How does ordering on Faire work? Vicki( Retailer): One of the advantages of ordering through Faire is that all of your orders come with 60-day terms. That can be incredibly helpful for your budget since you aren’ t tying up your money right away. It’ s also a huge benefit when placing an order with a new vendor.
Faire also has Faire Days a couple of times each year. During this time, vendors offer special promotions in the form of extra discounts, and often Faire will match those discounts. This is a great time to place a lot of orders and take advantage of the savings.
If you are already ordering through Faire, I recommend signing up to become an Insider member. Becoming an Insider member is the only way to qualify for free freight with select vendors. The program is $ 19.99 per month, and more than pays for itself each month. It also gives you access to the additional discounts offered during Insider Days when vendors provide extra savings.
Les( Vendor): In many cases, multi-line reps do not receive commission on Faire orders— particularly when retailers bypass the rep and order directly through the platform. To better understand this dynamic, many in the industry compare Faire to the impact of Amazon on brick-andmortar retail. Just as a retailer spends time helping a customer by educating them on products, such as a Bible, only to have the customer purchase it online at a lower price, reps invest significant effort educating retailers on vendors, products and merchandising strategies. When a retailer then places those same orders through Faire instead of through the rep, the rep is effectively“ cut out” of the transaction despite having created the value. Some larger stores have adopted a hybrid approach: continuing to work with reps on established vendors while using Faire primarily to discover and test new ones.
How has Faire been beneficial for your business? Vicki( Retailer): Faire has literally changed the way I purchase and has helped me do a much better job of finding unique and new products. I wouldn’ t carry many of the items I have in my store today if I didn’ t have access to this company. It also saves me a tremendous amount of time when placing orders, which is something we all need since there never seems to be enough time to get everything done.
Les( Vendor): I am not anti-Faire. As a matter of fact, I suggest many smaller vendors who are not represented by a rep group use Faire as a way to reach a large number of retailers. It can be a highly effective growth tool— particularly for new or unrepresented vendors. Many smaller brands gain initial exposure on Faire, building traction before expanding into rep group representation. In this sense, Faire acts as a discovery engine for the industry, surfacing innovation that might otherwise go unnoticed.
For multi-line reps, this shift reinforces the need to evolve. The most successful reps are not simply facilitating orders; they are providing insights on industry trends, curating assortments, advising on inventory levels and helping retailers grow their business strategically. In the Christian retail market— where purchasing decisions are often missiondriven and community-focused— this consultative role is especially critical. Reps bring context, relationships and a deep understanding of seasonal and ministry-based buying patterns that a digital platform cannot replicate.
Bottom Line: How does Faire compare? For retailers, the key is balance. Faire should be used where it makes sense— particularly for discovering new vendors and expanding product offerings. While Faire offers convenience and a wide breadth of new products, Vicki suggests ordering from your existing reps for better discounts and dependable customer service. Likewise, Les reaffirms that it is important to recognize the value that reps provide. A healthy partnership between retailers, reps and vendors ultimately leads to stronger stores and a more sustainable industry. CRA
36 CRA today / www. christianretailassociation. org