Booking a caterer, decorator, or DJ involves paying someone you may not know yet — this explains how NaijaMart's trust engine protects both sides of that booking.
Overview
You can book and pay a vendor two ways: directly from their PartyVendor profile, or as part of an event you're organising through NaijaMart Events. Either way, the same trust engine holds your money until the vendor's work is confirmed done.
Finding a vendor
Browse by category and location, check reviews and verification badges, then message the vendor directly — WhatsApp, phone, however you prefer — to discuss what you need.
Booking directly
Once you're ready to proceed with a vendor you found on their own profile page (not through an event), start a trust engagement right there — the same 5-step process every trust engagement uses:
- 1
Parties
Confirm who's involved and the total amount.
- 2
Terms
Agree who covers the trust fee.
- 3
Arbitrator
NaijaMart's default arbitrator, or one you both choose.
- 4
Milestones
Break the total into stages — a deposit to secure the date, balance closer to the event, for example.
- 5
Review & confirm
Both sides sign off before anything is funded.
Booking through an event
If you attach a vendor to an event you're organising in NaijaMart Events, the same protection applies automatically — you don't book them twice or set up a second payment flow. The event becomes the context for that vendor's trust engagement.
Milestones and payment stages
Most vendor bookings aren't one payment — a deposit to secure the date, then the balance closer to or on the day, is typical. Each stage is funded, confirmed, and released separately.
Delivery — the two-step handshake
Delivery is proven by both sides, deliberately:
- 1
Step 1 — the vendor submits proof
A photo of the completed work, delivery, or setup. This does not release any money by itself.
- 2
Step 2 — the host confirms with a code
Only the paying party can see their delivery code. Entering it confirms the work is done and starts the release window.
Why this protects vendors too
Disputes & arbitration
Either party can raise a dispute on a milestone before it's released. The milestone freezes, an arbitrator reviews the evidence, and the decision — release, refund, or split — is final.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use trust for any vendor category — catering, decor, photography?
Yes — any PartyVendor listing can be booked and paid through trust, direct or through an event.
What if I book a vendor for my event — does that use a different flow?
No — it's the same trust engine either way. Booking through an event just carries the event's context automatically; nothing about the protection changes.
As a vendor, how do I submit proof I've completed the work?
From your My Trust Payments dashboard — upload a photo for the relevant milestone once your part is done.
Found the right vendor?
Reach out, then start a trust engagement when you're ready.
