How To Choose The Best Faire 3PL For Your Orders

Faire.com is a global B2B wholesale marketplace that connects independent brands (makers/artisans) with retail store buyers. In Faire’s model, Sellers list products at wholesale prices and fulfill orders themselves from their own warehouse or a 3PL. Orders are usually placed in bulk by retailers (often 1–100 units or more) and shipped via standard freight or parcel carriers to store locations. Faire fulfillment is a specialized service tailored to the needs of brands and retailers on Faire, supporting efficient and reliable wholesale operations.

Faire handles order discovery, promotions, and payments, and provides buyers 60-day net terms and (commonly) free first-order shipping. Sellers can join Faire by application; no invite is strictly required, and they maintain full control of inventory.

To fulfill orders efficiently, many Faire Sellers partner with third-party logistics (3PL) fulfillment providers; these companies specialize in various aspects of order fulfillment, including warehousing, shipping, and inventory management. These 3PL companies integrate with Faire’s API to automatically sync orders, inventory levels, and tracking. As such, the Faire integration streamlines the fulfillment process and ensures accurate order syncing between the Seller’s Faire account and the logistics provider.

Why Selling on Faire Is Great for Ecommerce Merchants

Faire offers a unique platform connecting independent brands with retailers, providing an avenue for ecommerce businesses to expand their wholesale operations. The platform’s user-friendly interface and extensive retailer network make it an attractive option for merchants seeking to grow their customer base. Faire enables ecommerce businesses to efficiently meet increased demand, especially during seasonal peaks or periods of rapid growth. Its features are designed to enhance operational efficiency and deliver a seamless customer experience, helping merchants build loyalty and satisfaction.

Faire Case Studies (Brand Success Stories)

Faire’s own “Stories” highlight numerous brands that grew via the marketplace. Jordan’s Skinny Mixes (specialty beverage brand) launched on Faire in 2020 and saw rapid growth: its first year on Faire brought in over $250,000 in wholesale orders, and by late 2023 it had crossed $10 million in lifetime order volume on the platform. Similarly, Audrey’s Home Decor joined Faire in March 2023 and outpaced expectations: nine months in, their sales on Faire were already 10× their original first-year target. Audrey’s reported that Faire accounted for over 50% of its new customers that year, and enabled them to ship to six different countries (compared to only serving local regions before). These cases illustrate Faire’s ability to connect Sellers with a vast pool of retailers (Faire cites over 50,000 cities globally on its platform) and accelerate brand growth.

Faire Seller Onboarding (Step-by-Step)

1. Create Faire Account: Go to Faire.com and select “Sell on Faire”. Complete the application with your business details. There is no selection committee beyond standard vetting.

2. Submit Product Catalog: Once approved, upload your product catalog. Sellers often fill out a template spreadsheet or use Faire’s web tools to add each SKU (title, wholesale price, retail price, description, category, etc.).

3. Set Terms: In your shop settings, specify minimum order quantities, shipping fees (if any), and country availability. By default, Faire buyers get free first-order shipping; you can opt into Faire’s “Insider” program to subsidize all orders.

4. Inventory & Banking: Connect your bank account for payouts. Enter SKU inventory levels. Faire immediately lists your items on the platform.

5. Begin Receiving Orders: Faire will notify you by email when a retailer places an order. According to reports, most new Sellers receive an order within about a week of going live.

6. Process & Ship Orders: Log into Faire to see the order. You have options to accept the order (and choose a ship date), edit it to backorder some items, or cancel if needed. Usually, you will accept and ship. Package the order, upload tracking in Faire, and mark it shipped. Seller gets paid upon shipment (or can pay a fee to get paid immediately).

Common Pitfalls & Pro Tips for Faire Sellers

Despite its advantages, selling on Faire may present challenges such as managing bulk orders, ensuring timely fulfillment, and maintaining accurate inventory levels to meet retailer expectations and enhance customer satisfaction.

