CONTRACT: CRAFT EAST BUYERS’ EXPO
Please read carefully before submitting your registration
The Craft East Buyers’ Expo (dba Craft East) will take place on February 8 & 9, 2025 at the Homewood Suites Hotel & Conference Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. All potential exhibitors are advised that Craft East is for the wholesale/retail trade only and all applicants must have the capability to produce in sufficient volume to meet market demands.
Craft East reserves the right to refuse an application from potential and previous exhibitors who have demonstrated unethical business practices in dealing with Retailers. All complaints from Retailers will be investigated before a decision is rendered.
All exhibitors’ products must meet product review requirements to be admitted to the show. If you are a new exhibitor attending Craft East for the first time, please refer to our application newsletter for more details on submitting new product for product review, or read the FAQs on our website. All exhibitors for the Craft East Buyers’ Expo will also be required to register a profile on the Craft Alliance web portal (www.craftalliance.ca); a tutorial for this process is also available online.
A business may qualify as an Atlantic exhibitor only if its head office is located in Atlantic Canada, and all exhibited products must be substantially produced in Atlantic Canada. Atlantic exhibitors receive the benefit of provincial government funding assistance for the trade show. Craft East is a project of Craft Alliance Atlantic Association. The Craft Alliance Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse applications and changes received after the Craft East deadline.
The Exhibitor shall indemnify and save harmless; Craft Alliance Atlantic Association and the Craft East Buyers’ Expo and its contractors from any and all claims, damages and expenses arising out of the Exhibitors participation in the Craft East Buyers’ Expo, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from any and all claims and liabilities, caused by negligence or otherwise, for: any loss, damage, theft or destruction whatsoever and howsoever caused to any property belonging to the Exhibitor or for which the Exhibitor is responsible; and, any damage, bodily injury or death suffered by the Exhibitor or his servants or any other person.
If, for any reason whatsoever, the Craft East Buyers’ Expo in which the Applicant contracted to participate cannot be held, this Agreement shall become null and void, and the amount of money paid by the Exhibitor shall be refunded; and the Exhibitor hereby waives any claim against the Craft East Buyers’ Expo and its parent organization Craft Alliance Atlantic Association, its Board of Directors and its related government funding partners for any compensation of loss or profit or any other claim as a result of the cancelled trade show.
PRODUCT REVIEW – The show will continue to feature quality crafts, giftware and apparel, from producers having the capacity to meet market requirements. Exhibitors who have previously exhibited in the Craft East Buyers’ Expo are not required to have their product reviewed again, provided no product line changes have been made. Should a new product line be introduced, the product review rules apply and Product Images must be submitted via the online portal for review. Any exhibitor displaying a product which has not been reviewed will be asked by Craft East to remove the non-juried items.
CONFERENCE CENTRE BOOTHS –Standard booths are approximately 64 sq ft (8’x 8’), some will vary in size to accommodate space. Craft East Buyers’ Expo requires exhibitors to occupy the minimum of a full booth. Larger booth spaces may be available, please inquire. Each booth will be made up of the following: 8′ high curtain back and sides (white) – one chair, booth number. Tables are available upon request. Please note ceiling height restrictions in the Craft East Exhibitor Rules and Procedures contained in the Exhibitor Kit. Electricity service is included. Additional lighting is not provided; exhibitors are able to bring their own lighting or reserve equipment with our official show contractor. (See equipment price list included in the Exhibitor Kit).
HOTEL SUITE EXHIBITING – Each exhibitor suite available offers; a living space for display, kitchen, free wi-fi, hot buffet breakfast, one King or Queen-size bed and other facility amenities. Exhibitors are required to book a minimum of 3 nights (1 day of setup, move-in and move-out, 2 days for trade show). The basic 3 nights is included in your total Suite Exhibiting Fee. Extra room night are available for early arrival or late departure. Please be sure to indicate any additional hotel nights, if required. Exhibit Suites vary in size, please see Exhibitor Kit for more details.. Extra nights must be paid for in advance, by selecting Extra Nights and quantity when you register.
SHARING HOTEL SUITE “BOOTHS” – Limited rooms may be available for shared exhibit space. For exhibitors interested in sharing a hotel suite space, please contact the Craft East Office to discuss availability. Exhibitors sharing rooms would be required to book an additional hotel room for accommodation purposes as the suites available only have 1 King or Queen bed for sleeping. A separate Exhibit Fee is required for all participating companies sharing exhibit suites. All companies in shared space must be Product reviewed and approved. A maximum of two companies per Suite.
HOTEL POLICY – Please be sure to carefully read the Homewood Suites guest policy and Craft East exhibitor guidelines in full. Exhibitors are responsible for any damages to guest rooms registered in their name, over the course of the Craft East Buyers’ Expo.
