Introducing: Making Faire Work

Understand Faire clearly. Use it wisely.
Make it work on your terms — in sanity and in dollars.

👇 See why we built it + what's inside👇

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Why We Made This

Emily Kerr-Finell in Kingston, NY

Selling on Faire can feel confusing, demoralizing, and strangely personal.

You do what you're "supposed" to do — update your shop, rewrite your copy, add products, maybe try ads — and still find yourself wondering:

🤔 Is this not working because I'm doing something wrong… or is this just how Faire is?

🤯 Am I even making money here?

😣 What does the algorithm want from me?

😩 Should I be putting more into Faire — or dropping it entirely?

This course helps you answer those questions and equips you to take action.

Elana of Elana Gabrielle

“I'M SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR WHOLESALE IN A BOX AND FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS TRULY TRANSFORMED MY BUSINESS."

— Elana of Elana Gabrielle

Samm of The Clay Moon

“I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING. IT HAS HELPED MY BUSINESS TREMENDOUSLY! IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GOOD CHOICE TO USE WHOLESALE IN A BOX!”

— Samm of The Clay Moon

Andrea of Glass Sky Jewelry

“From Day One of the course, I felt like 'These are definitely my people.' You took a big topic and made it really simple and not overwhelming -- and I really felt like you were generously sharing the information.”

– Andrea of Glass Sky Jewelry

How We Made It

Even the most experienced makers — people who have run their businesses successfully for years — are mystified by Faire at times.

We realized that as time has gone on, Faire has changed. And so our team at Wholesale In a Box went on a deep dive into what Faire actually is today and what it actually takes to succeed on it today.

It took some doing. We combined our experience working with 2,000+ makers and 19,000 retailers over 20+ years with:

  • 👋 37 in-depth conversations with makers about what they're experiencing right now

  • 🕵️‍♀️ 5 on-the-record interviews with Faire, where we asked the hard questions

  • 🤖 Breakdowns of the 3 visibility categories and 15+ individual signals in Faire’s algorithm that determines whether buyers see you on Faire

We paired all of that with our foundational knowledge about how to approach wholesale overall — the stuff that doesn't change even when platforms do.

The result is this course.

This is Not a Faire Cheerleading Session

Woman smiling at child at a table

You don't need a Faire cheerleader. You don't need to be told Faire is the solution to all your problems.

You need real information about what it takes to succeed on Faire, alongside grounded wisdom about the bigger picture of wholesale, so you can make smart decisions for your business.

You need to understand what it would look like to make Faire work for you — so you can decide if you even want to make it work for you.

This course brings together two things makers rarely get in the same place:

Clear, on-the-record answers from Faire about how the platform actually works today.

Independent guidance from Wholesale In a Box on how to make smart decisions inside — or outside — that system.

What You Get With Making Faire Work

Grounded, practical guidance on succeeding on Faire in 15 Modules

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How Faire Actually Works

The foundational context most makers are missing.

  • Module 1: Faire Is a Tool, Not a Strategy
    What Faire is actually good for, what it's not, and why that distinction matters more than most people think.

  • Module 2: How Faire Makes Money (And Why That Matters)
    Faire has raised over $1.5 billion at a peak valuation of $12+ billion. Understanding what that means for how they treat sellers changes everything.

  • Module 3: The Faire Algorithm
    The 3 categories and 15+ individual signals that determine whether buyers see you — which ones you control immediately, which you build over time, and which you simply can't influence.

  • Module 4: Why Orders Drop
    New brands get a 1–3 week visibility boost. After that, orders drop for nearly everyone — under 5% ride that wave longer. We break down both drop patterns and why they lead to the same fix.

A line drawing of a laptop with a screen displaying small leaves and dots, and a keyboard with a grid pattern.

Building Visibility & Growth on Faire

The tactical work of actually succeeding on the platform.

  • Module 5: Getting Accepted & Getting Started
    Faire tightened acceptance dramatically after a 'huge surge' of applications around 2022. We got their team on record about what actually influences acceptance today and what your critical first 2–4 weeks need to look like.

  • Module 6: Listings & Getting Discovered
    Faire's own data: unclear images cause a 21% drop in conversion. Capitalization errors cause a 23% drop. Brands that add new products rank 20% higher. This module covers every element — titles, photos, descriptions, tagging across 3 category tiers, and freshness signals.

  • Module 7: Policies, Performance & How Faire Scores You
    The 5 tracked metrics in your dashboard plus the broader signals Faire reads behind the scenes. Faire's team told us directly: once any metric crosses 25%, recovery gets 'very, very difficult.' Includes a prioritized 6-step fix sequence so you know exactly where to start.

  • Module 8: Reorders, Relationships & Responsiveness
    A $150 first order can become $3,000+ over 5 years. New orders cost $10 more than reorders. Retailers who get a fast reply are 45% more likely to place a first order. This module turns transactions into long-term accounts.

  • Module 9: Understanding Faire Direct
    Faire Direct orders carry 0% commission — meaning your take-home can jump from ~81% to 87–92% across your orders. We cover how it works, the January 2024 policy changes most brands missed, and the Insider shipping catch that will cost you.

  • Module 10: Ads & Promotions
    Faire says brands using ads see an average 25% lift in sales — but that doesn't mean the ads are profitable. Includes a 3-step ROI calculation so you know your maximum cost-per-click before you spend a dollar."

  • Module 11: Faire Markets
    The July 2025 Market had nearly 76,000 retailers placing ~460,000 orders — up 30% from January. A trade show booth costs $8,000–$15,000. Faire Markets have zero fixed cost to participate. We give you the simple 3-tier promotion structure and a before/during/after communication plan.