• Underestimating Returns: Faire’s liberal return policy can surprise new Sellers. Retailers can return unsold goods within 60 days, and Faire absorbs this cost. Pitfall: Treating every sale as final. Tip: Anticipate ~10–20% returns, price or package products accordingly, and keep some buffer stock. (Faire will even redistribute returns through its “Maker Market”).
• Shipping Cost Mismanagement: Retailers often expect free or very low shipping, due to Faire’s programs. Tip: If shipping costs are high, consider joining Faire Insider (monthly fee) so you subsidize free shipping, or negotiate lower carrier rates via a 3PL. Understanding shipping rates is crucial, as 3PLs can help negotiate better rates and offer cost savings through consolidated shipments and expert management. For heavy or fragile items, charge a reasonable shipping fee through Faire’s checkout instead of absorbing all costs.
• Slow Turnaround: Late shipments can frustrate retailers. Pitfall: Taking longer than promised. Tip: Set realistic lead times (e.g., “Ships in 2 days”), and ship on time or early. Many Sellers find using a 3PL (which processes orders quickly) improves speed and accuracy.
• Inventory Errors: Overselling due to inventory lag leads to cancellations. Tip: Integrate inventory in real time (Faire’s API or 3PL integration). Maintaining order accuracy is essential to avoid cancellations and ensure retailer satisfaction. If an order comes in that you can’t fully supply, use Faire’s “Edit” feature to backorder specific items or quantities instead of canceling the entire order. That way, you still capture part of the sale.
• Poor Packaging: Because orders ship in bulk, insufficient packaging can cause damage. Pitfall: Reusing light consumer boxes. Tip: Use sturdy cartons or pallets for bulk orders. Shipping products in bulk to retailers has unique requirements, so ensure packaging meets wholesale standards. Include a clear packing list and your invoice in each carton. Branding or thank-you notes (allowed by Faire) can impress retailers.
• Ignoring Faire Tools: Faire offers promotions (free shipping codes, newsletter features) and integration tools. Tip: Link your ecommerce site via “Open with Faire” to drive additional sales, and respond to Faire’s periodic buying events or discount opportunities to boost visibility.
• Not Leveraging Data: Retailers value reviews and sales rank on Faire. Pitfall: Listing products and never optimizing. Tip: Refresh products seasonally, add new SKUs often, and encourage retailers to leave reviews (Faire automatically surveys buyers). Sellers may have unique requirements for analytics and reporting to optimize their operations. Engaging in Faire’s marketing (e.g., ads, “New Maker” features) can accelerate growth.

Faire Program Growth & Updates

Faire has grown into a very large ecosystem. Faire reports ~700,000 retail buyers and over 100,000 independent brands active on their platform, and the business is valued at nearly $13 billion. Major publishers like Simon & Schuster have noted selling to ~5,000 stores via Faire, demonstrating its scale. Faire itself has launched new initiatives (e.g., “Faire Insider” buyer program, educational content for retailers) to increase order volume. As order volume grows, managing fluctuations in demand requires robust supply chain management to ensure efficient fulfillment and delivery. The case studies above (e.g., Audrey’s international sales expansion) reflect Faire’s broad reach: the platform serves retailers in “more than 50,000 global cities”. To support global expansion and efficient fulfillment, Faire’s platform and its partners must meet specific requirements, such as adequate warehouse space and experience with various product types. In sum, Faire’s continual fundraising and technology rollouts (API integrations, fulfillment partners, global expansion) underscore that its 3PL-friendly marketplace is active and scaling rapidly, with a focus on supply chain optimization.

What to Look for in a Faire 3PL

Key considerations when choosing a 3PL for Faire orders include:

• Advanced Inventory Management Systems: Ensure the 3PL offers real-time inventory tracking to prevent stockouts and overselling.
• Seamless Order Fulfillment: The ability to process and ship orders efficiently is crucial for maintaining retailer relationships.
• Transparent Pricing: Look for partners with clear pricing structures to avoid hidden fees that can impact your profit margins.
• Qualities of an Ideal Partner: Select a partner with experience in Faire fulfillment, strong technology integration, and excellent customer service to meet your business needs.
• Value-Added Services: Consider 3PLs that provide value-added services such as kitting, custom packaging, or other specialized solutions to enhance supply chain efficiency.
• Greater Customer Satisfaction: Choosing the right 3PL can lead to greater customer satisfaction by improving order accuracy, reducing errors, and enhancing the overall customer experience.

The Role of Logistics in Customer Satisfaction

Effective logistics play a pivotal role in enhancing customer satisfaction by directly impacting the overall customer experience. Efficient handling of orders, timely deliveries, and responsive support contribute to a positive experience for retailers, encouraging repeat business and fostering long-term partnerships. Additionally, efficiency in logistics operations leads to improved outcomes for both retailers and brands, supporting business growth and higher levels of customer satisfaction.

Benefits of Working with a 3PL

Working with a 3PL offers several advantages:

• Scalable Solutions: A capable 3PL works closely with its clients to address various aspects of logistics and fulfillment, adapting to your business’s growth and managing increased order volumes without compromising service quality. They also work closely with shipping carriers to ensure timely deliveries and reduce delays.
• Operational Excellence: Expertise in fulfillment operations ensures accurate order processing and efficient shipping.
• Focus on Core Competencies: Outsourcing logistics allows you to concentrate on product development and marketing strategies.

Responsive, Reliable Customer Support

Order fulfillment is a complex operation, involving multiple, intricate steps in the process from click to delivery. Things don’t always go as planned, but what is crucial is ensuring that your 3PL has a responsive, reliable customer support team that you can rely on to fix problems fast, with minimal disruption to your business operations.

