Can Handmade Sellers Contact Retailers Outside of Faire? Here’s What You Need to Know!
If you’re a handmade seller, chances are you’ve heard of Faire—the wholesale platform connecting independent brands with retailers. It’s a fantastic tool for growing your wholesale business, but what if you want to contact stockists outside of Faire? Is it allowed? And more importantly, is it worth your time? Let’s break it down and explore the pros and cons of reaching out to retailers directly versus sticking with the Faire platform.
Why Handmade Sellers Love Faire
Faire has become the go-to platform for many handmade sellers looking to break into wholesale. It’s got a user-friendly interface, access to thousands of retailers, and a slew of perks like net 60 payment terms and free returns on opening orders. It’s a great place to start your wholesale journey or even scale it.
Key Benefits of Selling on Faire:
Exposure to New Retailers: With a vast network of buyers, you can easily get your products in front of new stores
Easy Ordering and Payment Management: Faire handles the nitty-gritty of order processing, payments, and even returns.
Marketing Support: Faire helps promote your brand through its platform, driving more potential sales.
But What If You Want to Go Outside Faire?
While Faire offers a ton of benefits, there might be reasons you’d consider going outside the platform to contact retailers directly:
Building Direct Relationships: When you reach out to stockists outside of Faire, you have more control over building and nurturing direct relationships. You can personalize your communication, negotiate terms that work best for both parties, and establish a more personal connection.
Avoiding Fees: Faire charges a commission fee on orders placed through the platform. By contacting retailers directly, you can avoid these fees, potentially giving you a better margin on your sales.
Promoting Exclusive Collections or Offers: If you have a special collection or promotion that isn’t available on Faire, reaching out directly gives you more flexibility to offer something unique.
Looking to expand beyond Faire? Building direct relationships with retailers can help you grow your brand and avoid platform fees. But there are some things to keep in mind.
Things to Consider Before Contacting Retailers Directly
Faire's Policies on Off-Platform Communication:Faire's terms of service discourage sellers from moving transactions off their platform after a connection is made. So, if you’ve connected with a retailer through Faire, it’s important to keep that business on Faire to comply with their rules.
Time and Effort Involved: Reaching out to retailers directly can be time-consuming. Unlike Faire, which simplifies the ordering process, you’ll need to handle everything yourself—from creating and sending line sheets to managing orders and payments.
Managing Risk: Faire provides payment protection and handles returns, reducing your risk as a seller. When you go off-platform, you lose those protections, which means you need to vet your retailers more carefully.
Marketing and Exposure: By going direct, you miss out on the marketing support and exposure that Faire provides to its brands. Consider whether you have the time and resources to handle this on your own.
Best Practices for Contacting Retailers Directly
If you decide to go the direct route, here are some best practices to follow:
Research and Personalize: Take the time to research each retailer to ensure they’re a good fit. Personalize your outreach to show that you’ve done your homework.
Have Your Line Sheet Ready: Make sure you have a professional and up-to-date line sheet that clearly outlines your products, pricing, and terms.
Be Transparent and Build Trust: Establish clear terms from the get-go and focus on building trust with your new retail partners.
Follow Up and Stay Engaged: Don’t just send one email and call it a day. Follow up with a friendly reminder and keep the communication lines open.
Combining Faire with Direct Outreach: The Best of Both Worlds
You don’t have to choose one or the other—you can combine both strategies to maximize your reach and grow your wholesale business:
Use Faire for Discoverability: Leverage Faire’s network to attract new retailers and close deals easily.
Reach Out Directly for Special Projects: If you have unique products or special terms that Faire doesn’t cover, consider reaching out directly to specific stockists.
Thinking about reaching out to retailers directly? Make sure to weigh the pros and cons and have a clear plan in place to make it worth your while.
Is It Worth Going Off-Platform?
Ultimately, the decision to reach out to retailers outside of Faire depends on your business goals, capacity, and comfort level. If you value direct relationships and want to avoid commission fees, it might be a great option for you. However, if you prefer the convenience, protections, and exposure that Faire provides, staying on the platform could be the better choice.
Question for You:
Have you tried reaching out to retailers directly, or do you prefer sticking with platforms like Faire? What’s worked best for you? Share your experience and tips in the comments below.
By carefully considering the pros and cons, you can decide whether to expand your wholesale strategy beyond Faire and take control of your handmade business's growth. 🌿
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