Frequently Asked Questions

For Shoppers

Do I need to register and pay for a ticket to come along to a Suitcase Rummage market as a shopper/browser?

No! It is free entry to attend a Suitcase Rummage market. You only need to register if you want to have a stall space to sell your wares. Otherwise, just bring along your pennies and shop sustainably!

Do stalls take card or cash?

The majority of stalls take cash only. We recommend bringing cash to our market events. However, some stalls, particularly handmade stalls may accept card payments or a PayPal transfer.

When is the next Suitcase Rummage market in my city?

Check out our Market Dates page here!

How can I find out if a market has been cancelled?

Due to the unpredictable nature of the weather, we make announcements on the day of the market if a market is to be cancelled. We share announcements on our Instagram and Facebook accounts 2 hours before the market start and update the Market Dates section of our website with the cancellation. Stall holders are notified via email.

Do you have any Covid regulations in place?

While Covid regulations have eased, we have many vulnerable community members that attend our Suitcase Rummage markets, please help to keep our Rummage community in good health by keeping the following things in mind:
1. If you are feeling sick/unwell, we ask that you please do not attend our Suitcase Rummage markets.
2. We recommend bringing hand sanitiser and using it after handling money or clothes, after coughing or sneezing and also washing your hands regularly.
3. Please avoid overcrowding suitcases and give each other space. 

For Sellers

How much is it to have a stall?

It costs $30 + booking fees to register for a stall at Suitcase Rummage. This fee covers your registration and public liability insurance.

Do I need insurance?

Nope, you’re covered by our insurance!

How do I sell from my own stall at a Suitcase Rummage market?

Do you have second hand or handmade wares to sell? First, you’ll need to register to be a stall holder via our website, prior to attending a Suitcase Rummage market. You can register to be a stall holder here.

When do registrations open?

Registrations for our Brisbane Suitcase Rummage markets open one month in advance. We release stall holder registrations during the first week of the month, for the following month. For all other cities and events, registration times can vary. Check our Market Dates page for current open registrations.

We also recommend following our Facebook or Instagram pages for reminders about stall holder registrations, updates and announcements.

What happens after I register?

You will receive an e-ticket and confirmation that your booking has been received from Humanitix (our ticketing partner). You will receive another email from Suitcase Rummage one week prior to the event with specific event details. Double check your spam/junk folders! Sometimes our emails end up in there.

I can’t seem to register, what’s happening?

It could be that the date you’re looking to register for is already sold out. It could be that our website or the Humanitix website is under maintenance. It could be that you need to scroll down within the window you’re in! Try all of these tricks first. If you’re still having trouble, please send us an email and we’ll work with you to resolve it.

It’s my first time having a stall, what are some tips/tricks and essentials to bring?

We recommend bringing a hat, water bottle, sunscreen, umbrella, and even a jumper! As we are usually outdoors, we never know what the weather will bring. It’s best to be prepared. We also recommend you bring: lots of change (money), which you should keep on your person at all times. You might like to make signs or individually tag each item (it’s up to you!), pen and notebook, and a rug/blanket for setting up your wares on is a must. Many of our stall holders also use their suitcases to display their wares! We also recommend bringing a chair or cushion to sit on. Read our full article on what to bring to a Suitcase Rummage market here! 

How many suitcases can I bring?

You can bring up to 3 suitcases worth of hand made and or second hand wares for a registered stall space. This space can be shared with a friend or two, so long as you do not exceed three suitcases between you.

What is the size of a stall?

The size of one stall space is roughly 1.5m x 1m or the size of a standard picnic rug!

What can I sell?

As a sustainable market, we encourage the sale of second hand and handmade items! You can sell anything that is handmade, hand crafted, or designed by you, such as: art, hand made jewellery, crocheted creations, hand made soaps, candles and more. And/or anything that is second-hand, recycled, vintage, local, and sustainable. Things like: second hand clothing, shoes, jewellery, records, art, bric-a-brac, kitchenware, fabric, haberdashery, books, art, plants, cards. However, we DO NOT allow anything that is newly imported and/or mass produced. 

What if it’s new and has tags?

If you have a dress in your wardrobe that you’ve never worn (and it has the tags and is brand new) that is ok to bring along. We want your garments to find new homes and have a longer life span! However, if you have bought something specifically for re sale – for example, 20 brand new iphone cases – these are NOT ok to sell at Suitcase Rummage. We want to discourage the purchasing of new, imported, mass produced, unethical and non recyclable items. If you’re still not sure what kinds of items you have or where they fit, please send us an email so we can talk this through with you further.

Can I sell food?

Generally speaking, selling food at a Rummage is not possible. This is to do with partnerships and policies in the places where we Rummage. However, it is worth checking with us just in case! Unfortunately, we are not in a position to accept food trucks or large food stalls for any of our markets.

Can I bring a friend(s) to sit with me for the day?

