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 are a curated pop-up shop.
Monster Market’s inventory 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 participate. We only take a percentage of your sold goods— 35% of all sales.
We carry real specific stuff.
As a themed pop-up retail store showcasing 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)
• 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.
This is NOT a comprehensive list— we’re open to hearing ideas!
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. (If you create one-of-a-kind pieces already, this will probably be easier.)
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!
The 2024 Monster Market pop-up will be fully in-person— no online shop!
OMG, it’s been years, but it’s really happening! Monster Market 2024 will again be an in-person pop-up shop experience, open October 11-16, 2024 at the Medicine Factory in Memphis, TN.
What does that matter for you? You can pitch items that would have been too hard to ship in our virtual markets— heavy stuff, glass stuff, breakables, big awkward sculptures, oversized items, delicate things, plants, lighters, terrariums, taxidermy, preserved insects, framed pieces— THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES AND GO WILD!
We’ve got a process!
Below you’ll find the basic timeline for Makers, so you can get an idea of what’s expected before you apply!
Maker Timeline:
May 13-31| Maker Applications Open
June 1 | All Makers Notified
• Once invited, Makers will need to accept the invitation to confirm their participation.
August 16-23 | Inventory Collection Points
From Friday the 16th— the next Friday the 23rd, there will be multiple opportunities to drop off inventory in person.
August 23 | Inventory DUE
• Inventory is due August 23. We collect work from Makers super early to have time to shoot photos for our socials and the Lookbook— our annual catalog. This is the in-hand date for all handmande items and at least 1 sample for produced items.
September | Shooting the Lookbook
• Monster Market Creative Team takes time to organize, style, and photograph the inventory over the month of September for our annual Lookbook.
Friday, October 11 | 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 12-16 | Daytime Store Hours
• Monster Market will be open daytime hours (TBA) from October 12-16th!
Friday, October 18 | Maker Appreciation Night
• A fun way to close out the season and an expedited way to return your stock + get your paid! This is an in-person event for our Makers to meet, mingle, and trade stuff. Leftover stock will be returned at this event as well as payouts dispersed (your choice of digital payout or check).