Local Vendor Guide

At Bridge Street Market, we are so proud to stock our shelves with thousands of Michigan-made products from hundreds of makers. With our store's brand pillars being fresh, LOCAL, and value, we build a BIG part of our business around supporting local makers and creators in our community.

To support each other, we have created a guide to inform our vendors of how to communicate with our team, deliver products, schedule demos and tastings at the market, and more. Please refer to the below sections to help you guide your partnership with us.

Communication

Communication in the market is CRUCIAL. With our team ordering products from distribution centers and vendors, stocking, keeping the store tidy and stocked, hosting internal meetings, working in our community, and assisting customers, it's essential that local vendors communicate with the RIGHT people in the RIGHT way. 

Who are the right people? Local vendors should primarily communicate with their assigned Area Lead.

How should we be communicating with our Area Leads? Vendors should ALWAYS be communicating with their Area Leads via EMAIL unless the area lead specifies otherwise. Vendors need to give Area Leads time to respond in the time frame of 48 hours. 

If you need to contact your Area Lead directly, you can call the store, and if they are working, we will put you in touch with them. If they are not working, we will ask you to call back when they are scheduled to work or answer your question. 

AREA LEADS

Every local vendor has an Area Lead in charge of ordering their product. Area Leads are also able to assist with scheduling demos. By department, you can find who your area lead is below:

If you are unsure of who is ordering your product from the list above please contact Kevin Mulally (Kevin.Mulally@BridgeStreetMarket.com).

We can not stress enough how important it is to have a positive working relationship and open communication with your Area Lead. Your Area Leads will be working with you directly on your product levels, sales, and bringing in additional products. Please work with your Area Lead to talk about their process for what this looks like with them.

CHAIN OF COMMAND/HIERARCHY

FIRST POINT ON CONTACT:

Area Leads

SECOND POINT OF CONTACT:

Assistant Managers/Inventory Lead/Marketing Manager

  1. Jill Devan | Gift Shop, Grocery (Jill.Devan@BridgeStreetMarket.com)

  2. Clark Crow | Grocery (Clark.Crow@Meijer.com)

  3. Thomas Suminski | Fresh (Thomas.Suminski@BridgeStreetMarket.com)

  4. Kevin Mulally | Inventory (Kevin.Mulally@BridgeStreetMarket.com)

  5. Hannah Suydam | Marketing (Hannah.Suydam@Meijer.com)

LAST POINT OF CONTACT:

Store Director

  1. Mitchell Cook | (Mitchell.Cook@BridgeStreetMarket.com)

RESPECT

We respect our employees, our customers, and our local vendors. We expect the same in return from our vendors to our staff.

Local vendors are expected to work with their Area Leads to bring in new products. Vendors need to respect the decisions of their Area Lead as our leadership team empowers our team to make decisions for their department.

MEETINGS

We love when local vendors pop in, say hello, and talk about their products! We also love providing a platform for vendors to place and advertise their product. In return, we would like our local vendors to be mindful of our team's time. If you are looking to speak to someone specifically, please work with them via email to book a meeting in advance. This includes, but is not limited to carrying new products, vendor set up, demoing, placement of products, advertising, marketing, and events.

Deliveries & Sales

DELIVERY (WE CALL THIS “RECEIVING”)

HOURS

Local Vendors need to coordinate with their Area Lead for restocking their product. When bringing your products into the market, you must bring two paper invoices for our receiver to receive the products.

Monday-Friday: 5am - 1pm

Saturday: 7am - 12pm

Sunday: No Receiving

*NO EXCEPTIONS UNLESS A MEMBER OF LEADERSHIP HAS APPROVED PRIOR TO DELIVERY.

SALES

You can learn how to view your sales HERE.

  • Related to the instructions above, you need to use Internet Explorer on a PC

  • It is the vendors responsibility to check product movement, and check in with the Area Lead for orders based sales

Remember: it is important to have a positive working relationship and open communication with your Area Lead. Your Area Leads will be working with you directly on your product levels, sales, and bringing in additional products. Please work with your Area Lead to talk about their process for what this looks like with them.

