Vendor Information - Repticon Vendor Rules

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• All Vendors should review these rules
• The Vendor Rules are occasionally updated.  This version was last updated on 12/31/2025.

•  **Repticon Vendor Rules are guidelines and expectations for exhibitors at Repticon shows. These rules are subject to change at any time for any reason. The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the sole discretion of Repticon.  Repticon vendor rules are not a guarantee to or enforceable by other exhibitors or by guests attending Repticon shows.**

Vendor Rules & Information

• Repticon seeks to produce shows that are family-friendly and which feature only legal, family-friendly offerings. If Repticon deems an exhibitor’s products, presentation, or attire to be either non family-friendly, or out of Repticon’s area of expertise and beyond the normal use of Repticon company resources to evaluate the legality of the offering, the offending product or content may not be displayed or distributed at Repticon shows.
• This includes but is not limited to:
  • Weapons (including knives, decorative or otherwise)
  • Sexual or pornographic imagery
  • Adult language
  • Games of chance
  • Raffles
  • Medicinal or cannabis-related products
  • Religious or political solicitation
  • Vaping or smoking products
  • Piercing
  • Tattooing
• The determination of what violates this policy is at the sole discretion of Repticon. Any vendor who is asked by Repticon staff to remove offending products or content and does not do so immediately is in violation of these vendor rules, and may be compelled to leave the show.

Animal Policies

• Are there any restrictions on the products or animals that can be sold at Repticon? – All animals must be healthy and legal to sell within the state. Vendors who intentionally and repeatedly offer illegal or unhealthy animals for sale may be banned from future shows.  Vendors are responsible for obtaining all required licenses and permits to keep and sell all animals and products that they possess at the show, and are responsible for researching and understanding those requirements. Venomous animals may not be displayed, sold, or brought to any show other than Repticon Columbia.
• See the South Carolina State guidelines on the Repticon website for the Columbia show’s Venomous Policies: https://repticon.com/south-carolina/
• Handling Animals – Exhibitors who choose to remove non-venomous animals from their enclosures or allow guests to handle their animals are responsible for maintaining control of the animals at all time. Each exhibitor is exclusively liable for any damage to property or personal injury resulting from handling of their live animals on the host facility premises.
• Escaped Animals – Each exhibitor is responsible for ensuring that no animals leave their exhibit area unless under the control of an employee or customer. Each vendor is responsible for recapturing any escaped animals without unreasonable disruption to other exhibitors or guests. Any escaped animals must be immediately reported to Repticon. Any lost animals that are found after event hours or after the event closes become the property of Repticon, with no obligation for return to the original owner.
• Wild-Caught Animals – There is no restriction regarding sale of legal, wild-caught animals. Exhibitors are not required to display any particular signage, but are required to disclose any pertinent information to interested guests, including whether a particular animal is wild-caught or captive bred.
• Guests Bringing Animals – Where venue rules and local regulations allow, guests will be allowed to bring up to two animals inside the event. We feel strongly that this interaction will provide guests with an additional opportunity to engage in discussion with exhibitors and will generate excitement among event attendees. Animals brought by guests to the event must be in good health and under their control at all times. Guests may not bring animals into the event for the purpose of selling them at the event, as only show vendors with appropriate permits may sell animals. Any guests who violate these policies will be asked to leave the show. Each guest bringing animals into the show is responsible for researching and complying with all current laws regarding their animals.
• Temperature Considerations – Vendors with animals, please be aware that at all events Repticon strives to work with host
  venues to keep temperatures at levels that would be reasonable for the needs of most herps. However, weather conditions should be taken into consideration and Repticon advises that vendors should make any necessary preparations they consider appropriate for their specific animals. If it is unseasonably cold or hot, please take special precautions. Power outages and other climate control challenges are also always a risk. Repticon can not be held liable for the health of a vendor’s animals due to temperature fluctuations.

Booking Tables

• Table Limit – 8 Table limit, if more than 8 tables are needed, you will need to contact bookings.

• Deposit – Vendors are required to pay a 10% deposit to hold tables. This minimal deposit is intended to ensure that only vendors who truly intend to vend at a show actually complete the booking process, while still keeping the up-front costs for booking tables extremely low for those vendors who book multiple shows throughout the year. This will be refundable or transferable up to a month before the show.  See cancellation polices below for the full schedule of cancellation fees.

•  Extra “Back” Tables – If a vendor requires an extra “back” table to go either behind their regular tables or inside their booth, they may purchase an extra table for $30, with the purchase of at least two regular tables. The extra table must be used behind their regular display and must fit within their space. There is a limit of only one extra “back” table allowed per vendor, regardless of number of tables purchased. If pre-paying, an extra table is available at checkout.

