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The retailer’s guide to buying on Faire

October 26, 2023 | Published by Faire

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More than 700,000 retailers around the globe are discovering new products they love on Faire. But with over 100,000 brands in multiple categories across the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where do you begin?

We’ve crafted this guide for two types of retailers: Those who are new to shopping on Faire and those veteran retailers who want to take their shopping experience to the next level. Use these tips to discover new brands, find that one-of-a-kind product, and offer your community a truly unique selection of merchandise.

Can anyone buy on Faire?

If you’re buying inventory for a brick-and-mortar, online store, or pop-up shop that’s open and ready for business, then you can sign up for free in minutes. Retailers opening soon, authorized subscription boxes, and booths may also qualify.

Once you’ve joined, you’ll have access to wholesale prices with thousands of independent brands and exclusive benefits like free returns on opening orders and 60-day payment terms for eligible retailers. You can learn more about signing up for Faire and getting started in our Retailer Guides.

Our top 9 tips for buying on Faire

1. Start with filters to narrow your search

Filters are the best way to narrow your search on Faire and discover products that are perfect for your shop. Start by selecting a category tab from the top of your account such as New, Home Decor, Beauty & Wellness, Women, Food & Drink, Paper & Novelty, Kids & Baby, Men, Jewelry, or Pets. From there, you’ll find various subcategories to continue filtering. 

In the Women category, for example, you can narrow your search to Accessories, Apparel, or Footwear. Each one of those subcategories can then be filtered down further to a more specific subcategory such as Bags & Backpacks, Activewear, or Boots. 

Filtering by category on Faire

2. Shop by lead time 

Need more inventory fast? Want to chase trends and get new products to your community as quickly as possible? You can filter by lead time for brands with the fastest delivery and order fulfillment on Faire. 

Once you see the products you’re looking for in your initial search, scroll down to find a handful of filters that you can apply and layer on to that search. Click “Lead time” to filter by when a brand will package and ship your order.

Filtering by lead time on Faire

If you don’t see the “Lead time” filter, you can also select the “Shipping window” filter to search brands that will ship your order quickly. Click on “Ships ASAP” to get fast delivery. This additional layering of filters will narrow down the brands and products that you can get in stock quickly.

3. Identify products with low order minimums

If you’re looking to try out new products without making a huge commitment or breaking the bank, you can also filter by order minimum. Order minimums specify the minimum dollar amount that a brand is willing to sell to a retailer, which must be met before you can place an order. Brands can set different minimums for first orders and reorders as well. 

To filter by order minimum, simply choose the “No minimum order” or “$100 or less” filters. That will narrow down your search to brands that either don’t impose order minimums at all or have a low order minimum of under $100.   

4. Shop local

You can continue to filter based on where brands are located and products are manufactured using the Location filter. Many retailers use this option to source within their geographic region. Depending on where you’re based, you might even find brands operating in your area that allow you to pick up products personally and save on shipping costs. 

You can also filter based on locations farther afield to find products made in any country where Faire is available for brands, so you can offer your customers unique imports and hard-to-find products from independent makers across the country or globe.   

5. Find brands whose values match yours

Value tags and community categories help you find brands that support and share the principles and commitments that are important to you and your customers. Start by clicking on the Values drop-down menu in your filter options and select the tags you want to add to your search, such as:

  • Organic
  • Gives back
  • Handmade
  • Not on Amazon
  • Eco-friendly
  • Women Owned

A note on value tags

Brands are responsible for complying with the definitions and guidelines provided by Faire. The following value tags are defined by Faire to take out the guesswork for you and other retailers:

  • Organic: The brand uses all certified organic materials.
  • Gives back: The brand donates a portion of its proceeds to a nonprofit or charity.
  • Handmade: All the brand’s products are made or designed by the brand or its team. The brand does not work with an external production partner or mass produce its products.
  • Not on Amazon: The brand’s products cannot be found on Amazon. It doesn’t sell its products directly on Amazon or distribute its products to sellers who list on Amazon.
  • Eco-friendly: This brand meets Faire’s requirements for sustainable materials and/or production. Its practices should include at least one of the following:
    • At least 75% of the brand’s products and packaging are made from upcycled or recycled materials or sustainably sourced raw materials.
    • At least 75% of the brand’s products and packaging are compostable or biodegradable.
    • At least 75% of its ingredients are vegan, nontoxic, Fairtrade, and/or hold organic certifications.
    • The business is carbon-neutral: It removes or offsets as much CO2 from the atmosphere as it produces.

You can also narrow down your search to find brands representing specific communities that you want to support. Simply choose one of the Community categories under the Featured tab at the top of your account such as AAPI-owned, Black-owned, Latino-owned, or LGBTQ+-owned to find products from brands that represent those communities. 

6. Shop trending products

Trending product ideas allow you to shop based on seasonal inspiration, search trends, and specific shopper personas such as “New parents,” “Foodies,” or “Pet lovers.” 

Head to the Trending on Faire page to find product suggestions based on upcoming holidays like Mother’s Day, popular items at the moment such as “Crystals and stones” or “Dried flowers,” and niche categories or shopper personas such as “Clearance,” “Western apparel,” “Teacher gifts,” or “Baseball mom.” 

7. Shop Faire’s curated collections 

Faire collections and gift guides offer curated selections of products that make it easy to browse and shop for new merchandise your customers will love from brands you might not have discovered otherwise. Collections and gift guides can be based on product categories such as candles or throw blankets, themes such as bestsellers or new arrivals, seasons or holidays such as fall or Mother’s Day, and more. 

Simply click on the Featured tab to find curated collections and guides for inspiration and direction as you shop on Faire. Then, once you find a brand or style you like, check out the “More like this” carousel at the bottom of the page.

8. Get inspired with boards

Boards make it easy to save brands and products that you find interesting when building out an internal collection for your retail shop. You can also collaborate with other buyers in your store to share interesting brands or products in a streamlined way. Boards are a helpful way for you to create, organize, and plan for your store. 

Boards of saved products on Faire

On the homepage next to your account tab, you’ll find a heart that you can click on to see all your saved products and the brands that you’re following. From there, you can create boards based on specific products or brands, or get inspired based on your store type and preferences with precurated boards that help guide you through potential product selections.

9. Participate in Faire markets

Faire markets are a free alternative to traditional wholesale trade shows. You can skip the travel and join thousands of retailers and brands who come together at our virtual trade shows to access the best deals and discounts along with special access to industry leaders and insights. 

Additional tips to take away

Use a brand’s referral code

Did you hear about Faire from a brand you already know and trust? If you use a brand’s unique link to sign up and create a new account on Faire, you’ll also receive a referral promotion discount to spend on its products plus one year of free shipping with that brand.  

Refer brands to Faire 

If you know of any brands that you’d like to be able to shop from on our platform, you can refer them through our referral program, and you may be eligible for a bonus if they join Faire. To submit a brand referral, simply head to the brand referrals page and enter their email address or website. The brand will then get an invitation email with your referral link. You can find more information in our Help Center if you have any questions about brand referrals. 

With these tips in mind, it’s time to start shopping on Faire. We can’t wait to see what you discover for your store.

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