Faire Summer Market wrapped a few weeks ago. I have some thoughts.
I spent days during and after market scraping Reddit, Threads, Instagram, and Facebook groups, plus polling my own Back Pocket members, to find out what actually happened underneath the highlight reels.
No matter what your market looked like, it doesn't decide whether you can run a successful wholesale business. In this episode, I'm digging into what happened at Faire Summer Market July 2026, the pattern I saw between brands who prepped early and brands who showed up last minute, and why repeat retailers carried more of this market than new ones.
Then we get into the tactical tweaks retailers are talking about right now (your direct link, your photography, your email strategy) before closing with the mindset shift you need heading into Q4.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
- Why the brands that started prepping six to eight weeks out had noticeably different markets than the ones who showed up cold
- The pattern behind this year's market: more repeat retailers, fewer new ones, and what that says about where buyers' heads are at right now
- A stat from Faire's own Q2 2026 report that should give you confidence about independent retail (brick and mortar is actually outpacing online)
- Why retailers are buying tighter, more often, and closer to their actual need, and what that means for how you pitch
- The direct link mistake that's costing brands their margin, straight from what buyers are saying
- Where AI generated photography is helping brands, and where it's costing them the sale
- Why your Faire email campaigns are getting buried during market, and the automation fix that doesn't touch your weekly send limit
- The mindset shift to make before Q4 so you stop tying your worth to your order count
Enjoy the chat!
REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
Faire’s Q2’26 Independent Retail Report
Episode 102: Interview With Faire CRO Jennifer Burke
Episode 113: How To Use Faire Email Automations To Grow Wholesale Sales
Grab the FREE Faire Email Automations Guide
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Website: kristinfishercoaching.com
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