Vendors are an important part of the dog show experience. On site vendors provide a convenient place to get essential dog show supplies. They can be essential when exhibitors break, lose, or forget an important item on the day of the show. These independent retailers attend dog shows to get first hand access to dog show exhibitors. This relationship is changing as online commerce allows exhibitors to purchase more specialized items online; but Amazon is not going to send in a drone to big fairground outside Chesaning Michigan, so on-site vendors are still essential. Still, online shopping and declining entries cut into their on-site profits. We appreciate our vendors and try to make sure their experience each year brings them back in the future.
General Vendors
General Vendors provide the basic equipment to prepare and show your dog, including leads, bait, scissors, chalk and shampoos. Because Amazon can’t deliver fresh bait or replace a broken show lead in real time! General vendors are essential, but we only need ONE. The first to submit an application will be in; we do not accept two vendors in this category.
Sharpeners
Sharpeners provide an essential hands-on service to anyone that uses scissors or clippers on their dogs. Many dog show exhibitors are also professional groomers and have an ongoing relationship with sharpening services. Equipment can be dropped off the first day of a show weekend and delivered before exhibitors head home on Sunday.
Dog Specialty Items
Dog show exhibitors are expert consumers of dog products. Products including durable chews like elk horns, custom apparel like britches for bitches in season, t-shirts with funny dog sayings, breed design household items, food for dogs with special needs, are some of the vendor types seen at the largest shows. While many of these items can be obtained online, the appeal of seeing them in person, and the impulse to buy when you’re hanging out at the dog show with friends can be a powerful motivator to buy.
Dog and People Services
Vendors who offer treatments, like chiropractic treatments and massage therapy come to dog shows as well. These practitioners are usually certified to work on both dogs and people. Days of walking, trotting and running on hard surfaces can take their toll, and exhibitors, club members, and their dogs all appreciate these treatments.
Please Shop at our Shows!
Everyone benefits when vendors with useful and attractive merchandise, located close to the exhibition area, and buyers with time and money come together. Please support our on-site vendors to ensure they will be there for the future. To become a vendor, contact the Progressive vendor chair.