Having a great product is always Job One for a maker. The beauty, artistry, quality, and branding of the pieces you make are the foundation of everything that happens in a handmade business.

That said, if wholesale is your focus, your primary customer is the creative, hardworking store owner who buys from you. And that means that your job is to help them sell your work -- not simply to hand off your line and hope for the best.

We get a lot of questions about UPC codes since many people think they’re a must-have to jump into wholesale. Often, makers aren’t sure whether UPC codes are needed to start selling to stores – and dread the logistical hassle they imagine is involved.

The good news is that generally, you don’t need UPC codes to sell to independent shops. But, there are some occasions where it may behoove a maker to utilize UPC Codes.

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. And it’s true – for many independent brands, Faire has proven to be an incredible asset.

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.

Store owners are busy folks just like you and don’t have too much incentive to sugar coat things. They will tell you no, yes, and maybe next time, even if it is sometimes a little unclear what is what.

So think of this post as a decoder ring for figuring out what that email you got really means -- and what to do about it.

As a maker or indie product line, it can be challenging to know how to use your website for wholesale sales. In this article, we answer key questions like: Should I hire help or DIY my first Shopify site? What wholesale apps are best for a Shopify website? What mistakes am I making on my website that could be hurting sales? Do I need a separate wholesale website?

You can spend A LOT of time, and resources creating and making your website just right. We know most makers tend to get their sites set up and forget about them. But is your brand’s website doing all that it can for you? Is it worth it to invest your time and energy on creating a website for your brand? Is a poor website experience costing you sales?

Sprucing up your website can have a large impact on your business. But where should you start? What are the common mistakes and pitfalls? What changes can have the largest impact? In response to these questions and more, we’ve partnered with Aeolidia in a Wholesale In a Box Maker Exclusive Live Event, to bring a website expert who will;

• Review volunteer’s websites and provide suggestions in real time.

• Walk through everything from navigation to copywriting your website.

• Provide common website mistakes and how to avoid them.

Part of Made to Last – a series of interviews we’re doing with established makers who have grown and evolved their businesses over the long term. We sit down with Sarah Omura of So Handmade and learn about her prioritization of simplicity, and patient evolution of her company over years.

When you’re running a small business, there are hundreds of potential things to do – with limited time. And a big factor in your success is your ability to discern the things that have the highest impact–  and focusing relentlessly on doing those things.

A peek behind the curtain of our unique approach to supporting makers through one-on-one coaching services at Wholesale In a Box.

If you’re working to grow wholesale as a maker or independent brand, you probably have (or will have) some kind of wholesale line sheet. But… having a line sheet is not the same as having an effective line sheet. It's often going to be the only representation of your products that a store owner ever sees before they decide whether to place an order. And if store owners are taking the time to consider your line, it’s a shame to squander that attention with a document that doesn’t represent you well.

Once you start getting momentum with your wholesale growth, it’s common to run headlong into this problem: how much exclusivity to offer your stockists. 

Part of Made to Last – a series of interviews we’re doing with established makers who have grown and evolved their businesses over the long term. We sit down with K’era Morgan of k-apostrophe to discuss her passion of collaboration, exploring new mediums and supporting her community.