ALL display space & suites must be booked directly with the Craft East office. Booth spaces or suites cannot be transferred, assigned, sublet, shared, or split with anyone else without prior written consent of Craft East Management. Please note that space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Exhibitors are required to display their products in a manner as to present a professional appearance. You are solely responsible for procuring all materials, display items and labor for construction and dismantling of your suite displays or booths, whichever the case may be. Craft East will supply draping (conference booths only) and other items as indicated in the Craft East Rules & Procedures contained in the exhibitors show kit.
Exhibitors are required to complete the set-up of their display within the time period specified in the exhibitor’s kit. If your space remains unoccupied one hour prior to the show opening we may reassign it without compensation to you. You must not disassemble, pack up or remove any part of your display before the official closing time of the last day of the show. Exhibitors are required to remove all goods and display materials and all other property from the facility within the specified time period as noted in the exhibitor kit, or in the failure to do so, the exhibitor agrees to pay for such additional costs as may be incurred.
Craft East has the absolute right to determine the selection and allocation of your location in the show and the absolute right at any time to relocate exhibits which may be affected by a change in floor plan or in the interest of optimum traffic control or exhibit exposure. All exhibits and display materials must remain within your assigned display area. No signs, partitions, shelving, etc. may extend beyond the set booth (or hotel suite) boundaries.
APPLICATIONS – Each exhibitor occupying a booth (or hotel suite) in the Craft East Buyers Expo must complete an online application form in its entirety through the Craft Alliance website (www.craftalliance.ca). Exhibitors must occupy a minimum of one (1) full booth or suite.
Applications will not be processed without the non-refundable $250. deposit + HST (due at time of application) and the credit card or e-Transfer for the balance of fees due (exhibitors may opt for automatic debiting of the fee balance on December 6th, 2024). An automatic reminder will be sent in advance of final payment, prior to the December 6th balance payment deadline to all registrations with unpaid balances. All applications received after the Deadline date require payment in full at time of application. Cheques for payment are accepted – All NSF cheques are subject to a $60.00 service charge. Any applicant with a balance of fees owing from a current and/or previous year shall be barred from participation in current and future events until such time that all monies owed have been paid in full.
Exhibitors will agree to comply with all procedural guidelines as set out in the exhibitor’s rules and procedures in the exhibitor kit. Exhibitors agree to allow Craft East to use their Name, Contact Information, Product Description, and Photograph (if provided) for the following purposes: official show guide, show official website(s) including the Craft Alliance web portal, use on social media and for purposes of marketing the show to potential buyers and to buyers who call the office for information. Craft Alliance is given Express Consent to contact Exhibitors in future for the purpose of providing future Craft East show and craft industry information via newsletters and social media. Exhibitors can unsubscribe to any communications at any time.
Exhibitors are liable for any damage they may cause to the building or to our property. The use of paint, lacquer, adhesive or other coatings while in the building is strictly prohibited. The use of any materials to affix displays or materials to walls within exhibit suites is strictly prohibited. All suites will be inspected prior to departure.
Exhibitors must comply with all federal and provincial laws and municipal by-laws that may apply to the use of the facility (Homewood Suites Hotel & Conference Centre, Halifax) for the show, including but not limited to, hotel guest policies, non-smoking regulations and any other set out in the Craft East exhibitor kit or by Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Halifax Downtown.
The use of musical instruments or equipment, radios, television, laptops, tablets, iPods or MP3 devices, CD/DVD players, record or tape players, movie equipment, loud speakers, sound amplifiers, or any other mechanical, electrical, electronic, or other means of sounds reproduction must have prior approval of the Craft East Management.
Exhibitors may not enter another Exhibitors Booth without first receiving permission from the participating Exhibitor.
Exhibitor understand that there is no video or photography of other producers, products or booths at any time, without express permission, as per the Rules and Regulations of the Craft East Buyers’ Expo.
DIGITAL LIABILITY – In participating in the Craft East Buyers Expo, all exhibitors agree to have their juried products displayed on an online business profile at www.craftalliance.ca. Craft Alliance accepts no responsibility for transactions occurring as a result of exhibitors being contacted through any Craft Alliance/Craft East digital channels. By signing this contract, you also confirm that you consent to our terms of use (www.craftalliance.ca/terms).
WITHDRAWAL / CANCELLATION – All withdrawals and cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Craft East office before the final deadline of December 6, 2024. Applicants who withdraw/cancel before December 6, 2024 shall receive a refund of all monies paid to date, less the $250 deposit, which is non-refundable. Applicants who withdraw/cancel after the December 6, 2024 shall forfeit all monies paid.
The Exhibitor agrees to complete a show survey and provide the Craft Alliance Board with their Gross Sales figure from orders taken at the show. Sales figures are provided to our government funders as total show sales figures and reports generated are for government reporting purposes.
The Exhibitor agrees that completing the registration for Craft East Buyers’ Expo comprises an agreement of digital signature of these terms and conditions. The Exhibitor by their signature witnesses that they have fully read and understand the terms, conditions and provisions herein set forth, and agrees to abide and conform to all of the said terms, conditions and provisions noted above and contained in the Exhibitor Rules and Procedures.