You can open a shop by submitting a vendor application through our website. Every vendor is vetted to ensure your business aligns with our Community Ethics Guidelines. Once approved, you'll receive onboarding instructions to set up your storefront and start selling.

Most applications are reviewed within 1-2 business days. We take time to ensure every vendor aligns with our Community Ethics Guidelines and that the products fit our Market standards. Once approved, you'll receive your setup instructions and onboarding guide to get your shop live quickly.

Yes. If your shop isn't approved, we'll email you with feedback about what didn't meet our guidelines or requirements. You're welcome to make updates and reapply at any time. We love seeing vendors who share our values succeed.

This one-time fee covers your store setup, verification, and onboarding. It helps us maintain a trusted, high-quality Market of progressive businesses with no hidden costs or recurring setup charges.

Yes, and we highly encourage it! Little Blue Cart listings are free and designed to help shoppers discover your business. The Market lets them buy from you directly, giving you another way to grow sales while staying aligned with our values.

When you log in you'll land on your personal dashboard showing a summary of your recent orders, any actions you need to take, and highlights from your sales. Everything you see is specific to your store — you cannot see other vendors' products, orders, or information.

Go to the Settings section of your dashboard. You can update your profile details, contact information, and store preferences there.

Please email us to request a change to your shop name.

Go to the Products (or Manage Products) section of your dashboard. From there you can add new products, edit existing listings, update prices, and adjust inventory.

Edit your products in the Manage Products section of your vendor dashboard and NOT in the Vendor Konnect tab. The Vendor Konnect tab is only for connecting your Shopify store and submitting products for the first time. It is not where you manage or edit your live listings.

Yes. If you sell customizable or made-to-order products, Little Blue Market supports personalization options at checkout. Here's how it works.

Standard product variants All products support two standard variants — things like size, color, style, or material. These are set up directly on your product listing and appear as button selections at checkout.

Additional customization options For products that need more than standard variants (such as a text personalization field, a special instructions box, or the ability for a customer to upload a photo or file) we use an app called Easify Product Options on the back end to add these to specific products.

If your product requires any of the following, let us know and we'll set it up for you:

• Custom text field — for personalized names, messages, monograms, dates, or special instructions
• File upload — for customers to upload a photo, logo, or design file
• Additional option fields — for extra selections beyond two available variants

How to request customization fields for your products Simply reach out to us at market@littlebluecart.com with the following information:

1. Which product(s) need customization options
2. What type of field you need (text, file upload, dropdown, checkbox etc.)
3. What the field should say or ask the customer (e.g. "Enter the name to be personalized" or "Upload your photo here")

Personalization fields affect your fulfillment Once a customer fills in a customization field at checkout, that information will appear in the order details in your vendor dashboard. Make sure to check the order notes carefully before fulfilling any personalized order so nothing gets missed.

We can set up a custom discount code for your products. Since discount codes are managed at the marketplace level, we handle the setup on our end on your behalf.

To request a discount code for your store, email us at market@littlebluemarket.com with the following information:

• Discount code — the code you want customers to enter at checkout (e.g. YAY20). Keep it short, memorable, and all caps. If you don't have a preference we'll create one for you.
• Discount amount — either a percentage off (e.g. 20% off) or a fixed dollar amount (e.g. $5 off)
• Which products it applies to — all of your products, or specific items only
• Start date — when you want the code to go live
• End date — when you want the code to expire, or let us know if it's ongoing with no expiration
• Usage limit — how many times the code can be used in total, or per customer (e.g. one use per customer, or unlimited)
• Minimum purchase requirement — whether the customer needs to spend a minimum amount to use the code (e.g. minimum $25 purchase), or no minimum

We'll get your discount code set up and confirm back to you once it's live so you can start sharing it with your customers.

Log into your vendor dashboard and click Ordersi n the left navigation. You'll see all orders that contain your products, including customer details, items ordered, and fulfillment status. You only see your own orders and never another vendor's.

• Pending = Order placed, awaiting fulfillment
• Processing = Order is being prepared for shipment
• In Transit = Order has shipped and is on its way
• Completed = Order delivered and closed
• Cancelled = Order was cancelled before fulfillment

Go to Orders in your dashboard, click the order you want to update, enter your carrier and tracking number, and save. If you're fulfilling from your connected Shopify store, add tracking there as you normally would and it will sync to Little Blue Market automatically.

