WELCOME YOU SMALL BUSINESS HERO!
Trader Hub
Hello! Are you a small, local & independent maker, creator, producer or curator of contemporary craft, art & design, sustainable home & lifestyle wares, vintage finds or artisan food & drink? You are? Wonderful, welcome shop small superstar!
If you're interested in applying to join us at our monthly Markets the BIG Truro Market or BIG Newquay Market, on our Christmas Market Tour where we head to Truro at Christmas and Newquay at Christmas (coming soon), at our seasonal Pop Up Shop (next dates tbc), on our Summer Festival Tour (back soon for 2025) or or would like to become a part of the Online Directory you're in the right place!
Read on to find out what applications are open and sign up for Trader News to be informed when future applications open.
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What We Look For
Independent
Cornwall Shop Small is all about the joy of shopping small and the value of buying independent so please note applications must be from indie traders to be accepted. You can have your own dedicated retail space, online shop or sell through multiple retailers but you should not be a multi (more than 3) outlet business or franchise and we do not accept applications from representatives from brands that don't fit the above criteria.
Local
The focus is on businesses that are based in Cornwall but businesses from further afield can apply and distance and / or links to Cornwall will be considered. If two applications are similar then priority will be given to a Cornwall based applicant. However all application are primarily considered on merit and ALL of the things we look for.
Quality & Unique
We seek out quality products where real skill is shown in the making or curating of the range. If you trade something that anyone could easily make, curate or trade you are less likely to be a successful applicant, we love the unique!
Self Made / Handmade / Vintage
Applications from makers-designers-producers who have complete control over their production process are prioritised over applications from those who buy in pre made elements. Applications from curators who are Cornwall based but sell a range of items from elsewhere are welcomed as long as the items are all proven to be ethical, small batch or handmade or vintage.
Category & Event Relevant
Cornwall Shop Small is all about contemporary craft, art & design, sustainable home & lifestyle wares, vintage finds and artisan food & drink from small and local creators & curators. Please note that applications in certain categories are not generally successful for certain events, e.g. food & drink traders for off site consumption are welcome to apply for the Market in Truro but we won't be able to welcome you along if you clash with someone in the regular Truro Farmers Market line up who we set up alongside. Details of any category limitations are given within the relevant application pages.
Professional & Well Presented
Presentation is crucial whether you are applying to trade at an event or to be listed in the directory. You must present you and your wares well in terms of product, brand, display and communications (e.g. social channels / website). An applicant who makes something similar to you but presents themselves more professionally will be the successful applicant.
Sustainable & Single Use Plastic Free
One of the amazing things about shopping small and locally is it's ability to let customers know the story behind what they're buying, it puts you in control of being able to make sustainable choices. We love to welcome traders who include sustainable practises & products in their business. We request that no single use plastics are used in your products & packaging at the Markets. If you have old single use plastic labeling or packaging then you can keep using these items but by trading at the Market you are pledging not to invest in any more single use plastic for your business.
Diverse
Applications are welcome no matter what your ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexuality or education is. It's all about the things above, not your background. We think Cornwall is a place where diversity should, and can, thrive!
Original
We look to support creatives who create original work meaning that we can't welcome creators who have plagiarised the work of others. While we don't have legal or IP expertise or the capacity to regulate this we will take complaints of plagiarism seriously. Legal rulings on plagiarism will be upheld (in our Market curation) where the information is shared with us. Aside from that our decision will be informed by a judgement of the provided evidence from the relevant parties.
What We Offer
Warm Welcome
Cornwall Shop Small is all about good vibes and that ethos runs throughout all of our dealings with you. Whether you're joining us at a Market, Festival or Pop Up or getting listed in the Online Directory you'll be given the warmest welcome.
Curated
The Cornwall Shop Small line up is curated with care. It's not about what you, as a trader, will pay for. It's about who you are and what you do and how you do it. This means that you can feel the joy of being part of a line up of other amazing small and local business superstars.
Getting YOU Out There
Cornwall Shop Small has got a loyal following of visitors at events, online, through the database and on social media. Want some stats? Across 2023 we hosted 66 event days at Markets, Festivals and Pop Ups. There were almost 8,000 unique visitors to the website the new website. We have a growing database of over 2,000 email subscribers and over 8.5 k social followers. We're not resting though, the mission to spread the shop small word across Cornwall and beyond continues!
Value & Transparency
Cornwall Shop Small tries to keep trader rates as low as possible to ensure what we do is curated by joy, quality and relevance and not your budget. Yes, the business also needs to provide a living wage so costs include all the projected costs and a target margin. If you want to know more about why something costs what it does and where the money is being spent you are always free to ask. We use a metric for each and every one of our opportunities to work out a fair charge.
Over & Above
Cornwall Shop Small is not about sitting on successes, it's about growing them, finding new opportunities, being creative, trying things out, learning stuff and trying again. It's about going over & above what's needed & expected to make shop small magic happen.
Communication
The Cornwall Shop Small to trader relationship is most definitely a two way thing! We'll do our very best to keep you up to date with the best info and we'll strive to listen to all of your feedback and take it on board. While we're (currently) a one person team we're a pretty conscientious one and will work as hard as we can to keep up on all our comms.
Support & Advice
We love supporting our traders and The Cornwall Shop Small Trader Hub is set to be your go to destination. Coming soon, FREE trader support & advice alongside access to an array of services.