftover items from the day.
• Uphold Expectations. Please uphold to the following expectations, but also the terms and conditions.

Black Market Place Dates/Due Dates

Location: The location for each of these Black Market Place dates will be the Blackburn Center in the ground floor plaza level. The ground floor plaza level is the area in front The Café and The Punch Out