Dry Goods Rules

• ‘Dry Goods’ are defined as products purchased by vendors for resale, and which are used to directly support the care of live animals within or attached to an enclosure. This includes used products.
• Dry Goods include, but are not limited to, light bulbs, enclosure decorations, vitamin supplements, food and water bowls, hides, and substrates.  Commercially produced enclosures purchased by the vendor and offered for resale are also considered Dry Goods, including “micro” enclosures, and any enclosures intended for animals to live in long-term after purchase.  PVC enclosures are considered Dry Goods.  Vendors seeking to sell PVC enclosures beyond the standard Dry Goods limits must request and receive approval from Repticon to sell those enclosures.  Cork, grapevine, and all commercially produced, distributed, or imported wood are considered Dry Goods.
• Items that are not typically used within a reptile enclosure to support the care of the live animals, such as books, tools, t-shirts, art work, and novelty items, are not considered dry goods.
• Products that the vendor produces by hand for sale, such as custom enclosures or racks, are not considered dry goods.

Dry Goods Outside of Florida

• Vendors at Repticon shows outside of Florida, other than the pre-arranged Primary Dry Goods Exclusive Vendor, are first allowed one full table of Dry Goods, and the Dry Goods offered must make physical contact with the tabletop (No racks or shelves may be used to expand the Dry Goods offered).
• For any additional tables beyond a first full table of Dry Goods, these tables must have at least 50% of the table occupied by live animals, and may not utilize more than 50% of their table/booth to display and/or sell Dry Goods without prior approval from Repticon.  Living plants are not considered to be live animals nor Dry Goods.
• Dry Goods must be placed on Repticon-provided tables, not rolling racks, unless prior approval is obtained from Repticon. For the safety of our vendors and guests, Dry Goods may not be stacked more than 2′ high on tables.
• Back stock of Dry Goods must be stored out of sight of customers on the show floor. Any Dry Goods back stock stored under tables must be contained in unmarked, opaque containers.
• The animals that are sold in a mixed Dry Goods/Live Animal booth must be sold by the same vendor. A Dry Goods vendor may not split the booth with an Animal vendor to reach the 50% minimum live animal presentation.
• Any vendor may offer Dry Goods that they or their company produces themselves without restriction.

Dry Goods Florida Only

• At Repticon shows within Florida, vendors, other than Family Reptiles, must limit their Dry Goods to one table only, and the Dry Goods offered must make physical contact with the tabletop (No racks or shelves may be used to expand the Dry Goods offered).
• Dry Goods must be placed on Repticon-provided tables, not rolling racks, unless prior approval is obtained from Repticon. For the safety of our vendors and guests, Dry Goods may not be stacked more than 2′ high on tables.
• Back stock of Dry Goods for vendors who do not have Dry Goods slots must be stored out of sight of customers on the show floor. Any Dry Goods back stock stored under tables must be contained in unmarked, opaque containers.

• What constitutes 50% is at the discretion of Repticon.
• What constitutes a ‘full table’ of live animals and/or a ‘full table’ of Dry Goods under this policy is at the discretion of Repticon.

Frozen Feeders and Insect Feeders

• No vendor may offer frozen feeder rodents or live feeder insects at Repticon shows without the prior approval of Repticon at a given show. There are feeder vendor exclusives for frozen and insects at all shows to ensure coverage, and no other vendor may offer frozen or insect feeders, promote feeder sales, or bring a freezer into any Repticon show without the approval of Repticon. Live feeder rodents may be sold by any vendor where local law permits.

Vendor Staff Entry (wristband) Rules

• All Staff working a table, a vendor’s family or otherwise, are required to have a vendor staff entry wristband.  Please inquire during Vendor Check In with the onsite staff regarding how the wristbands will be physically handled at that particular show.
• Additional wristbands other than those included with a purchase of tables are $15 each for two day shows and $10 for one day shows. (See Maximum wristbands below)
• Only One wristband is allowed per person.
• Each Vendor must be present to receive their wristband. No wristband will be given out for people who are not present.
• We ask that all vendors wear and keep their wristband visible throughout the show weekend to help all Repticon staff distinguish vendors from our show guests.
• If a vendor brings their child with them, and the child is not working at their table, that child does not require a wristband, though children may request a wristband.  Vendor children should remain at those vendor tables unless accompanied by adults.  Older minors who are working the table as regular vendor staff should be wearing a wristband and that wristband will be considered one of the vendor staff entries.
• All “guests” of vendors coming into the show, whether doing business or not, (such as visiting family, customers who have pre-purchased and are picking up items, etc.), must pay admission to be admitted into the show.

The following are the staff entries (wristbands) included per table purchase and the maximum allowed per table booking.

Tables – Wristbands Included in Table Purchase – + Maximum Additional Wristbands Allowed for Purchase

1 Table – 2 Wristbands +1 (3 total)

2 Tables – 2 Wristbands +3 (5 total)

3 Tables – 3 Wristbands +4 (7 total)

4 Tables – 4 Wristbands +5 (9 total)

If any vendor wants more than 9 workers requiring wristbands at their tables, they must purchase more than 4 tables.