Tastings & Demos

A large part of creating a market feel is having our local vendors pop up and demo at the market. When our vendors demo, it helps move their product, builds brand awareness, and connects customers to the brand with face-to-face exposure of the owner and brand ambassadors. Vendors who come in and demo are prioritized for marketing, getting in the market's flyer, prime product placement, and being selected for events because we believe in creating connections and building long-lasting partnerships.

BOOKING A DEMO

All vendors can book demos using the Microsoft Bookings Bridge Street Market Vendor Demo calendar. In order to demo, your products must be on our shelves – if you are still in the onboarding process, please complete that before scheduling a tasting.

There are a few things we would like you to know about the calendar: 

  1. Vendors are responsible for managing their bookings. This includes booking your slots, rescheduling if there is a conflict, and canceling your place if you can't make it. Vendors can do ALL of this through the email confirmation of their original booking, so please flag that email after booking a timeslot.

  2. Demos must be booked at least 48 hours in advance, and at least 10 days in advance for alcohol demos.

  3. You will get a confirmation email of your slot and multiple reminder emails as the date nears

  4. We understand that vendors will need to cancel demoing opportunities. If vendors are booking and repeatedly canceling, we will need to reevaluate if the partnership is suitable for the store

  5. Vendors need to make sure they select a "service" and then select the "date/time" they wish to demo. If you are not able to choose a date, that means the slots are full or you have missed the sign up time.

  6. Lastly, please fill out all of the details (including an accurate email address!) and additional information. This will let us know if you need a table or electricity. If you fill out your email incorrectly, you will not get a confirmation email, so please be mindful.

TYPES OF DEMOS

1-DAY TASTING

This type of demo is for vendors to come and sample their products on a day-to-day basis using the Microsoft Booking form selecting the "vendor demo" service.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Marketing Manager is the person behind these events and will be either an open invite or themed. The service will be booked using the Microsoft Booking form, selecting the specific event and date (ex: Meet The Makers or Last Sundays).

RULES & REGULATIONS FOR DEMOS

LOCAL VENDOR RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. A vendor agreement form MUST be filled out, signed and sent to your Area Lead before demoing at the market. This agreement will be kept on file and is valid for one year

  2. Managing your booking on the Bridge Street Market Vendor Demo calendar

  3. Coordinating with your Area Lead if you have enough product for your demo. If an order is placed through your Area Lead making sure it is received during our receiving hours

  4. Bringing all necessary materials to demo. Although this looks different for every vendor this may include table, small trash bin, sample cups, extension cords, etc.

  5. Bringing samples to demo (Bridge Street Market does not purchase these samples)

  6. Cleaning your station when your demo is finished

  7. Putting back anything borrowed into the correct locations

  8. ALCOHOL TASTINGS: You must submit and event form with the MLCC at least 10 days prior to your demo. You must ID all shoppers before offering a sample. Shoppers must stay at your demo table to drink the sample; they are not to walk throughout the store with an alcohol sample.

BRIDGE STREET MARKET RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Providing a space to demo

  2. Providing a table/electricity to the vendor if booked. Vendors should ask to check in with a manager or their assigned Area Lead upon arrival. For special events, please reference the logistics email sent in advance.

  3. Promoting special events and demos

Products

EXISTING PRODUCTS

For existing product maintenance, whether related to changing cost or retail, your main point of contact is your Area Lead. If your Area Lead agrees to the change, they can submit retail changes effective same day.

Cost updates need to be submitted seven days prior to their effective date at receiving. You will fill out the sheet here with new cost information and submit to your Area Lead. They will then submit your requested cost increase on the effective date you specify that is at least seven days beyond the date of your submission.

We will no longer receive costs that do not match cost records on file.

NEW PRODUCTS

If you’re looking to add new products, your first point of contact is your Area Lead. If your Area Lead is interested in a new product, they will guide you through the process of setting up new items or case packs with Meijer.

HELPFUL LINKS

STAIRWAY TO SUCCESS

YOUTUBE VIDEO RESOURCES

Welcome and Agenda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWBIAbpa3Wo&t=44s

Keynote Speaker – Shannon Cohen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb65Tj99RKw

What it Takes to be a Vendor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0spDg04FRUE&t=129s

Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v0HlcdEEuE

Vendor to Vendor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lWWiaVU54w

30 Minute Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zseNAVJoXbQ

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp5aFZ5SgnY