Exhibitor FAQ's

If you are having trouble registering on the site, or problems submitting the application form, contact us via email and we will assist you. If you are accessing the site on a mobile device please try again on a computer first as some mobile devices can cause issues.

If you are an exhibitor with questions about the MS Craft Show Show please check the FAQ section and Show Rules pages. Links to these pages are available on the Exhibitor Menu which is visible once you log in. If you have further questions please email for assistance and we will do our best to help you.

If you are a shopper with questions, check the About page. If your question is not answered there please email and we will be glad to assist you.

Please visit the Contact Page for full contact details.

We generate tremendous excitement promoting our exhibitors for the MS Craft Show via social media. If you would like to be involved in the competition promotions please read the following. You can check our Facebook Page to see previous competitions.

Social Media Exhibitor Prize Promotion

1. You can join in on the competitions to direct people to your business and your Facebook or other social media page. We will post to both our main page and our event page on Facebook as well as Twitter at a minimum (other social media may also be included). See the example graphic posted on this page. You do not need to provide the competition graphic – we will make one for you.   In fact, we handle everything.  All you need do to is simply indicate on your application form that you would like to participate and what prize value you wish to offer. We will make the graphic and we will post the competition featuring your business and your prize voucher. The text that will go with the graphic will tag your page (where appropriate and possible), mention what products you offer, and ask people to visit your page and to visit you at the show.

The prize is a shopping voucher of whatever amount you choose. Winners can shop at your booth and select what they like, this voucher will only be good for the weekend of the show – so the winner will need to attend the show to use this voucher. The Craft Show will select winners at random and will provide the vouchers for winners to collect at the show. No change will be given from a voucher so if a shopper buys something for $20 with a $25 voucher, they do not get the unused portion. You can select any amount for your prize $20 or more. The appropriate amount will depend on the price range of items you sell. Make it attractive enough that people will want to enter the competition. The more people who participate the more people who see your business and get to know you. An enticing prize helps attract a lot of activity on your post.

The competition involvement is designed to generate interest in your business and direct people to your Facebook page (or other social media). According to Facebook rules we can not make it a condition of the competition that people like your page, but we can ask them to – at this time we have a really strong and active following who are liking and sharing a lot so it is likely that they will follow through to your page. On your page you should have a post that talks about what you sell and what you will have at the show. This will help generate interest for new shoppers.

What we need from you:

1. Let us know you wish to participate. (Either when you complete your application, or via email).
2. Tell us the amount you wish your prize voucher to be.
3. Be sure we know your social media account, especially your Facebook page if you have one.
4. Make sure you have provided good photos we can select from to make a tempting graphic for your prize post.
5. Be sure to indicate your participation by the deadline – we schedule these posts so we have to have a cut off date so we can schedule all the posts with enough time for everyone to have good exposure.

The Magnolia State of Mind magazine is produced by the Mississippi Craft Show as a companion to the August MS Craft Show. Designed to showcase our talented exhibitors it is jam-packed with stories and photos. It also serves as a directory for shoppers and is a much sought-after publication. Our premier edition was overwhelmingly successful with people pre-ordering copies from all over the state and states as far away as Illinois. We simply could not distribute copies fast enough to meet the demand. Magnolia State of Mind has been produced many  times since our first year and is a high-quality printed magazine, and an accompanying electronic copy is also viewable online. You may view previous editions here.

Exhibitors who apply, and pay their booth fees by the due date, and who can supply any requested information by the magazine deadline will be included in the magazine for free. This marketing alone is worth more than the cost of your booth fee.

NOTE: We do not guarantee a printed magazine will be produced for every show as the ability to produce a magazine on time is determined by being able to obtain the necessary information from exhibitors in a timely manner to meet printing deadlines.

It is absolutely imperative that the work you display be your own, handmade work. We do not allow buy-sell, kits, MLM, or mass-produced products of any kind in any of our shows.

What does handmade mean?

Each object should have been “handmade”, “hand crafted” “hand-assembled”, or “hand-altered” by the artist or artisan him or herself.
While the fundamental materials may not always built from scratch, the exhibitor/maker must have added his or her own twist to the product.  Items may not be mass produced either by hand or machine.  We recognize that artists and crafts people are imaginative and resourceful with varying skills, expertise and aesthetics.  There is room in our community for a broad range of creative expression and techniques.

We expect that supplies used in the crafting process are purchased, such as paint, canvas, fabric, thread, clay, etc.  For example, an artists is permitted to paint on canvas that was purchased from a store as it is the painting that is the artwork.   Some crafts incorporate both hand and machinery crafting. For example, a garment made with store-bought fabric and sewn on a sewing machine.  Woodworking is a very hands-on process, though it typically includes a variety of tools that make the final products possible.

