Welcome To The 2026 Des Moines Holiday Boutique Show Vendor Kit
November 6-8th, 2026 At The EMC Expo Center
Additional Question? Contact Cara Braithwaite, Show Coordinator 816.406.1801 | CaraB@MPEshows.com
SCAM ALERT FOR VENDORS
As per our privacy policy, Marketplace Events is a permission-based email sender. We do not share, rent, or sell any email lists.
----- NEW Political Merchandise Policy ----- As we enter a highly volatile political environment, Marketplace Events (MPE) wants to make clear its position on what content will not be permitted on its exhibit floors in all its US consumer home and holiday shows. MPE shows are welcoming environments built solely to encourage face-to-face commerce. Creating respectful, safe marketplaces where our attendees and exhibitors can come together to learn, shop, compare pricing and do business together is our highest priority.
MPE’s acceptability standards do not permit political candidates, parties or other groups promoting issues or ballot initiatives to participate as exhibitors. In addition, the display or sale of any products or services that are political/partisan in nature or that can be interpreted to promote, incite, or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance are prohibited. MPE’s judgment in applying these standards will be final.
MPE maintains these policies to ensure a welcoming environment for all attendees and exhibitors.
Vendor Guide
For a full list of show rules and regulations please read the vendor guide: Click Here
Please note that this page is always being updated as new information becomes available.
Show Hours
2026 Show Hours
Friday
November 6th
10:00 am-9:00 pm
Vendor Access: 8am
Saturday
November 7th
9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Vendor Access: 8am
Sunday
November 8th
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Vendor Access: 9
Move-In & Out Information
Each vendor will be assigned a specific date and time to set up their booth. These assignments will be communicated via a color-coded map posted below 30 days prior to move-in. Driving into the building, if feasible, is only allowed during your assigned date and time. Hand carry or pushcart move-in is allowed any time during and/or after assigned time.
COMING SOON to Enlarge or Download Map as of April 16, 2026. Move-in colored zones will not change. There are zones that may have had additional booths added, merged or split.
MOVE-OUT
Dismantling of displays is not permitted until 5:01 pm on Sunday, November 8th.
RED SECTION is last in, first out. Booths in this section must move out Sunday immediately following show close to clear a pathway to loading dock doors. Vendors located in the RED ZONE will be provided a Dock Pass, allowing your vehicle to proceed to the front of the line.
ALL SECTIONS are encouraged to begin breaking down their exhibit space while the red section is cleared. Exhibit space must be COMPLETELY disassembled before vehicle will be permitted to drive into the building.
All Booths must be removed by 10PM Sunday, November 8th, 2026
*Please note the move-in map is for zone reference only and may not show your exact booth size, as it is created well in advance. Your booth will be set up according to your contract
Vendor Badges
Vendor badges are NOT mailed out prior to the show. Badges can be picked up at Vendor Registration (located behind the box office) during move-in and during show hours. Complimentary plastic badge holders are provided. Vendor
badges are required to identify you as an authorized Vendor. Vendors will not be allowed access to the show floor during show days without a badge.
Each company will be provided an allotment of 5 badges.
Badges can be picked up at the show office during move-in or at Will Call near the main show entrance.
Show Decorator | Gilbert Exposition Management Services
Vendors are responsible for flooring (required for all booths.) You may supply your own tables and chairs or rent from the show decorator. An advanced purchase discount is offered & will ensure availability of all needed items.
As an vendor, you will automatically receive an introduction email from GEMS with a Username and Temporary Password.
After you’ve logged on you will be able to order services. Should you have any questions or need to have the introduction e-mail resent, please contact GEMS by phone at 214.388.5722 Ext 1 or e-mail orders@gemsevents.com.
To purchase any of these services please visit the EMC Expo Center website or contact Exhibitor Services at 515.564.8018. An advanced purchase discount is offered.
*ONLINE ORDERING WILL OPEN 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT DATES.
Each Vendor will receive 40 complimentary e-tickets. We encourage you to send them out to potential clients, friends, family, or as a thank you to current customers.
These are sent out via email approximately 30 days ahead of the show. The email will come from noreply@mail3.microspec.com. Please note, this email can get sent to your spam folder. Please check there first before reaching out if you are unable to find them.
Additional admission passes can be purchased at the discounted price of $7.00 each ($14 at the box office). Please contact the Show Coordinator, Cara Braithwaite, at CaraB@mpeshows.com to order these discounted tickets.
Complimentary and discounted tickets are NOT to be distributed in the LOBBIES, FOYERS or PARKING LOTS of the EMC Expo Center. If complimentary or discounted tickets are given to visitors in these areas, the vendor will not be allowed to exhibit in future events and may be asked to leave the current show immediately.
Flooring is REQUIRED for all booth spaces. Floors within exhibit space must be 100% covered with carpet, astroturf, vinyl flooring, etc. You may bring in your own or rent flooring from the show decorator.
Flooring is NOT included in the cost of your booth. Any carpet extending into the common aisle is subject to being cut and removed.
Parking is available north of the Iowa Events Center for a fee, with entrances off the following streets: 3rd Street 5th Avenue Crocker Street
The Iowa Events Center surface parking lots offer the closest and most convenient access to the facility. ADA Accessible parking is available at the Iowa Events Center by entering the lot south of Crocker Street, next to Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. Debit and Credit Cards are all accepted for payment. Parking lots are cashless.
City parking garages are located throughout downtown with convenient skywalk access to the Iowa Events Center. Street parking is available throughout downtown with the convenience of parking meters.
Vehicles may unload their product, equipment, etc. at the building, but quickly move to these designated areas after unloading. Throughout the scheduled event, if trucks need to restock, opportunities for unloading will be accommodated.
