TRADER SELECTION CRITERIA

The purpose of the Event is to offer a wide variety of quality gifts, crafts and specialty foods.

Preference will be given to local goods and/ or Traders.

When completing the Trader Application Form you must provide accurate details of all the products you intend to sell on your Stall/Pitch.

The Committee reserves the right to close down any Trader found to be selling unauthorised goods, i.e. those not agreed in writing by us. The selection process considers the quality and retail mix of products on offer which plays an important role in the overall feel of the Event.

The Committee operate a fair and open application procedure, and the following criteria will be used to assess each individual application:

• Handmade – Products that are handmade locally score more highly than those that are mass produced or handmade abroad unless they are produced under Fair-trade conditions (evidence of this should be provided).

• Locality – Traders from Branston and surrounding villages, Lincoln and then the wider Lincolnshire area are given priority over those from further away.

• Customer Profile – The products of the Trader appeal to a wide range of people.

• Quality – Products need to be finished to a high standard and must meet legal manufacturing and trading standards

• Price Range – The products to be sold provide value for money to suit all budgets.

• Retail Mix – It is important to the Event to ensure that there is a wide range of product types across the whole market. We are always looking for new and innovative products to be sold at the Event. Certain product categories are always oversubscribed. In this instance, assessments will be made using the scoring matrix.

• Previous performance at HCM – Whilst conducting the selection process, consideration will be made for applications from Traders that have previously operated on a basis contrary to the terms and conditions. Also considered, will be any evidence that can be provided of the product e.g. photographs of other festivals or shows attended. 

• Supporting Evidence – We welcome any supporting evidence from new stalls or previous stallholders. Pictures of your stall set-up are useful when judging suitability. We would also encourage links to your website and/or Facebook page.

• Green Credentials – the Committee operate our sustainability goals which stipulate applications to trade at th Event will be successfully accepted on the most favourable green credentials/ sustainability.

  • Traders should adhere to the Event’s sustainability goals and:

    • ensure any lighting is energy-efficient

    • ensure litter used at the event is recyclable and is recycled

    • reduce single-use plastic and encourage use of substitutes

    • where possible use natural, compostable materials

• Applications are not accepted from:

  • Businesses based outside the UK selling through local agents or representatives.

  • Traders selling mainly imported goods unless they are handmade.

  • Lobby Groups (animals, environmental, political, religious or similar).

  • National Charities that are not from a local branch or that are not supporting a local project.

• Notes for charities:

  • Please be as imaginative as possible and ideally themed around Christmas

  • A limited number of charity stalls are available.

  • The scoring matrix will be used to select charities as well as business traders. 

Last updated@ 16th April 2025