Experience Working with Faire Sellers

Most traditional 3PLs may not have personnel with the experience and expertise working with Faire to troubleshoot and fix problems fast, costing you precious time and sales. It is important to identify a Faire fulfillment partner with a reliable, responsive customer support team who will be ready to dive in and solve problems quickly, so that you’re always selling and keeping your customers happy.

Here’s what one of our customers had to say about Cahoot’s Support team:

So now that we’ve taken a look at the important criteria that guide your choice of a 3PL to support your Faire orders, let’s look at the options that are actually available to you, and the pros and cons of each of them.

Top Faire 3PL Companies

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) is Amazon’s outsourced fulfillment service for merchants selling on non-Amazon sales channels, such as Faire, whereby Amazon handles the picking, packing, and shipping of the orders coming from those sales channels.

Ecommerce Sellers can store their inventory at Amazon’s warehouses, and MCF will fulfill the non-Amazon orders from select channels. MCF deploys the same infrastructure and resources that power Amazon’s in-house Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA) logistics network. Sellers seeking FBA alternatives may explore other fulfillment providers.

ShipBob

ShipBob is a 3PL that focuses on serving ecommerce merchants. They have a nationwide network of order fulfillment centers that enable fast shipping, but they charge extra for guaranteed 2-day shipping. Built for ecommerce, they have an easy-to-use shipping software platform and a large set of pre-built integrations.

Cahoot: The Best Faire 3PL

Cahoot emerges as a leading 3PL provider for Faire merchants, supporting its clients with specialized Faire fulfillment services tailored to the unique requirements of the Faire marketplace. Their advanced technology integration, real-time inventory management, and commitment to operational excellence ensure seamless and efficient Faire order fulfillment. Cahoot’s Faire fulfillment services are designed for efficiency and accuracy, helping brands meet the unique needs of the Faire marketplace. By partnering with Cahoot, ecommerce businesses can enhance customer satisfaction, streamline their fulfillment processes, and focus on scaling their operations effectively.

Summary

Faire’s wholesale marketplace connects independent retailers with creative brands, offering huge growth opportunities for ecommerce businesses. But with that growth comes new demands for inventory management, order fulfillment, and consistent customer satisfaction. Integrating with Faire’s platform streamlines the supply chain and improves efficiency by enabling seamless order processing, inventory synchronization, and optimized fulfillment workflows tailored to Faire’s requirements. Choosing the right 3PL for Faire orders, one that ensures advanced inventory management systems, seamless order fulfillment, and transparent pricing, can make all the difference in meeting retailer expectations and driving repeat business. Cahoot’s Faire 3PL fulfillment services combine the best of technology and human expertise to help you stand out on Faire’s platform and grow sustainably.

Table 1. Summary of the Faire Marketplace Requirements

If you’d like to find out how Cahoot can help your ecommerce business, please get in touch with us. We can’t wait to show you how Faire order fulfillment was meant to be.

If you are selling on multiple sales channels and are interested in 3PLs that can help you with fulfillment, check out our other articles:

1. How to Choose the Best 3PL for Your Shopify Store

2. How to Choose the Best 3PL for Your Macy’s Orders

3. How to Choose the Best 3PL for Target Plus

4. How to Choose the Best 3PL for Wayfair

5. How to Choose the Best 3PL for Nordstrom

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Faire a great opportunity for wholesale ecommerce?

Faire’s massive retailer network and curated marketplace help brands quickly scale their wholesale business and reach new markets.

What challenges do Sellers face when fulfilling Faire orders?

Faire Sellers must manage bulk orders, maintain accurate inventory, and ensure timely shipping to keep independent retailers happy and coming back for more.

What should I look for in a Faire 3PL?

Prioritize advanced inventory management systems, seamless order processing, transparent pricing (no hidden fees!), and proven experience with wholesale fulfillment.

Why is logistics so critical for Faire?

Retailer trust and repeat business hinge on smooth, accurate fulfillment—if orders arrive late or incomplete, retailers won’t hesitate to find a new supplier.

How does Cahoot support Faire businesses?

Cahoot offers Faire-specific 3PL services that ensure operational excellence, real-time inventory tracking, and seamless integration with Faire’s platform, empowering brands to keep retailers delighted and orders flowing smoothly.

Written By:

Rinaldi Juwono

Rinaldi Juwono leads content and SEO strategy at Cahoot, crafting data-driven insights that help ecommerce brands navigate logistics challenges. He works closely with the product, sales, and operations teams to translate Cahoot’s innovations into actionable strategies merchants can use to grow smarter and leaner.

• Category: Uncategorized
• Tag: 3PL, Order Fulfillment, Shipping and Logistics