Walker Stalker Con: Custom fangs, celebrity shoppers and more!

Walker Stalker Con always brings a wide assortment of vendors to their events. Learn more about what vendors and shoppers can expect at the conventions.

Walker Stalker Con Director of Vendor Sales, Robin Justice, graciously agreed to respond to my inquiries about being a vendor at the popular fan gathering. She gave me some insights about shopping at the convention as well.

Can you imagine a popular cast member from The Walking Dead walking up next to you while shopping for custom-fitted fangs? Find out what Robin had to say about fangs, celebrity shoppers, and more!

What criteria needs to be met in order to even apply to be a vendor?

"“You don’t need prior experience or a huge following to be a vendor at our shows – you just need a product our attendees would love! Of course, a great attitude and respect for our family-friendly environment go a long way as well!There are a few restrictions on what you can sell, based on safety and venue guidelines. Unfortunately, we can’t allow the sale of weapons (including replica swords), food (unless it’s pre-packaged), vaping tools and accessories, or vacation/time share giveaways unless they email us to get permission.If you’re interested in joining us, just fill out our application on our website!”"

What are some of the consistent top-selling items?

"“We love to see vendors with offerings specific to our event or genre. The vendors who truly take the time to know our fans and the shows they love are consistently our top performers! Generally, t-shirts, Funko Pops, figures, collectibles, actor memorabilia, contact lenses,  zombie art, horror novels, custom jewelry and handmade dolls all do well.”"

Are there vendors that sell “experiences” or “services” rather than actual merchandise?

"“Absolutely! In fact, these are some of our favorite fan experiences! We’ve had everything from haunted houses to interactive zombie shooting ranges. We also love featuring photo booth based vendors, who use props and cosplayers to offer a one-of-a-kind photo!”"

What is the proper procedure for vendors who want to pay to have some of their merchandise autographed by celebrity guests at the convention?  

"“Our vendors receive General Admission status with their vendor badges, so as long as they have someone to watch their booth then can get into any actor line and pay for an autograph.”"

Should any vendor be worried about being stationed next to another vendor offering similar items?  

"“Absolutely not. We want our vendors to have the best experience possible, and that means keeping our floor diverse and carefully planned!”"

Are there accommodations for people who may need some extra assistance shopping due perhaps to wheelchair navigation, sensory issues, etc.?  

"“Yes! We have an incredible disability services team who can answer questions and provide accommodations, and make sure our aisles are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices.”"

What are the best sellers at the Walker Stalker Con merchandise booth?

"“Apparel is always a huge hit at our official merchandise booth…and we have a few new designs [that arrived] for #WSCNashville! “"

What are some of the unique items you have seen for sale over the years?  

"“Oh! Let’s see…we’ve had taxidermy bats, snakes, mice, butterflies and more…and a vendor that makes 3D printed action figures of our attendees! One of our regular vendors sells custom fangs that slip over an attendee’s tooth like a crown would. They are molded on site, and ready by the end of the day!”"

Do the celebrity guests ever shop the vendor booths?  

"“YES! Absolutely. We had one celebrity buy a custom knit doll of his character recently, and another picked up a custom pumpkin carve…of his character’s face! It’s definitely a highlight for vendors and attendees alike to see the stars shopping the aisles.”"

Are there certain times of day that the vendor area seems to be busier? For instance, does there tend to be a rush in shopping in the closing hour of a convention?

"“Closing time may not LOOK as busy but at lot of vendors do get a lot of sales then for attendees that have looked throughout the day and have made up their mind about purchase. Happily, our vendors are consistently busy most of the day.  We work really hard on our layouts to make sure the flow of traffic puts vendors close to the entrance and where attendees need to go through the whole room before getting to their favorite actor.”"

And by all means, do not forget the makeup and tattoo artists on site at Walker Stalker Con – so much to see and do!

Next: Walker Stalker Con: Meet artist Johnnie Rosales Jr.

I am ready to go shopping all over again. I would definitely suggest planning some dedicated time to shop the vendors at Walker Stalker Con. There are some many unique items related to The Walking Dead and more. You don’t want to miss anything (or anyone!)

Thank you so much to Robin Justice for sharing her insights about selling and shopping at Walker Stalker Con. The next installment of Walker Stalker Con will be in Portland June 24th & 25th, 2017 at the Oregon Convention Center. Get ready to shop!