Merchanting at Pennsic War

A view from Street of Gold in the Merchant Area

How to register as a Merchant

Merchanting at the War can be fun, prestigious, and profitable! Space for vendors is very limited, and each merchant must go through an application process each year. Acceptance of vendors is based on the following:

Vendors who participated the previous year
Merchandise that is "period," or could have been from the medieval/renaissance ages, or things appropriate to the S.C.A. Star Trek, Magic Cards and many fantasy items are not considered appropriate.
"Authentic" period selling pavillion is a requirement for those in tent spaces
People who did not give the Merchant Autocrat problems in a previous year
Timely submission of your application (Pennsic 39 Deadline: 31-March-2009)

Official information can be found on the Cooper's Lake website under Pennsic War Merchanting.

Application fees for merchant space were between $100 and $400 at Pennsic 35 plus a $50 per merchant application fee. That means if there are three merchant businesses in one space, they must each pay the $50 fee, and the "primary merchant" pays for the space fee. These fees are separate from your personal site fee.

There are two kinds of booth spaces: tent space and bazaar space. The latter is a 10'x10' space in a large circus tent with shorter selling hours of 11 A.M. - 7 P.M. All other spaces are "bring your own pavilion."

The single tent spaces are parceled in the following (maximum) sizes, i.e. actual size is trimmed down to your tent's requirements.

• 15' x 15'
• 25' x 25'
• 25' x 50'

Business Liability Insurance

Applying By Mail

Consignment Merchandise

Unacceptable Merchandise

• Body piercings, fangs, tattoos
• Chiropractic, massage therapy
• Children's wooden swords/daggers
• Unauthorized "knock-offs" of copyrighted items

Advertising Opportunities

Each year there is an on-site publication, distributed daily for the eight days of "War Week." This is an excellent opportunity for merchants and non-merchants to advertise services and wares. The current publishers are The Pennsic Independent

Strolling/Wandering Merchants

Wandering Merchant Rules Must register with the Merchant Office first to receive information and a Wandering Merchant Favor. Only one favor will be issued per registered wanderer. The owner of the business must be a registered and have a valid PA tax license. Items to be hawked must be related to the general atmosphere of Pennsic and are subject to the approval of the Merchant Office. Approved hawking areas are as follows: A. Any street area designated as a merchant area. B. Area around the Upper Bathhouse C. Walkway from the Cooper's Lake Campground Store to the Food Court. Non-Hawking areas are as follows: A. The area around the Cooper's Lake Campground Store B. Food Court Tents C. Inside the Bazaar Tents D. Inside any other Merchants space unless invited E. Any area not designated above, such as a campsite, campsite roads, etc. Wandering merchants must keep moving unles they are making a sale or demonstration. (No more than 15 minutes in any one spot unless doing the above). No sitting and yelling. Use Common Sense! Do not badger your potential customers. Do not act rude of inappropriate, Do not use unacceptable language. Wandering Merchants will be issued a favor which must be carried by the person doing the strolling. If the person wandering is under 13, he or she must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Merchant Office reserves the right to revoke Wandering Merchant privileges in the event that complaints are made. Please review these rules with any wanderer before sending them out. Thank you, and remember to have fun with it when writing your pitch! If your wanderers are enjoying themselves, your customers will also.