Yes, for any of our regular Suitcase Rummage markets you can bring a friend or two to sit with you on the day. They do not have to register for a space if they are not bringing any suitcases along. You can share your registration space with them if the total number of suitcases for your registered space does not exceed 3 suitcases. Occasionally we hold one off events in partnership with other organisations where we are unable to allow you to bring a friend along – this will be made clear in that particular event details.

Can I choose where I set up on the day?

No, we will allocate a space for you. When you arrive at the Rummage ready for set up, please check in with our friendly staff to sign in. As spaces are not pre-allocated, our staff will show you where to set up on the day. Please note, with many stalls to set up, we are unable to guarantee shade or specific spaces for any stalls. If you have any specific requirements for your stall space (such as you’re pregnant, if you have a baby and need shade, if you have a medical condition that requires shade) we recommend arriving at the start of our set up and letting our staff know of your needs. If you have accessibility requirements and/or specific support, please contact us (at least one week prior to the market date) and we will do our very best to create a safe, accessible and inclusive experience for you.

Can I bring a chair to sit on?

Yes, you can bring a chair, stool, or pillow to sit on! We strongly recommend it! 

What about an umbrella for shade?

Yes! You can bring a hand-held umbrella, as well as large beach umbrellas, so long as you make sure to safely secure them. However, we are not able to set up large infrastructure such as marquees at our markets. We also recommend you bring a hat, sunscreen, and water (particularly for the outdoor events) to shade yourself from the sun.  

Can I bring a clothes rack to hang my clothes on or a table to display my items?

No, you cannot bring a clothes rack or any other piece of (large) infrastructure. You must display your wares using your suitcases or picnic rug/blanket. There are many creative ways of using your suitcases to best display your goods. Have a play! Check out our Gallery section on the website for some ideas, as well as our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Can I bring my dog?

It depends on the city and location. Please check the local council regulations for the area for more information.

Where do I park? How do I get there?

If you have the option to take public transport, that’s great! We always do our best to set up our Rummages in central locations which can be accessed by public transport. If you have large suitcases to wrangle, we recommend car pooling, ride share or getting a lift into the market. There is usually on street parking, and a combination of free or paid parking available at all our Rummage locations. Because we Rummage on the weekends, parking fees are usually reduced. Best to have a look online prior to the market day so you can see what the best options are for you!

Where can I find accessibility information for your Suitcase Rummage markets?

Visit our access page here!

I’ve registered for a stall but now can’t make it – can I get a refund or transfer my registration to another month?

Unfortunately, as per our terms and conditions, we cannot provide a refund or transfer a registration to another market. We will only provide a refund if we cancel an event.

You are more than welcome to pass on your ticket to a friend or family member. While we do not recommend selling your stall holder ticket privately, many stall holders do offer their stall holder tickets for sale in our Facebook events. If you wish to go ahead with a private ticket sale, we recommend using a safe payment method such as PayPal and not giving out any personal banking details. Once you have found someone to take your ticket, please send us an email to let us know your name, the date your ticket was for and the new ticket holders name, email and phone number.

I’ve missed out on registering for a space because the Rummage has all sold out – can I get squeezed into a spot, or can I be put on a waiting list? How can I get access to a spot due to cancellations?

The events do sell out quickly but unfortunately, we can’t squeeze you in. This is because we have obligations with capacity within venue limits. We currently do not keep waiting lists for all our events. Occasionally people sell their tickets on our Facebook via our event pages, however there is a risk of purchasing a ticket from a scammer. If you wish to purchase a ticket privately we recommend following our guide in the next question below.

Can I purchase a stall holder ticket from someone on Facebook?

We do not recommend purchasing tickets privately outside of our ticketing system due to the risk of being scammed. However, if you still wish to purchase a ticket privately outside of our ticketing system (such as on Facebook), we strongly recommend sending us a message BEFORE you purchase a ticket, with the ticket holders full name and email address. We will be able to verify the ticket first to help prevent you from being scammed. Scammers will often send fake screenshots of tickets, so the only way to be sure is to check with us first. We also recommend using a safe payment method such as PayPal business transactions and not giving out any personal banking information. Once you have purchased a ticket privately, please email us to confirm your full name, email and phone number.

What happens if it rains? How will I know if the Rummage is cancelled?

We decide on the day if the weather is bad enough to cancel the event. We notify our stall holders via email as well as post the cancellation on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We will notify you 2 hours before the event if it is cancelled. If you don’t hear from us – assume that the event is on! We hold off until the morning of the event, because the weather forecast often changes.

I want to run my own Suitcase Rummage event, is this possible?

We are always open to new collaborations and partnerships, especially in cities where we don’t already have established markets. We wholeheartedly support recycling, repurposing, reducing waste and creative problem solving in our communities. If you would like to be involved in setting up a new Suitcase Rummage, please contact us via email and we’ll be in contact as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that we are a registered and trademarked business. Use of our business name ‘Suitcase Rummage’, images and copy without permission, does infringe on copyright laws.