Marketplace Seller, Exhibitor & Sponsor Information
Springfield Expo Center, Springfield, MO
Vendor Information Page
Please refresh this page each time you visit
Many computers and companies cache webpages for faster loading (a copy of the page is stored on your computer or company server). While this allows for faster page viewing, with a page like this, it often means you are not looking at the most recent version of the page.
Please bookmark this page. As the event gets closer, we’ll list set-up times, shipping address and other useful information for our Sponsor and Exhibit Partners.
Please note that the information on this page is specific to the Makers U! event at the Springfield Expo Center September 4-6, 2026.
Internet
Marketplace Sellers & Exhibitors: Internet will be available for purchase beginning August 1, 2026, if there is not an Internet Sponsor. If we sell an internet sponsorship, internet services will be included. If we do not have a sponsor, prices will be set by the venue and are currently $50 per connection for the entirety of the show.
Sponsors: Please check your Sponsorship Package on our Sponsorship Page as basic internet is included with most of our Sponsorship Packages. If you have specific internet needs beyond the basic shared internet, please contact us and we’ll get you a quote from the Expo Center.
Power
Marketplace Sellers: Power will be available during registration for $75 per booth if purchased before 5:00 PM CST on August 28, 2026. After August 28th, power can be requested at a cost of $125 per booth based on the availability of staff and equipment. Power will be a non-dedicated 110v outlet supplied via extension cord to the booth and is meant for running laptops, POS equipment, etc. If you have specific power needs or expect to draw extensive power, please email us at [email protected]. Marketplace Sells draw extensive power onsite will have their power cut without refund.
Sponsors: A standard non-dedicated 110v power drop is included with your each booth and will be supplied by the venue prior to set-up. If you are planning to run equipment for a demo or have specific power requirements, please contact us to discuss and we will work you and the Expo Center on options.
Booth/Marketplace Design Guidelines
We’re fortunate that Springfield keeps regulations light and exhibitor-friendly. Please review the following guidelines to ensure a smooth and safe event experience:
- All booth elements must remain within your assigned space. Nothing may extend into the aisles unless expressly approved in advance.
- Safety always comes first. Any display or structure considered unsafe by show management and/or the Expo Center (including potential tipping hazards) must be modified or removed.
- Solid side walls may extend only 4 feet from the back wall of your booth and must be 7 foot or less in height. Beyond 4 feet from the back wall, side panels must be 3 foot high or less. This helps maintain visibility for neighboring exhibitors and ensures an open, welcoming aisle experience. If you have a full walled booth that does not comply with these standards, please contact show management and we will work with you to see if there’s location that will work for your set-up.
- All material in your booth must be free standing and may not be attached to the pipe and drape or to the Expo Center walls in anyway.
- Helium balloons should not be distributed to attendees and are prohibited in the venue. Their use in décor is possible but requires prior approval from the Expo Center and may carry an additional cost. Please email us at [email protected] and we’d be happy to work with you on options.
Shipping & Material Handling
If you are planning to ship anything to the conference, please read this information carefully and follow all the guidelines for receiving packages at the center and/or sending packages home.
We recommend that you send all packages for delivery with a signature and that you track and confirm delivery of all packages before your on-site representative starts to look for them. Send each packing with its own tracking number – do not use one tracking number and mark the packages “1 of 4” – this makes it very hard to find the packages onsite. Please be sure that your onsite representative has a list of all tracking numbers; if we’re asked to help track down a package, the first question we’re going to ask is if delivery has been confirmed and for the tracking numbers. Without this information, we cannot help your onsite representatives.
Shipping Dates: Please do not ship packages for arrival any sooner than Wednesday, September 1, 2026.
