Applying to Monster Market
We invite a limited number of makers to participate each year based on their work’s quality, originality, and how it fits into the overall collection. Think your art or wares would work in Monster Market? Check out the information below about how it all works, and submit an application at the bottom of this page!
We curate our collection each year.
Monster Market’s collection is carefully curated, with items chosen specifically for their quality, originality, and thematic value. We also work to curate a roster of makers who are not too similar to one another and cultivate a collection of works that don’t compete with one another too directly. Both one-of-a-kind and produced works will be considered. All submissions must be original—no resellers, plagiarists or phonies allowed!
If you’re invited to participate in Monster Market, we’ll work with you to pick which items of yours to include in our collection. We then collect all work in August (either by local drop-off or via mail) and spend the month of September styling and photographing it for our annual Lookbook.
Leftover work is returned along with payout about a week after Monster Market wraps. You don’t have to be present at all to participate!
We only make money if you do!
It’s totally free for makers to apply and participate. No application fee, no rental or buy-in fees.
We only take a percentage of your sold goods: a 35% commission of all sales.
We carry real specific stuff.
As a themed pop-up focusing on quality art goods for weird tastes, we’re looking for interesting and unique inventory.
Items we’re looking for include (but are definitely not limited to)—
• original one-of-a-kind pieces of art (original paintings, drawings, one-off prints, one-off sculptures, one-off ceramics, unique textile works, one-off wall art pieces etc.)
• collection of multiples of a handcrafted item (collection of handmade ceramic mugs in the same design, multiple tufted rugs of the same design, a series of unique fairy wands created using similar driftwood, a collection of crocheted scarves using the same monster pattern, etc.)
• art prints (silkscreen, risograph, block prints, litho prints, photographs, digital, etc.)
• stickers / patches / enamel pins / buttons / temporary tattoos / keychains / bookmarks (or other small third party-produced items bearing your original design)
• apparel—screen printed or embroidered (with your original design) / dyed / upcycled / modified / handmade / vintage (shirts, sweatshirts/hoodies, dresses, pants, hats, bags/totes, socks, scarves, etc.)
• comics / graphic novels / books / zines / collected poetry or short stories / photography books / published sketchbooks / collected collages (pretty much anything in a book-form except straight up pornography as we’re an all-ages event)
• preserved insects / bones / small preserved animals / live plants (properly preserved and ready for customers to take home and display)
• card decks / tarot sets / board games / puzzles (independently-produced games and sets preferred)
Themes we like to focus on—
death, fantasy, horror, oddities, science-fiction, monsters, critters, creatures, animals, bones, insects, alternative religion, atheism, activism, inclusivity, body positivity, sex positivity, queerness, cannabis, heavy metal, magic, mysticism, movies, Halloween, pop culture, surrealism, dystopia, nihilism and the dark side of the South.
We ask our Makers to create at least one ✨Monster Market Exclusive✨
Makers invited to participate in Monster Market will have AT LEAST ONE special, new, or limited edition item that is EXCLUSIVE to Monster Market for the month of October.
For designers, illustrators, printmakers, and other folks creating multiples of items with the same design:
…a Monster Market Exclusive might be—
• a brand new item or design that debuts at Monster Market (but may be available from the maker after October 2023)
Examples: Abby Brooks created the Together Furever print as a Monster Market Exclusive in 2022 which debuted with us, but was available from the maker after we closed for the season.
• a brand new item or design that debuts AND is only ever available at Monster Market
Examples: Pretty Useful is best known for their cute and quirky small goods, but they used Monster Market 2022 as an opportunity to produce this screenprinted poster inspired by the horror film Midsommar (below). St Francis Elevator Ride creates surreal, pop-culture-inspired t-shirts already, but his series of horror film bootleg tees are only available through Monster Market.
• a brand new item that is directly inspired by the Monster Market brand!
Examples: Vandyink has a series of illustrated popsicle sticker designs already, and added a special Manny Monster design to the shop in 2022 as her Monster Market Exclusive!
Real past examples:
Abby Brooks created this sweet and dark illustrated print as a Monster Market Exclusive in 2022— it debuted with us, and was only available with us until the shop closed that season!
Pretty Useful is best known for their cute and quirky small goods, but they used Monster Market 2022 as an opportunity to produce this screenprinted poster inspired by the horror film Midsommar!
