How to get a vendor table at a card show, in one line: find a show, apply, get accepted, pay, show up. The hard part is everything around that: picking shows worth the drive, applying before the good tables go, and turning up with stock people want.
Here's how it works, start to finish.
1. Find shows near you
Start local. A show within driving distance keeps your costs down while you learn what sells. Browse card shows by state or see what's near you, and look at each show's page: its dates, its size, what kinds of cards it's about and who else is selling there.
Smaller local shows are cheaper and friendlier for a first time. Big regional shows bring more buyers, and more competition.
2. Set up your vendor profile
On ShowFloor, Start Selling sets up a free vendor profile: your business name, what you sell and your socials. Showrunners see it when you apply, so fill it in properly. A profile with a photo and a clear description of your stock gets picked over a blank one.
3. Apply early
Popular shows fill their tables weeks or months ahead. Apply as soon as you've decided. On a show that takes applications on ShowFloor, you apply from the show's page and choose your table size; the showrunner reviews your application and accepts or declines it.
Once you're accepted and have paid for your table, it's assigned on the show's floor plan, so you know exactly where you'll be before you arrive.
- Apply: from the show's page, with the table size you want
- Accepted: the showrunner approves your application
- Paid: you pay for your table
- On the map: your table is placed on the floor plan
4. Work out whether the table pays
Add up the table fee, travel, food and any hotel, then ask how much you need to sell to cover it, at your real margin. A table that costs a lot can still be worth it at a big show; a cheap table at a quiet show can still lose money. Your first show is partly market research: write down what sold and what didn't.
5. Get your stock in front of buyers before the show
Upload your inventory to your booth for the show (a CSV or a TCGplayer export works). Collectors who list cards in their wishlist are matched with vendors at the show who have them, so buyers can know you have their card, and where your table is, before the doors open.
6. What to bring on the day
Beyond your stock:
- A table cover and display cases or stands that put your best cards at eye level
- Price labels on everything: buyers walk past unpriced cases
- A float of small bills, plus a card reader or payment app
- Sleeves and toploaders for what you sell
- Your vendor pass for check-in at the door
- Water, snacks and a charged phone: you won't get many breaks
Questions
How do I become a vendor at a card show?
Find a show, apply for a table, and pay once the showrunner accepts you. On ShowFloor you set up a free vendor profile with Start Selling, then apply from the show's page.
How far ahead should I apply for a card show table?
As early as you can. Popular shows fill their tables weeks or months ahead, while smaller local shows often have space closer to the date.
How do I know if a card show table is worth it?
Add up the table fee, travel, food and lodging, and work out how much you'd need to sell to cover it at your real margin. Start with local shows to keep costs low while you learn what sells.
What should I bring as a first-time card show vendor?
Priced stock in display cases, a table cover, small bills and a way to take card payments, sleeves and toploaders, your vendor pass, and food and water for a long day.