Application

Shop & Share: Vendor Sign-Up

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Deadline: Dec 31, 2026 11:59 pm (GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
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Date: Feb 18, 2026 1:30 pm - Dec 31, 2026 1:30 pm (EDT)
place
Virtual event
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Free

About the application

🌈 Out & About: Pride Virtual Marketplace
FREE TO JOIN! Thank you for your interest in joining Out & About! By participating, your business gains year-round visibility, community connections, and opportunities to showcase your products while supporting and celebrating the local LGBTQIA+ community.

 

🌈✨Top Benefits of Joining Out & About

  • Free Participation – No membership fee or cost to join.
  • Year-Round Visibility – Featured on COWP’s virtual marketplace with photos, logo, and social links.
  • Event Opportunities – Access to vendor spots and in-kind collaborations at COWP events.
  • Community & Networking – Connect with other small businesses and reach new audiences.
  • Marketing & Promotion – Social media spotlights, newsletters, and event materials highlighting your business.
  • See full list below

In exchange for the free opportunity to participate in the Out & About virtual marketplace, we kindly ask vendors to support Come Out With Pride’s volunteer appreciation efforts through in-kind contributions, such as products, gift cards, or services, helping to create a cycle of mutual support where local businesses and community organizations uplift one another while celebrating the dedication of our volunteers.

 

Extended List of Benefits for Vendors Joining Out & About

  • Free Participation
    - No membership fee or cost to join
    - Accessible for emerging and grassroots businesses
  • Year-Round Virtual Visibility
    - Featured on COWP’s virtual marketplace page
    - Listed with logo, photos, business description, and social media links
    - Opportunity to reach COWP’s diverse LGBTQIA+ and ally community
  • Event-Linked Opportunities
    - Access to vendor opportunities at COWP events throughout the year
    - Chance to provide in-kind support in exchange for visibility
    - Priority consideration for future festivals and marketplaces
  • Community & Networking
    - Connect with other small businesses and entrepreneurs from marginalized communities
    - Build relationships with COWP community partners and potential collaborators
    - Exposure to new audiences, including younger and digital-first supporters
  • Marketing & Promotion
    - Spotlighted in social media features, newsletters, and event materials
    - Opportunity to share your story and mission with a supportive audience
    - Cross-promotion with other vendors in the marketplace
  • Leadership & Community Impact
    - Be part of an initiative that directly supports local queer, women, Black, and marginalized-owned businesses
    - Contribute to volunteer appreciation and community-building efforts
    - Amplify your business while strengthening the local LGBTQIA+ community
  • Credibility & Trust
    - Inclusion in a COWP-endorsed marketplace signals alignment with LGBTQIA+ values
    - Opportunity to be recognized as a socially conscious, community-driven business

This initiative reflects COWP’s commitment to visibility, equity, and collective growth.

 

Out & About ensures that our Pride isn’t just celebrated — it’s circulated back into our community. 🌈✨

About the event

🌈 Out & About: Pride Virtual Market & Community Directory Welcome to Out & About, Come Out With Pride’s virtual marketplace and community directory! This is your destination to discover, explore, and support small, local businesses owned and operated by queer, women, Black, and other marginalized entrepreneurs. Designed as both a year-round virtual marketplace and a free directory, Out & About makes it easy for community members, visitors, and event organizers to intentionally shop, hire, and collaborate with businesses that reflect and serve our community. Whether you’re a business looking to join or someone looking to buy, connect, and celebrate these incredible creators, Out & About helps uplift local entrepreneurs while strengthening our collective impact. 🎯 Our Mission The mission of Out & About is to strengthen our community’s economic power by intentionally supporting the small businesses that reflect and serve us. Through year-round virtual visibility, directory listings, and vendor opportunities tied to COWP events, this initiative builds meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships between local entrepreneurs and our Pride community. Out & About is a completely free opportunity for businesses to join. There is no membership fee and no cost to be listed in the directory or participate in the virtual marketplace, ensuring the program remains accessible and barrier-free for emerging and grassroots entrepreneurs. We believe visibility is power — and economic empowerment is advocacy. 🌈 🌟 Why It Matters Out & About is more than a marketplace. It is a community-building initiative that: * Expands opportunities for marginalized entrepreneurs to grow their visibility and customer base * Encourages our community to intentionally “shop our own” * Creates sustainable, relationship-based partnerships rather than one-time vendor transactions * Strengthens COWP’s network while reinvesting in the local economy * Builds economic equity through collaboration and shared success By offering vendor opportunities throughout the year in exchange for in-kind support such as products, gift cards, or services, Out & About creates a cycle of mutual uplift — where businesses and community organizations support one another. This initiative reflects COWP’s commitment to visibility, equity, and collective growth. Out & About ensures that our Pride isn’t just celebrated — it’s circulated back into our community. 🌈✨ Questions? Email COWP's Community Engagement Director - Candice.Stribling@
Come Out With Pride
Come Out With Pride
Come Out With Pride
Come Out With Pride

Terms & Conditions

By applying to participate in Out & About, vendors agree to uphold Come Out With Pride’s mission, values, and community standards. All applicants are subject to review and approval, and COWP reserves the right to remove any vendor from the virtual marketplace at any time at its discretion. Participation is free, and there is no membership fee; however, inclusion does not constitute an endorsement, partnership, or formal affiliation with COWP, and all transactions occur directly between the vendor and customer. Vendors are responsible for compliance with all applicable licenses, permits, taxes, and legal obligations, as well as the safety and quality of their products or services. Vendors grant COWP permission to use submitted logos, images, and descriptions for promotional purposes and confirm that they own or have the rights to all submitted materials. Vendors are expected to maintain inclusive and respectful practices, avoid discriminatory or harmful behavior, and conduct themselves in a manner that does not materially harm COWP’s reputation. COWP is not responsible for disputes, pricing, product availability, or any other issues related to vendor operations. Participation in Out & About does not guarantee exclusivity, event placement, or any additional benefits beyond marketplace inclusion.

Questions on the application

Business information

  • Business name
  • Legal business name
  • Contact name
  • Address
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Website (Optional)
  • Logo (Optional)

Additional information

  • Mission Alignment - How does your business align with Come Out With Pride’s mission and values?
  • Ownership and/or Operation Identity (Click all that apply)
  • I am open to providing in-kind support (gift cards, items, services) in exchange for this vendor opportunaty.
  • Thank you for supporting our volunteer appreciation efforts. What in-kind contributions, such as products, gift cards, or services are you able to share with us?
  • Our trusted community partners often request vendor information for future festivals and marketplaces. Do you give COWP permission to share your contact information with them?
  • By applying to participate in Out & About, I acknowledge that this is a free opportunity with no membership fee required. I understand that participation is granted at the discretion of Come Out With Pride, and that COWP reserves the right to remove any participant if necessary. I recognize that COWP is not responsible for any transactions, sales, or business operations, and I agree to conduct myself and my business in a respectful and inclusive manner that aligns with COWP’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ equity. I also understand that by applying or being accepted to this marketplace, there is no guarantee of participation in other COWP events.

Picture requirements

  • Minimum pictures required: 0
Shop & Share: Vendor Sign-Up
Shop & Share: Vendor Sign-Up
Out & About: Pride Virtual Market & Directory