St Francis Elevator Ride creates surreal, pop-culture-inspired t-shirts already, but his series of horror film bootleg tees are only available through Monster Market.
Vandyink has a series of illustrated popsicle sticker designs already, and added a special Manny Monster design to the shop in 2022 as her Monster Market Exclusive!
For sculptors, painters, felters, jewelers, ceramicists, textile artists, and other folks creating ✨one-of-a-kind✨ items,
…a Monster Market Exclusive might be—
• a special collection of your one-of-a-kind items
Examples: Queen of Lima Beans created this small collection of Jack-O-Lantern candle holders as a 2022 Monster Market Exclusive (below). Rebecca Phillips creates lovely stippled original illustrations, and this series of horror movie character portraits were her Exclusives for 2021 (below). Corby Crow makes lots of one-of-a-kind felted creatures, but these Monster Doll designs were special for Monster Market 2020 (below).
• a limited edition of an item you already create that’s special to Monster Market
Examples: Mushroom Vintage always creates lovely upcycled vintage pieces for Monster Market— this is just one of her Exclusive collections, the Spiderweb Series from Monster Market 2022 (below)!
Real past examples:
Queen of Lima Beans created this small collection of Jack-O-Lantern candle holders as a 2022 Monster Market Exclusive!
Rebecca Phillips creates lovely stippled original illustrations, and this series of horror movie character portraits were her Exclusives for 2021.
Corby Crow makes lots of one-of-a-kind felted creatures, but these Monster Doll designs were special for Monster Market 2020!
Mushroom Vintage always creates lovely upcycled vintage pieces for Monster Market— this is just one of her Exclusive collections, the Spiderweb Series from Monster Market 2022!
Been in the shop before?
Please apply each year to participate!
Many of our makers join us again and again year to year, but still must reapply each time. We curate a fresh collection every year, so makers are asked to propose a new Exclusive each year they participate.
We may keep your leftover stock for the next year’s pop-up with your permission, and you will still receive your sales cut for any of your sold stock, regardless if you are participating as a Featured Maker that year or not!
Featured Makers will be included in our 2024 Maker Roster, spotlighted on our social media, and showcased in our annual Lookbook.
Photo by Bella Golightly
The Monster Market pop-up is fully in-person!
Monster Market is an in-person pop-up shop experience! Weirdos of all kinds flock to us each year looking for unique items, original art, and stuff they can’t get anywhere else.
Our in-person pop-up format has major pros:
Customers are motivated by the short period of time our curated collection is available— and by the limited quantities our makers create.
The shop is carefully styled into themed collections and displays, both elevating your work with context, and creating focused areas for our customers.
The in-person shop is an awesome chance to sell large, fragile, or heavy items that are hard to ship— like delicate specimen pieces or stained glass.
Please note that all inventory is moved from our HQ to the pop-up shop venue, and should be delivered to Monster Market packed well for safe transport. We are not able to reimburse for items broken due to poor packing!
We’ve got deadlines that keep things moving smoothly.
2025 Maker Timeline:
June 15-30 | Maker Applications Open
July 1-3 | Makers Notified
Makers will hear from us via email, and then accept to confirm their participation.
August 25 | Inventory Shipping Deadline
Makers shipping their wares should hit the Post Office by this day— we accept USPS only to the Monster Market PO Box.
August 29-31| Local Inventory Collection
Local makers should plan to deliver your inventory in person over this weekend.
August 31 | Final Inventory Deadline
This is the in-hand date for all handmade items / at least 1 sample for produced items.
Hard deadline. Inventory not accepted past this date.
September | Lookbook Production + Promo Season
Monster Market Creative Team takes time to organize, style, and photograph the inventory for our annual Lookbook over the month of September— as well as ramp up our online promotions.
Friday, October 10 | Opening Night!
Monster Market 2023 opens on the evening of Friday the 11th at the Medicine Factory in Memphis, TN. Make plans to join us if you can!
October 10-16 | Monster Market Open
Monster Market will be open daytime hours (TBA) from October 10-16th with in-store events daily.
Friday, October 17 | Maker Appreciation Night
A fun way to close out the season and an expedited way to return your stock, this is an in-person event for our Makers to meet, mingle, and trade stuff. Leftover stock will be returned at this event and sales reports provided.