Vendors are able to park their trailers in the far North parking lot located off of 5th street. *Based on availability
Vendors are able to park their trailers in the far North parking lot based on availability. We encourage the trailers to park in the Northernmost part of this lot to allow flexibility when leaving the lot. It is $13/stall per day that they are parked. For example, if you have a trailer that takes up 2 spaces and is parked for 4 days, it would be $26/day for 4 days for a total of $104.00. There is no upcharge for parking overnight. Vehicles will receive a hangtag to put in their rearview mirror during the event. In the instance that the parking department is not staffed when they park, vendors can park but will need to arrange payment for parking the next day when they arrive.
If you are parking a trailer you will need to bring your own blocks to put under your trailer.
Hangtags will be available for purchase COMING SOON in the green lot booths off 5th street for vendors.
Holiday Decor Requirement
It is required for all vendors to incorporate holiday decor in your booth.
Des Moines, IA sales tax is 7.00%. Sales tax must be collected & reported to the State of Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Revenue has changed their guidelines. They now require Marketplace Events to obtain documentation from each retailer (vendor) appearing at the event, as follows:
1) Proof that the vendor possesses a valid Iowa Sales Permit, OR
2) A written statement from the vendor indicating that the product or service being sold is not subject to Iowa sales tax
Please e-mail your Iowa Sales Tax Permit Number or Written Statement to the Show Coordiantor, Cara Braithwaite at carab@mpeshows.com.
Questions? Contact Taxpayer Services, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:15pm.
Beginning July 1, 2016, the State of Iowa will no longer provide temporary sales tax permits. Vendors will be required to obtain their own permanent tax permit by going to https://tax.iowa.gov. You must obtain your permanent permit prior to the event. You can charge and collect tax as soon as you submit an application, even if you have not yet been issued a permit number. If you are required to have a state sales tax permit and you make taxable retail sales in Des Moines, you will also have to have a Des Moines permit. If you have questions pertaining to State of Iowa sales tax permits, please contact taxpayer services at 515.281.3114 or idr@iowa.gov.
For more information regarding sales taxes prior to the event please visit the Iowa Department of Revenue website.
Girls Night Out
INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE? DONATE ITEMS FOR GIRLS NIGHT OUT.
On November 6th from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Holiday Boutique turns a unique shopping experience into a party with a special Girls Night Out on Friday - complete with music, entertainment and fabulous door prizes!
You can reach shoppers and gain more exposure at the show by providing a gift certificate from your business.
COMING SOON to donate to Girls Night Out
Deadline to donate is COMING SOON
Artisan Vendors
Want additional exposure as an Artisan?
Our Artisan designation only cost $60, and you get the following benefits.
12”x12” floor decal on the aisle in front of your booth
Listed as an Artisan on our feature page of the website under “Artisan Vendors” with your logo and booth number.
Potential for onsite PR (no guaranteed) if requested by media.
Contact your sales consultant for more information.
Vendors will have to pick the show from a drop-down list that includes shows other than just those run by MPE.
Marketplace Events is not selling this insurance and doesn’t profit from it in any way. This is simply a resource for those vendors who don’t already have the required insurance coverage per their contracts. They do not have to purchase this.
The Insurance clause is #5 on the Terms and Conditions page of all booth space contracts. For easy reference, vendors are required to have:
Comprehensive General Liability and All Risk Property insurance
Coverage must be from the start of move in to the end of move out
Coverage of at least $1,000,000 for each separate occurrence
Name Marketplace Events LLC and the venue as additional insured
Maximize your business’s exposure and attract more customers by upgrading your vendor listing. As a vendor, you have a basic listing live on the website, and now you can Enhance It! This is included in the contracted space cost and is no additional charge.
Within 24 hours, you will receive an automated email providing a link to elevate your listing. This link gives you the flexibility to make updates and changes to your listing as frequently as you like until one day after the show ends. Your listing will stay active for as long as you participate in the show.
If you have any questions regarding the online vendor listing or if you do not receive the email with the link, please email our digital coordinator at JenK@mpeshows.com.
For any assistance with your listing, please consult the FAQ section.
We believe this opportunity will greatly benefit your business and we are excited to assist in maximizing your presence at the show.
Learn more about the benefits of creating your enhanced listing.
We have negotiated discounted rates at the following hotels:
Hilton Des Moines Downtown 435 Park Street Des Moines, IA 50309 515.241.1456 CLICK HERE to reserve your room.
Discount Deadline is Tuesday, October 20th, 2026
Digital Marking Kit
#LetsGetSocial
Share your show pics or your holiday décor and celebrations with us.
Hashtags: ##DSMHolidayBoutique #HolidayBoutique
Including assets mentioning your participation in the show either through your existing email marketing efforts or by adding a small banner to your website is a great, free way to invite potential customers to meet you face-to-face on our show floor.
Click Here for the 2026 Digital Marketing Kit (which includes social assets, and other digital marketing materials).
Facebook Event Reminder: In efforts to protect potential joint customers from fraudulent events and scammers, we request that you do not create your own Facebook Event. This helps us manage ticket sales for the event, and ensures that our team are available to support both exhibitors and potential attendees with any questions, comments, or concerns that they have. Please feel free to reach out to your show manager or show marketing manager with your companies’ Facebook page and we can add you as a co-host to the official event.
COMING SOON to go to our Facebook Event for 2026
Click Here to learn about the 4 C's of Social Media
There have been a number of spam emails offering our attendee lists. These are scams and the senders are unauthorized to use the Marketplace Events’ name. These scammers are attempting to receive monies from exhibiting companies without providing anything in return. These emails are not approved by Marketplace Events, and Marketplace Events would never ask for bank information or other sensitive information over email.