Order cancellation is managed by Little Blue Market. If a customer requests a cancellation or you are unable to fulfill an order, please contact us directly at market@littlebluecart.com as soon as possible.

Go to the Messages section of your dashboard. This is where we post announcements and important updates. If a customer sends a direct inquiry about one of your products it will also appear here for you to respond to.

We also send monthly emails and share updates on our Discord.

The product limit depends on your plan:

• Launch: Up to 15 products
• Growth: Up to 30 products
• Impact: No product limit

You can upgrade anytime through your dashboard.

You can upgrade anytime from your vendor dashboard. Choose the new plan level and your product listing limit will increase right away.

No minimum sales are required. As long as your shop remains active, compliant with our guidelines, and your listings are up to date, your storefront will stay live. We believe in steady, sustainable growth with no added pressure.

When a shopper purchases from Little Blue Market, funds are processed securely through our payment system. Our fee structure is:

• 10% platform commission $0.30 payment processing fee deducted from each sale

The remaining balance is sent to you based on our payout schedule. For example, on a $50 sale - $5.00 commission + $0.30 processing = $44.70 to you.

Our previous structure had Little Blue Market absorbing payment processing fees on every transaction, which made small orders unsustainable for us to support long term. The new structure ensures processing fees are covered.

Little Blue Market uses Stripe Connect to securely process all payments and automatically disburse your earnings. Here's how it works:

• Vendor payout is initiated 3 days after an order is marked as completed
• You can choose how often payouts land in your bank account — weekly or every other week

This gives you flexibility while ensuring quick, predictable access to your earnings.

Stripe requires a short delay to confirm the payment fully cleared, run fraud checks, and protect both vendors and buyers. This is standard across all Stripe-powered marketplaces.

All payouts go directly to the bank account you connected during Stripe onboarding. You can update your banking information anytime through your Stripe dashboard. Little Blue Market does not store or have access to your banking details.

Yes, your vendor dashboard shows a full payout history including upcoming payouts, completed payouts, and an order-by-order breakdown of earnings, fees, and any refunds or adjustments. You can also view this information directly in your Stripe dashboard for even more detail.

Little Blue Market is currently operating under a single-nexus tax model based in Virginia, which allows us to launch quickly, support our early sellers, and ensure tax is being calculated and collected accurately from day one.

As our marketplace grows, we will expand the tax model to incorporate each seller’s individual ship-from address and economic nexus thresholds.

This approach is intentional, compliant for our current scale, and designed to evolve as the marketplace matures.

For now, all taxable orders are calculated using Virginia as the marketplace’s tax nexus.

This means:

• Customers may see Virginia sales tax on applicable purchases
• Little Blue Market is responsible for collecting and filing this tax
• Vendors do not need to register for or remit sales tax at launch

As the platform grows and vendors approach individual state thresholds (typically $100,000 in sales per state), we will expand the system so each vendor’s shipping location is properly incorporated into tax calculations.

This model allows:

• Smoother launch
• Simpler onboarding for small businesses
• No immediate compliance burden on sellers
• A smooth upgrade path as sales volume grows

Most early-stage sellers will not approach state economic nexus thresholds immediately, so this structure keeps compliance appropriate to the scale of the business.

Yes, and we will handle the transition for you.

As the marketplace scales, Little Blue Market will introduce per-vendor tax sourcing, using each seller’s ship-from address and state thresholds. When that transition occurs:

• Vendors will be notified well in advance
• Updated tools and guidance will be provided
• Compliance support will be built into the platform

Our goal is to grow Little Blue Market with you, not surprise you with complexity.

No, not from sales on the Market. At this stage:

• Little Blue Market calculates sales tax
• Little Blue Market collects sales tax
• Little Blue Market files and remits the tax

Your responsibility is simply to keep your shop address and product information accurate.

While Little Blue Market manages sales tax collection and remittance, vendors remain responsible for their own:

• Taxes on sales made outside the Market
• Income taxes
• Business registrations
• Any other local business obligations

Sales tax compliance on Little Blue Market is handled by the platform for now.

