Vendor FAQ

How do I become a vendor at Lone Star Mercantile?

You begin by filling out and submitting the Vendor Application. We'll be in touch!

What booth options are available?

We have a variety of booth sizes ranging from bookshelves to 10’x20’. The full break down of booths is available on the Vendor Application page.

Is there a contract requirement to lease a booth?

Yes. LSM offers 2 contract lengths; 6 months and 12 months. All vendors are expected to fulfill the full length of the contract.

Do I need to be on-site or in my booth to sell merchandise?

Absolutely not! LSM employs a professional staff 7 days a week to serve you and customers.

Are all sales final?

Yes. All sales are considered final.

How do you keep track of the items sold out of my booth?

Transactions will be reflected in realtime in your online vendor account. You will be able to login to your account from our website to see your daily totals. This report also serves as a reminder to restock and ensure you maintain a healthy supply of inventory within your booth.

Is there a work shift requirement in order to lease a booth?

No way! LSM does not require any work commitments. We employ a professional staff to perform all the store’s needs.

Are you open year-round?

Yes! LSM is open 7 days a week except for major US holidays.

Does Lone Star Mercantile collect a commission on the sale of my product?

Yes, LSM collects 8% on all sale transactions.

Do I need to pay Sales Tax on the product that is sold?

No, LSM handles this task for you. Upon each transaction, LSM collects the sales tax and reports it to the state on a monthly basis.

How do I get paid?

There will be two sales periods for each calendar month:

Sales Period 1: The first day of each calendar month through the fourteenth (14th) day of the same month (i.e. April 1st – April 14th). This time period will always be 14 days. A check is issued on the 15th for the sales accumulated during this period. The 8% commission fees are deducted from this check.

Sales Period 2: The fifteenth (15th) day of each calendar month through the last day of the same month (i.e. April 15th – April 30th). This time period will be 14, 16, or 17 days (varies by total number of days in each calendar month). The sales from this period go towards the rent for the following month. The 8% commission fees are deducted from this check as well.

For example, sales from April 15th - April 30th are applied towards May 1st rent. If your sales during this period exceed your rent and commission fees, a check will be issued on the 1st. If not, you will owe the difference. Essentially, rent is auto-deducted from the second sales period.

How do I tag my inventory?

LSM uses an online system for which you'll have your own account. We do not use hand-written tags. The online system generates barcodes for your items. You'll be responsible for uploading all of your inventory into your account and printing the barcodes to put onto your merchandise. All items for sale in your booth must be in your online account. The barcodes are formatted to print on address label paper (Avery 5160) and require a laser printer. Don't worry! We make the process easy for you by providing a written guide as well as instructional videos.

How much inventory do I need in my booth?

Your booth is expected to be fully stocked at all times. A good rule of thumb is to have at least three to four times your monthly lease worth of product available for sale.

Are vendors allowed to decorate booths?

Yes, presentation is everything! We strongly encourage you to make your booth fit your product. Examples include painting, lighting, stenciling, decorating, and shelving. Lighting is essential!

Are there security cameras?

Yes, please smile, you're always on camera! We monitor the interior and exterior of the store.

Is Lone Star Mercantile affiliated with any other mercantile stores?

No, we are proud to be family owned and operated. We love providing a one-of-a-kind experience for our community!

Are there any items which are restricted from selling?

Per the city ordinances, the following items are not allowed to be sold within the store:

A: No alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or weapons

B: No animals of any kind

C: No open flames, fireworks, dangerous chemicals, electric heaters, or hot plates

D: No counterfeit, pirated, bootleg, or stolen goods

E: No X-rated movies, adult toys, or anything of the like

F: Products with certain profanity may not be openly displayed. *Will be discussed further with owner.*

Do I need to be local to have a booth?

No! Contact our management team for specifics.

When can I stock my booth?

You can stock your booth anytime during normal business hours. LSM offers several vendor work nights throughout the year providing an opportunity for you to work on your booth after regular store hours. All large stock items must come in and out of the back loading dock.

How do you advertise?

LSM uses several different proven methods of marketing. Some of the most common methods are the use of flyers, local advertisements, and an extensive social media presence.

We are here to help!

Frequently Asked Questions