If you doubt that your items fit the definition of handmade, it is likely that they are not the right fit for our show.

Photos of your work must accompany your application.   Photos may be uploaded when you submit your application or you may provide a link to an online album where we can see your photos.

If you are having problems uploading your photos, it is likely your images are too large. If you do not have your own program to resize images, you can use this easy and free online service to resize your images before uploading them with your application.

Visit this site: http://www.simpleimageresizer.com/

Upload your image (1 at a time) by selecting the image. Select the “dimensions” option. The width x height boxes will then display on the page. You then want to type a new size into the box corresponding to the longest side of your photo. See guide below.

• If your photo is portrait oriented (taller than it is wide) you will type in the height box.
• If your photo is landscape oriented (wider than it is tall) you will type in the width box.

In the appropriate box type 800 (this is a good size to use for resizing your images to upload)

Then click on “resize”

Once the site refreshes it will give you a link to download your resized image.

Save your resized images to your computer and upload them into your application form.

Visit this link for help linking to an album.  (opens a new window/tab)

For address, map and directions etc to the venue please view the Getting There page.

The Mississippi Craft Show’s is a retail show open to the public, not a wholesale show. This is NOT a flea market, please do not expect flea market booth fees or flea market standards. This is a curated quality event that brings serious shoppers together with quality exhibitors. We strive to maintain a friendly and fun atmosphere for exhibitors and shoppers alike, but we do require a level of professionalism and maintain quality standards for the benefit of all.

Applications are open to artists, crafts people, authors, bakers/confectioners, etc, who are Mississippi residents.

All merchandise in the Show must be hand-crafted by MISSISSIPPI artisans. This is a retail to public show. Products must be hand crafted and offered in finished form. Kits, supplies and resale merchandise is not permitted. Vinyl affixed to commercial resale items are not permitted. Vinyl affixed as a decorative component to an otherwise handmade item is permitted.

MLM and other distributor type products and services are not permitted.

Food Vendors: Food may only be sold at the Craft Show if packaged for take home consumption. For example, toffee, honey, jams and jellies, cheese straws, cup cakes, etc are all acceptable.

We use the word “jury” because it is commonly used in regard to a professional show. However we believe that the term ‘curate’ is more accurate. We receive many more applications than we can accept. Because we respect our exhibitors, this is not a flea market; it is a quality, handmade craft show. We do not simply accept every applicant: We limit the number of exhibitors per category; and our makers do not have to compete with imported and mass-produced items as we only accept handmade products. We strive to maintain a high level of quality and variety in those items offered at the show, thus ensuring we do not saturate the show with any one type of craft. We receive overwhelmingly positive and highly complimentary comments regarding the quality and variety of the show, from both exhibitors and shoppers alike. We work very hard to retain the level of quality that people have come to expect
from the Mississippi Craft Show. We review all complete applications and then make our choice based on several factors (see below).

What are the criteria?

• The overall cohesiveness and consistency of your work.
• If your items are made by hand, or if some of your designs are produced/manufactured elsewhere. All work must be original and made by the artist. Work should be made by hand or with the use of appropriate tools. No kits will be accepted.
• How your items are represented in your photos/on your website. (Your photos should not be blurry or poor quality).
• If we feel that your work is too similar to other artists we have participating. (We limit exhibitors per category, so apply early!)
• The number and diversity of designs or products you offer.  We ask that you apply for no more than two categories per applicant. We know that many of you are extremely talented in multiple areas, but limiting your focus for this show helps us to preserve the balance among the various crafts shown and, MORE IMPORTANTLY, will help to increase your SALES!
• Our need to diversify the crafts available at The MS Craft Show. The jewelry, bath and body, and pottery category, for example, are incredibly competitive. Apply early for a chance to get a space in one of the highly sought-after categories.

Please note that a limited numbers of spaces are accepted per medium (pottery, wood, jewelry, glass, etc.) as we strive to maintain a well-balanced show. The Mississippi Craft Show reserves the right to accept or reject applications at its discretion to balance the style and content of the event for the benefit of all who attend.

For open applications: (which means applications that are made before the published early bird deadline) – you will receive an email and a letter in the mail after the first curating session, which will be conducted very soon after the posted early bird application deadline, usually within 15 days of that posted deadline.

Late Applications: After the open application deadline we will only accept further (late) applications if space is available, and only for any category not already filled by applications made during the open application period, or if any space should become available in a previously full category. These late applications will be curated on a rolling basis. We will contact you within two weeks or less after your application.

Highly competitive categories will have filled by the posted early bird deadline so it is best to apply early.

Please do not contact us asking if you have been successful before our 1st curating session has taken place as a decision will not have yet been made.