Markets Ontario is a boutique multi-vendor marketplace, bringing the best of Durham Region’s handmade products together in one convenient location in Historic Downtown Bowmanville. Markets Ontario features high-quality artisanal products ranging from home and food to clothing and more from 150+ local vendors.

Following the successful opening of the Brooklin store in 2019 and the Bowmanville store in the summer of 2020, Markets kicked off their third location inside the Pickering Town Centre (PTC) just before the holidays in 2020. Since the fall of 2022, things have shifted and Markets Ontario now focuses solely on growing and evolving our Markets Bowmanville location.

With having the largest selection in the Durham Region, supporting local entrepreneurs has never been easier and further strengthens the economic recovery of the region with 100% of product sales going back into the pockets of the artisans. Since 2019, Markets customers have supported local makers to the tune of over $4.5 million.

Markets uses a store-within-a-store concept and operates on a consignment basis. This means that:

• During business hours, all sales are rung through the main register for customers.

• All products are individually tagged by the vendor with a price and vendor code. We do not sell any items without a product code or price attached.

• We charge the customer – not the vendor – a 13% administration fee on every transaction. This helps pay for housekeeping, supplies and the hiring of trained sales associates available to customers at all times. This administration fee also helps to keep the cost of rent down for vendors. As we operate on a consignment model, tax is not included on transactions.

• Vendors receive the full amount they sell their item for and are responsible for working tax into their product cost if they choose.

• Vendors are also responsible for ensuring stock is available in store, keeping an eye on their inventory and doing their own inventory paperwork.

Along with the space you are renting, your membership also includes the following:

• Sales associates trained on your products.

• Daily tidying of your space.

• Access to our private vendor-only Facebook group where we post announcements and where you can connect with other vendors and ask questions.

Yes! Markets offers a few different services to help make your life as a small business owner easier. The following services are available at an extra cost:

Pick-up service

Avoid customers picking up at your home! Vendors can pay $1.50 per pick up or buy a pick-up card, which includes 50 pick ups for $50. These are paid for and bought in store.

Live close to one store but the customer wants to pick up from another store? We will shuttle your pick up to the other store for an additional $2 per pick up, which is paid in store.

Shipping/stocking service

Live outside Durham Region/can't always make it into the store? For $20 you can ship your products to us, and we will then stock your space for you. Please email us at info@marketsontario.ca at least a week before you plan to ship your items, so we can send you an invoice for this service. We also suggest making sure you track your items and get insurance on them, as we (Markets Ontario and associates) are not responsible for any lost or damaged items.

Workshop space

Want to rent our space to host a workshop? We charge $25 + HST per hour during regular business hours and $50 + HST per hour during after hours.

Backroom storage

This service helps to cut down on your time coming to the store to restock. For $20 a month we will hold one large bin per vendor of overstock to be stocked when your space gets low. This service is paid for when you come into the store with your overstock.

We pride ourselves in having the finest quality products in our stores. Applications will be reviewed by a panel and if a vendor is accepted they will receive an email. Markets will review potential vendors based on quality of work and social media presence and ask that when applying vendors keep in mind that all items must have a local, handmade aspect to them.
 
We do not accept similar products to what we already have in store. This is done to avoid oversaturation of one type of product and continue to keep our unique market atmosphere. On the second page of the application, please be sure to include a complete list of all products you wish to stock, as any items not listed will not be allowed.

Unfortunately, emails are only sent out to accepted vendors. We receive many applications a day, so we ask that applicants please do not email us to check up on their application. If you do not receive an acceptance email, it means we do not have an opening for your type of product right now. We will keep you on a waitlist until we have an opening.

Please keep an eye on your email, as once a vendor has been accepted they have 48 hours to accept the offer by email and make their payment. If we do not hear back from you within this timeframe, we will move on to the next person in line. If you decide you're no longer interested in being a vendor at Markets, we do appreciate a quick reply letting us know. Once you've accepted the offer, an invoice will be sent by email, which includes the amount for your chosen plan and a $100 deposit.

To make sure all spaces are on brand, we hold veto power over how a vendor's space is set up. If you wish to attach anything to the wall/fixtures/shelves you must check with us first, as you will be required to patch up any holes in the wall if you leave your space. For this reason, we prefer free-standing units for the wall displays. Markets will pick where your space will be located from the spaces we have available at the time of acceptance.

For rent, there are no refunds. Deposit is only returned if a vendor chooses to leave and has given us at least 45 days notice by email. Once the vendor has moved out, the deposit is returned by cheque the following pay period. Please note that your deposit will not be returned if you fail to give us at least 45 days notice to move out, if there is any damage to the space after you've left, or if you don't move out by the end of your contract date. There are also no refunds on rent or deposits if a vendor is asked to leave Markets Ontario early for any reason.

All written and oral information and materials disclosed or provided by Markets Ontario (including emails, private social media messages, posts in the private vendor group, this contract, etc.) is confidential and should not be shared with the general public or competitors.

Confidential information means all data and information related to the business and management of Markets Ontario, including, but not limited to, customer information, intellectual property, marketing and development information, business operations, product information, production processes, and service information.

You agree to hold all confidential, proprietary information or trade secrets in strict trust and confidence and to never remove or copy any confidential material of any kind from any of our stores or digital spaces (including our website, private Facebook group, etc).