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assess what’s Working, What's Not & What to Do Next

Where it all comes together.

  • Module 12: Profit Reality & Marketplace Math
    For every $1.00 you earn on Faire, most brands keep only $0.70 - $0.82. On a bad month with stacked fees, promotions, and damage claims, it can drop as low as $0.60 out of a dollar. This module — and the Profitability Calculator — shows you your exact number, broken down line by line: commission, the $10 new customer fee, payment processing, brand-funded promotions, shipping, and damage claims.

  • Module 13: Troubleshooting Common Issues
    The 10 most common Faire problems — from the post-launch order drought to sudden revenue drops of 50–80% — and how to diagnose and address each one.

  • Module 14: Moving Forward Without Faire
    How to leave cleanly if that's the right decision. Timing, data, communication, and what comes next.

  • Module 15: Moving Forward With Faire
    A clear roadmap for using Faire intentionally as one well-managed tool in a broader wholesale system.

A black checkmark inside a circle with dotted border.

And Instant Access To Powerful Tools & Checklists

Listing Optimization Checklist
Covers every element Faire uses to rank your products — titles, photos, descriptions, all 3 category tiers, brand value tags, and freshness signals. Built from Faire's data showing that image and title errors alone can cause 20%+ conversion drops.

Promoted Listings ROI Calculator
Uses your conversion rate, average order value, and gross margin to calculate your maximum profitable cost-per-click in 3 steps — so you know whether ads make financial sense before spending anything.

Faire Profitability Calculator
Paste your actual Faire payout data and see your true take-home rate per dollar — broken down across 7 cost categories. Includes a new vs. repeat customer split so you can see the real gap (often 73% vs. 80%+) and understand why your repeat customer base is the key to making Faire work financially.

Policies & Performance Audit
Covers all 5 tracked dashboard metrics plus the broader operational signals Faire reads behind the scenes. Includes the prioritized 6-step fix sequence — start with lead time, end with reviews — so you address the highest-impact issue first.

Faire Market Prep Checklist
A timeline working backwards from Market launch day. Covers catalog prep, a simple 3-tier promotion structure, operational readiness checks, and a 5-touch communication plan (before, early access, launch, last chance, thank-you).

Exit Planning Checklist
It's clear Faire isn't for you. Here's how to leave without losing data, money, or retailer relationships.

What You’ll Find Inside

Multiple digital devices showing online courses and checklists about making fair work. There are tablets with course content, a smartphone with a profit calculator, and a pair of white headphones resting on a tablet.

Making Faire Work
Stop guessing. Start selling on Faire with a system that works.

  • One payment, lifetime access. Written + audio content, plus tools, checklists, and calculators you'll use on every order.

  • 15 modules. 6 tools. Direct insight from Faire's own team.

  • Built from 2,000+ maker partnerships and 20+ years in wholesale.

  • Skip one bad promo or land one repeat stockist — it's already paid for itself.

Meet Your Team

Making Faire Work was created Emily Kerr-Finell (also Founder at Wholesale In a Box). A seasoned wholesale strategist, Emily has helped 2,000+ creative small business owners grow and is part of a select industry group that advises Faire. Her fresh approach to business has been featured by O: The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and The Maker’s Summit.

Emily’s past experience runs the gamut from running her own fledgling product companies, to high-level corporate consulting (she helped optimize operations at the largest low-income mortgage servicer in the world), to coaching small businesses with the United States Small Business Development agency, to serving as guide and mentor to handmade and independent brands around the world.

Headshot of Emily Kerr-Finell

Is Making Faire Work Right For You?

Making Faire Work is a great fit if you design or make something you are passionate about and want to grow on Faire. We work with every stage of business — from complete newbies to folks with several hundred store accounts — and people who do all the making as well as those who outsource production.

Maker stands, creating a sculpture in an art studio

Artists & Designers

Makers & Handmade Lines

Indie Product Brands

We will be a great fit for you if you:

  • Want clarity about what's actually working on Faire — not hacks or hype

  • Are tired of guessing whether Faire is helping your business or… not

  • Want to understand the algorithm, the fees, and the metrics so you can grow

  • Know there's potential in Faire but aren't sure if the way you’re using it is actually profitable

  • Want to build wholesale in a way that includes Faire intentionally — or walk away from it confidently

  • Value real relationships with retailers and want a system that doesn't sacrifice those for transactions

  • Want to stay in business, protect your margins, and work in peaceful, effective, efficient ways

Featured in

Get Making Faire Work

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The practical, self-paced course on Faire for independent brands — in written & audio form. All you need to understand Faire clearly, use it wisely, and make it work on your terms.

$197.00
One time
Alexia of Alexia Dahmes

I FEEL LIKE SOMEHOW YOU ‘GET ME.’ YOUR GUIDANCE, SO FAR, HAS BEEN IN REALLY CONCRETE, SPECIFIC AND EVEN GRANULAR TERMS AND I SO NEED THAT.”

Alexia of Alexia Dahmes

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Making Faire Work

Woman reclines on a couch with a computer on her lap

The practical, self-paced course on Faire for independent brands — in written & audio form. All you need to understand Faire clearly, use it wisely, and make it work on your terms.

$197.00
One time

Need help deciding?

We would be more than happy to give you a candid answer about whether Making Faire Work is a fit — just send us a quick email to [email protected]. We’ll get back to you in 1-3 business days.