Not that long ago, the options for ordering products were simple: direct or distributor. But just as the shopping landscape has changed for the consumer, so has the ordering landscape changed for the retailer.
In 2017, Faire came onto the scene as a fair way for independent retailers to compete with online sellers like Amazon and Walmart. Today, Faire serves as an online platform that connects independent retailers with over 100,000 brands from around the world. While Faire is mainly an online marketplace for gifts, some publishers are also available.
So what does this mean for the Christian retail industry? At the upcoming CPE, all registered retailers are invited to gain insight into the future of Christian retail with a special Industry Update panel. Panelists Les Jones, Executive Vice- President, Genesis Marketing; David Terry, National Sales Rep, Noble; and Vicki Geist, Owner, Cedar Springs Christian Store, will be addressing how Faire is affecting our industry, and attending retailers can join in the conversation.
Below is a preview of this discussion as retailer Vicki Geist and vendor representative Les Jones share their perspectives on the topic.
tech & trends
I have several vendors that I only ordered from one time to give their products a try. After that initial order, I might have decided the product didn’ t sell as well as I had hoped, or the quality wasn’ t quite what I expected. Some vendors are seasonal, so I may only buy from them at certain times of the year. I purchase a lot of collegiate merchandise, so my orders from those vendors tend to be heavier in the fall during football season.
It’ s so easy to hop on the website and search by category, product type or even a vendor you’ ve heard other stores talking about. You can quickly see what they offer and start building an order. For instance, I wanted to beef up my America 250 product selection, so I simply typed in“ 250th anniversary,” and all the vendors with items in that category came up. I found a few products I liked, visited those vendors’ pages, and either found enough items to place an order or moved on to the next option.
Les( Vendor): Faire is reshaping how independent retailers discover and purchase products. From a retailer’ s perspective, Faire is undeniably attractive. It simplifies product discovery, allows for easy ordering and reduces risk with favorable terms. For Christian stores seeking to bring in fresh merchandise to attract new customers, Faire opens the door to a wide variety of vendors that may not yet be represented by traditional rep groups. This can be especially valuable for finding niche or emerging product lines that add uniqueness to the store’ s assortment.
For vendors, it provides fast exposure to thousands of retailers who might otherwise take much longer to reach through traditional channels.
How are you using Faire in your business today? Vicki( Retailer): Faire is set up to be a one-stop shop for wholesale orders. It gives me access to thousands of brands that I can browse and order from with just one account.
I use Faire often and have purchased from around 70 vendors. It’ s been a great way to discover new products and try things I probably wouldn’ t have found otherwise. I love that I can try something new without having to set up an account with every vendor. The product is shipped directly from the vendor, but you pay Faire. continued on page 36 >>
www. christianretailassociation. org / CRA today 35