Rivertown Market’s

LocaL VENDOR GUIDE

At Rivertown Market, our local vendors are at the heart of who we are. With fresh, local, and value as our core brand pillars, we take pride in building our business around supporting the incredible makers and creators within our community.

To ensure a successful partnership, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you navigate key aspects of working with us—from communicating with our team and delivering products to hosting demos at the market and more.

Use the sections below as a resource to make the most of your partnership with Rivertown Market. Together, we can continue to grow and thrive!

COMMUNICATION

Effective communication is the backbone of our market's success. With our team juggling responsibilities like ordering products, managing stock, maintaining store conditions, and assisting customers, it's vital for local vendors to connect with the right people in the right way. Clear and timely communication ensures smooth operations and strengthens our partnership!

Who are the right people? 

Local vendors should be communicating with their Area Lead (found below)

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. Come November 2021, Area Leads will also assist with scheduling demos. By department, you can find who your area lead is below:

  • GROCERY: Michelle Finnerty (Michelle.Finnerty@meijer.com) & Calvin Curry (Calvin.Curry@meijer.com)

  • HOME, HEALTH & BEAUTY: TBD

  • PRODUCE: Vanessa Dolores-Aguirre (Vanessa.Dolores-Aguirre@meijer.com) & Ray Goode (email TBD)

  • MEAT & SEAFOOD: Justin Tillman (Justin.Tillman@meijer.com)

  • DAIRY: Dejianna Mahaffey (DeJianna.Mahaffey@meijer.com)

  • FROZEN: Maurice Robinson (Maurice.Robinson2@meijer.com)

  • DELI: Raquel Willis (Raquel.Willis@meijer.com)

  • BEER, WINE & SPIRITS: TBD

  • BAKERY: Charles Rushing (Charles.Rushing@meijer.com)

If you’re unsure who is responsible for ordering your product from the list above, please reach out to our Inventory Lead, Sean Warford (Sean.Warford@meijer.com)

Maintaining a positive working relationship and open communication with your Area Lead is absolutely essential. Your Area Lead will collaborate with you on key aspects such as product levels, sales performance, and introducing additional products. Take the time to connect with your Area Lead to understand their process and ensure a seamless partnership tailored to your needs.

CHAIN OF COMMAND/HIERARCHY

First point on Contact:

Area Leads

Second Point of Contact:

Assistant Managers/Inventory Lead/Marketing Manager

  1. Lamietra Herron | Grocery, HBC (Lamietra.Herron@meijer.com)

  2. Ryan Schulz | Fresh (Ryan.Schulz@meijer.com)

  3. Sean Warford | Inventory (Sean.Warford@meijer.com)

  4. Nikoleta Vatiqi | Marketing (Nikoleta.Vatiqi@meijer.com)

Last Point of Contact:

Store Director

  1. Elizabeth Clement | (Elizabeth.Clement@meijer.com)

RESPECT

At Rivertown Market, we deeply value and respect our employees, customers, and local vendors—and we expect the same respect in return from our vendors toward our team.

Local vendors are required to collaborate with their Area Leads when introducing new products. Our leadership team empowers Area Leads to make informed decisions for their departments, and we trust and support their judgment.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for disrespectful or unprofessional behavior. Any such actions may result in the removal of your products from our store. Together, let’s foster a positive and professional partnership.

MEETINGS

We love it when our local vendors stop by to say hello and share their passion for their products! We’re proud to provide a platform for showcasing and promoting your items.

In return, we kindly ask our vendors to be mindful of our team’s time. If you need to connect with someone regarding specific topics—such as adding new products, vendor setup, demos, product placement, advertising, marketing, or events—please coordinate with them via email to schedule a meeting in advance.

This ensures we can give you the time and attention you deserve while keeping our operations running smoothly. Thank you for your understanding and partnership!

NEW VENDORS

Rivertown Market will now accepting new vendors! If you or someone you know would like to be added to our list to acquire information on the process, please email Sean.Warford@meijer.com

RECEIVING + SALES

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 lead for orders based on the link above

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

VENDOR 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 local markers/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.

HOW TO BOOK A DEMO:

All vendors can book demos using Rivertown Market Vendor Demo Calendly booking site. All vendors must already have their products set up at the market for sale, if a vendors has not they need to go through the process of set-up before demoing.

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 your time 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 this email

  2. Bookings for slots close 48 hours before a slot starts

  3. You will get a confirmation email of your slot and a reminder email closer to the time of your demo

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

  5. Lastly, please fill out all of the details 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 DEMOING:

General DEMOING

This type of demo is for vendors to come and sample their products on a day-to-day basis using the Calendly booking service, and selecting “General Vendor Demo”

EVENT DEMOING

The Marketing Manager creates this type of demo and will be either an open invite or themed. The service will be booked using Calendly, and selecting the "EVENT NAME" service.

DEMO TIMINGS:

For Vendors Demos the new timings for vendors to book are:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday : 4pm-8pm

Thursday (Senior Day) 10am-2pm & 4pm-8pm

Saturday/Sunday: 12pm-4pm & 4pm-8pm

The reason we’re doing this is so our vendors get the maximum amount of foot traffic and so we can focus on the floor during the morning hours, during the week.

RULES & REGULATIONS FOR DEMOING:

LOCAL VENDORS 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 1 year

  2. Managing your booking on the Rivertown 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. Popping up and breaking down within 5 minutes of your demoing time

  5. 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.

  6. Bringing samples to demo (Rivertown Market does not purchase these samples)

  7. Cleaning your station when your demo is finished

  8. Putting back anything borrowed into the correct locations

  9. Please come in the front doors

  10. Please park on the street. Not in our parking lot as this is reserved for customers

RIVERTOWN MARKET Team member RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Providing a space to demo

  2. Providing a table/electricity to the vendor if booked. Vendors can pick up their tables at the designated table spot. This is located in between Great Lakes Coffee and Hissho Sushi

  3. Advertising “Event Demoing” events

If you have any questions about booking or having trouble getting in contact with your Area Lead, please reach out to our Marketing Manager, Nikoleta Vatiqi (Nikoleta.Vatiqi@meijer.com)

VENDOR DEMOING MAPS:

Demo maps will only be provided for "Event Demos", when we are fully booked or towards demoing max capacity. Maps will be emailed out or kept at the Asset Protection stand when you enter the market. Feel free to set up if you know where your spot is.

If there is no vendor map, please set up in one of the black squares to the map on the left. It is first-come, first-serve for spots. It is important to only set up in a black square as we need to think about customers with their carts moving throughout our store.

HERE is an enlarged version of this map if needed.

PRODUCTS

EXISTING PRODUCTS

For existing product maintenance, whether related to changing costs or retails, 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