How to Succeed on Faire: 11 Articles Every Maker Should Read
I don't have the greenest thumb out there. And sometimes on my houseplant misadventures, I start wondering if a particularly fussy fern is dying, or if it just needs more light. Or less water. More water?
Turns out, running a wholesale business can feel a lot like that — and Faire is one of those topics where everyone in the maker community has an opinion, and usually a strong one. Some brands swear by it (to which we say, yay!), while some have sworn it off (let me tell you – we get it). Most of us land somewhere in the messy middle… using Faire, but with real questions about whether it's working as hard for us as it could be.
Over the past few years I’ve written a lot about Faire – the costs, the algorithm, the Markets, the relationships that happen (or don't) once an order comes through. So we thought it might be helpful to pull our most helpful articles all together in one place. Whether you're deciding if Faire is worth trying at all, or you've been on the platform for years and want to sharpen how you use it, there's something below for you.
1. SHOULD I EVEN BE ON FAIRE?
Before you optimize anything, it's worth asking the more basic question: is Faire actually the right fit for your brand? These two get honest about what Faire does well, where it falls short, and how to decide for yourself.
Do Makers HAVE to be on Faire to Succeed in Wholesale?
When Faire Wholesale first debuted, many makers were pretty amazed by all that it offered. It felt like a gamechanger to have so many buyers in one place… and to be able to manage your wholesale ordering on their platform. But As time has gone on, though, not everyone has decided they love Faire. Some makers find the commissions to be punishingly high. Other brands find that it’s hard to build sustainable relationships with store owners through the platform. And still others simply don’t get orders there.
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Faire Wholesale Reviews 2026: Is It Worth It for Independent Brands?
Thinking about selling on Faire Wholesale? Here's an honest look at what actually works, what to be cautious about, and how to decide if it's right for you.
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2. WHAT'S THIS ACTUALLY COSTING ME?
Faire's commission is just the headline number. The real cost of a sale is usually higher, and usually invisible until you go looking for it. These articles talk you through how to find your true numbers and make peace with them (or decide to change something).
The Real Cost of Selling on Faire
Most Faire sellers know about the 15% commission – but once you stack on the new customer fee, processing costs, shipping, promotions, and ad spend, the real cost of making a sale on Faire looks very different (and you can't make smart decisions until you know that number).
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Q&A: How can I pay wholesale platform commissions and still make a profit?
One of our wonderful community members, Ann, wrote to us with a question that may sound basic to some. But it’s a question that so many folks struggle with… and feel like they’re missing something. So in this post, I answer a tough question that almost everyone using wholesale marketplaces struggles with at one point or another!
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4 Things About Faire Most Makers Get Wrong
Get your free guide & discover:
🔓 What Faire actually requires to succeed (and what most sellers never find out)
🔓 The real limits of the platform — before they cost you time and money
🔓 Exactly how to decide if Faire is worth it for your specific business
3. WHY ISN'T IT WORKING THE WAY IT USED TO?
If your Faire sales have plateaued or even slowly declined, you're not imagining it – the platform has changed a lot since it launched. These three dig into what shifted and what it actually takes to get found today.
Faire’s Set-It-And-Forget-It Myth and Why We All Believed it
The "set it and forget it" era on Faire is officially over — here's what changed, when it changed, and what it actually takes to succeed on the platform today.
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Why Your Faire Orders Dried Up
If your Faire orders have dried up or dropped dramatically, it's almost certainly not about your products — here's exactly why it happens and what you can actually do about it. We dive into the early visibility boost Faire gives you, the “rules” and shifting goal posts on the marketplace, and the somewhat vexing algorithm. And of course, how to get back on track if needed.
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Why Retailers Aren't Finding Your Faire Listings
If your Faire sales feel flat, the problem probably isn't your products, it's most likely your listings. Here's what the algorithm actually needs to surface you to the right buyers.
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4. SHOULD I DO FAIRE MARKETS?
Faire Markets can be a really good opportunity… or a serious time and money sink, depending on how you approach them. Here's what to know before you commit, straight from us and from Faire's own team.
Faire Markets: What They Are, Whether They're Worth It, and How to Prepare
Faire Markets happen twice a year and bring serious retailer traffic… but are they worth it for your brand or just an indie Prime Day? Here's what to know before the next one, including the risks most brands overlook.
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Q&A with Faire's Customer Marketing Lead: Market Prep, Visibility & Conversion
I sat down with Faire's Customer Marketing Lead to get the real scoop on Market prep, visibility, and conversion. Some of what we discussed really surprised me and a good bit confirmed what we already suspected.
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5. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SALE?
An order is just the beginning. These are about turning one-time Faire buyers into long-term stockists — and making sure Faire isn't the only place you're building those relationships.
Can Makers Contact Stockists Outside of Faire’s Platform?
It’s so exciting to get an order from a new stockist. But the thing that is most satisfying and ultimately transformative to your business is to have long-term relationships with stockists that order from you repeatedly over the span of years. Here’s what we recommend in terms of communication with your stockists, including those who buy from you on Faire.
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Smart Ways to Use Faire to Grow Wholesale as a Maker — And Mistakes to Avoid
Faire has become a pillar of the maker community… but it can also be a pretty polarizing topic among makers. From hidden costs eating into your margins to performance metrics impacting your visibility, here are 4 mistakes to avoid if you're using Faire to grow your wholesale business.
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