Vendor Cancellation Policies

• Vendors should notify Repticon Bookings of cancellations by emailing [email protected] so there is a written request.  Cancellation emails should include the reason for cancelling so that Bookings can review the possibility of waiving any cancellation fees, should they apply.
• Bookings, cancellations and/or table changes must go through Repticon Bookings, and any attempts through other avenues or Repticon staff will not be considered complete, nor guarantee space at a show, nor waive cancellation fees.
• For last minute emergency cancellations (usually 2pm or later the Friday before the show) for which a vendor either cannot arrive at either day of the show or must vacate the show early, they must contact the show manager as listed in their Load In email, either by email, phone message, or speak directly to them on site.   Failure to do so is considered either a no-show or leaving the show early.
• Vendors cancelling less than one month out from the show are charged the loss of deposit fee which is 10% of the booking.
• Vendors cancelling past 8am Eastern two Mondays out from the show are charged 50% of their full booking fee.  This payment must be paid in full before the vendor may book tables at any future Repticon show.
• Vendors cancelling past 8am Eastern on the Monday prior to the show will be required to pay for the cancelled tables in full (100%) before booking any tables at future Repticon shows.
• Vendors who No-Show/No-Notice a booked show without contacting Repticon will be responsible for their full table placement plus 25%, and will be required to prepay in full for all future tables booked.
• Orders that remain unpaid on the Monday following that show weekend go into “Overdue” status, which will block any future booking until settled.  If you have any overdue orders, there are points of notification regarding them in your system account or during a booking process and include links to those orders that are overdue.
• Because vendors with bulk booking contracts are preplaced, which circumvents the usual safeguards to ensure Repticon receives table payment, their contracts are subject to certain policies if invoices remain unpaid and go into overdue status.   Those policies may be reviewed at this link: https://repticon.com/vendor-information-overdue-balances-bulk-bookers/

Exhibitor Fines & Early Departure

• Any vendor who vacates their tables before the show closes, removes more than 50% of their product before the show closes, or creates empty tables through product consolidation before the show closes will be charged his or her full table rent, plus an additional $50 per table, per show day fine that the vendor had committed to fill.
• To maintain the appearance of the overall show, all table coverings must stay on all tables until 4pm or the scheduled show closing time.
• Vendors who sell through all of their product at a particular show may, with express permission of the Repticon show manager onsite, may be permitted to leave the show early, but will be required to leave a table cover and business cards or other promotional literature at each of their tables.  Please also notify the show manager in the event of a personal emergency requiring early departure.
• Please see sections above for No-Show/No-Notice penalties.

Further Vendor Rules

• Participation – Repticon reserves the right to make the final determination on whether any vendor or exhibitor may participate in a particular show.
• Alcohol & Illegal Drugs – No Alcoholic beverages or Illegal Drugs are allowed on the premises of any Repticon Show.
• Vaping/Smoking – Vaping or smoking is not permitted indoors at any Repticon show.
• Access to Facilities – Exhibitors will have access to the event facilities only during the times specified in the load-in and load-out schedules.
• Theft of Exhibitor Property – Each exhibitor is expected to appropriately display their materials and staff their tables in order to prohibit shoplifting or theft. Repticon is not responsible for any theft before, during, or after any event.
• Exhibit Look – Each exhibitor is expected to create a professional, attractive display area in their space. It is mandatory that Vendors must have a tablecloth to cover all their tables. If necessary, Repticon will provide them at $3 per table.
• Banners – Any banners that vendors wish to hang in a venue lobby and away from their tables first need to be approved by Repticon.
• Clean-up – At the end of each show, vendors are expected to leave their booth space reasonably clean without excessive trash on the tables or the floor. Vendors not adhering to this guideline must pay a $50 cleaning deposit when reserving space at future shows.
• Shipments to Venue – If a vendor chooses to have product shipped to the venue, it is fully the responsibility of the vendor to ensure that the venue will accept their shipments and that they are sent on the required days in the required manner, i.e. with lift gates, inside delivery, etc.  Repticon will not receive product on behalf of a vendor and will not be liable for any product lost, damaged, or stolen due to delivery before that vendor arrives onsite.

Violation of Event Rules

• Repticon reserves the right to strictly enforce the event rules.
• Any vendor who is determined to be in violation of these rules by Repticon will be, at Repticon’s discretion, removed from the show. Exhibitors instructed to leave must immediately vacate the host facility premises. Exhibitors refusing to comply or attempting to continue selling while packing up will have their materials and animals removed at their expense and will bear all risk of damage associated with the movement of their materials and animals.
• Any exhibitor creating a hostile situation with other vendors, guests or event staff will also be removed under these same terms.
• No exhibitor who is removed from the show for any reason will be entitled to any refund of any fees or any monetary damages