Shipping Carriers & Return Shipping: This information will be posted soon
Shipping Address
Company Name (Booth # if you have it)
Makers U Expo
Springfield Expo Center
635 E St Louis St
Springfield, MO 65806
Important: Be sure that your company name is on all packages, and if you know your booth number, we suggest adding it to the shipment – this information does not need to be part of the shipping label. If you cannot add all 3 lines above the address, the hotel and guest names are the most important, and you can add “Makers ‘26” somewhere on the package.
Please Note: neither Makers U! nor show management has any control over the shipping and receiving of packages. We suggest that you send all packages for delivery with a signature, keep all tracking numbers, supply them to your onsite staff, and, before requesting a package, first confirm that it was delivered, get the name of the person who signed for it, and be ready to supply the tracking number. When sending a package, keep a copy of any forms you supply to the hotel and get a receipt for any packages you hand off to the hotel.
Return Shipping: We suggest that you prepare and send return shipping labels with your packages so that your on-site staff can send any packages back. We also suggest that you include anything that your team may need to prepare the packages for shipment (IE: Tape, markers, shipping labels, etc).
Show hours, Load-in & Load-out
The following agenda is subject to change, but should be very close to actual times. As we get close to the show, we will email this information, along with with where to park, the best doors to use to load your materials in, etc.
At the request of our Exhibitors, we have dropped Friday from the Marketplace.
Friday
- Load-in will begin Friday afternoon with limited load-in on Saturday morning – exact time to be announced.
Saturday
- We do not have a scheduled Load-in time for Saturday. If you think you may need time to bring in additional products or need to access the Exhibit Hall early, please let us know ASAP by emailing us at [email protected].
- Marketplace open for Exhibitor access at 9:00 AM
- First classes may be as early at 9:00 AM
- Marketplace open to attendees 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Classes may go as late at 7:00 PM
- Please do not leave your booth unattended until we announce that the Marketplace has been cleared of attendees.
Sunday
- We do not have a scheduled Load-in time for Saturday. If you think you may need time to bring in additional products or need to access the Exhibit Hall early, please let us know ASAP by emailing us at [email protected].
- Marketplace open for Exhibitor access at 9:00 AM
- First classes may be as early at 9:00 AM
- Marketplace open to attendees 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Exhibitor tear-down and load-out should start no earlier than 4:15 PM on Sunday.
- Classes may go as late at 5:00 PM
- Please do not leave your booth unattended until we announce that the Marketplace has been cleared of attendees.
Notes:
- We are working to bring in volunteers that you will be able to ask to watch your booth so that you can take bathroom breaks and/or attend classes. More to come on this!
Hotels
While we don’t have a hotel sleeping room block for this event, the list of hotels below are close to the Expo Center (walking distance):
University Plaza Hotel
This hotel is right across the street from the Expo Center
333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy
Springfield, MO 65806
417-864-7333
Tru by Hilton
.5 Miles
517 E. Elm Street
Springfield, MO 65806
417-249-1400
Hotel Vandivort
.6 Miles
305 E. Walnut
Springfield, MO 65806
(417) 832-1515
Moxy Springfield Downtown
.7 Miles
430 South Ave
Springfield, MO 65806
417-601-7773
Marketing Swag
Contributing an item to the swag bag is an opportunity to get your brand and products even more exposure to this amazing audience (please no coupons or flyers). The swag bags will go to the first 50 guests (at least) to arrive on Saturday and Sunday. We will be promoting this to encourage early attendance! If you would like to participate, please drop up-to 100 items off at the Exhibitor Registration Desk on Friday no later than 2:00 PM and we’ll take care of the rest.
If you’d like to participate or want more info please contact Michelle at [email protected].
Food and Temporary Food Permit Questions
In order to sample or sell perishable or nonperishable foods & beverages, food vendors must follow state, local and venue guidelines, which can be found here (https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2928/Temporary-Food-Events). If you are a food vendor who sells regularly in the state of Missouri, please review local and venue guidelines and bring your license with you to the event.
Licenses & Permits
Please see our Vendor Terms & Conditions page for information on Licenses & Permits.