1. Enter your correct business address in your shop profile.
2. Ensure every product is marked with correct tax status.
3. Focus on growing your business.

We handle the rest.

We are building Little Blue Maket intentionally: Start simple. Stay compliant. Scale together.

Our tax systems will evolve alongside the growth of the platform and our sellers with clarity, support, and zero disruption to your business.

As always, we invite your input and feedback!

Each vendor is responsible for their own shipping. You can set your own rates, carriers, and delivery timelines.

We are fully integrated with ShipStation so you can connect your account if that is your preferred service.

Yes. Each shop must include clear shipping and return policies so customers know what to expect before they order.

Go to Orders in your dashboard, click the order you want to update, enter your carrier and tracking number, and save. If you're fulfilling from your connected Shopify store, add tracking there as you normally would and it will sync to Little Blue Market automatically.

If an order is lost, delayed, or damaged, it’s the seller’s responsibility to communicate directly with the customer within 48 hours and find a fair resolution. Transparency and responsiveness are key to maintaining trust.

Refunds and cancellations are managed directly by each vendor. We expect vendors to communicate clearly and promptly with customers when issues arise. If you need to process a refund, you can do so through your vendor dashboard or your connected Shopify store if you're using the integration. Please don't leave customers waiting, timely communication is essential and vendors who fail to respond or resolve issues may be removed from the platform.

Little Blue Market encourages all vendors to offer returns and exchanges where possible. Each vendor sets their own shop policy so make sure yours is clearly stated in your storefront so customers know what to expect before they buy. If you need help writing your shop policy, reach out to us and we'll help you put one together.

All products must align with our Community Ethics & Guidelines. We welcome progressive makers, doers, and dreamers, but not businesses that promote hate, misinformation, or discrimination of any kind.

No.Little Blue Market is a home for human-made creativity, and we do not allow products primarily created with generative AI tools (art, writing, designs, illustrations, etc.). AI can be used for small, non-creative tasks, such as spellcheck, grammar fixes, or basic editing, but the core creative work must be original and human-made.

Any product where generative AI tools (image generators, writing models, design tools, etc.) produce the main creative content you are selling.
This includes:

• AI-generated artwork or illustrations
• AI-written books, journals, or stories
• AI-generated designs for apparel, prints, stickers, or merchandise
• Any item where AI created the primary creative output

Using AI for admin tasks, workflow tools, or basic editing is fine, but the creativity has to be yours.

Yes, for non-creative, administrative tasks. Examples of permitted uses include:

• spelling/grammar tools
• photo color correction
• scheduling tools
• inventory software
• behind-the-scenes admin support

As long as AI is not creating the product itself, you should be good.

If we discover that a seller is listing AI-generated creative products, the items will be removed. Repeat offenses may result in removal from Little Blue Market.

The Creators Council is here to help vendors navigate tricky gray areas, including questions about AI use. If you’re unsure whether a product description, image, or design created with the assistance of AI aligns with Little Blue Market’s policies, you can submit it for guidance.

The Council will also help review products flagged for violating the AI policy and weigh in on whether products should be removed from Little Blue Market.

Our team regularly features vendors across social media, newsletters, and special collections. The more aligned and active your shop is, the more likely it is to be featured! We encourage you to submit products to our Product Feature Submission Form so we can highlight your favorites.

Not right now. We want every vendor to have an equal opportunity to be discovered organically. However, we do feature standout vendors through our social media, newsletters, and editorial collections at no additional cost. Paid sponsorships may be introduced later, and current vendors will always get first access.

Keep your listings current, upload high-quality photos, and share your Little Blue Market store on your own social media or website. Engaged, responsive sellers tend to get the most love both from our team and from shoppers.

For inspiration and ideas, visit our Vendor Social Media Kit.

Absolutely! We encourage you to share your shop link far and wide. The more traffic you bring to the Market, the more visibility everyone gains.

For ideas, inspiration and graphics visit our Vendor Social Media Kit .

Our vendor support team is always here to help. You can reach out anytime through your dashboard or email us directly at market@littlebluecart.com.

Our sellers are artists, makers, and business owners who believe that shopping is activism, and who want their sales to reflect their values.