A weekly podcast for the small business owner and creative entrepreneur to help you grow your wholesale. Brought to you by Therese from the Small Business Collaborative. Find out how buyers select new products, what it takes to make a product successful, how to build a long-standing relationship with a retailer and what you can do to stand out.
How to Grow on Faire: From 0 to 1,000+ Stockists with Andrew Kemp
Faire Wholesale Success: Growing to 1,000+ Retailers with Andrew Kemp
In this episode of Let's Talk Shop I'm joined by Andrew Kemp from Bare Kind and Candid Founders. We talk about how Bare Kind grew from a product idea into a wholesale brand stocked in over 1,000 retailers, why Faire became such a big part of that growth, and how Andrew now helps other brands do the same through his Faire-specialist agency.
We dig into what it really takes to succeed on Faire, why being value-driven is good business, and how to think about delegation, hiring and getting yourself out of the weeds as a founder.
In this episode, we cover:
How Bare Kind started and why donating 10% of profits is central to the brand
The shift from DTC to wholesale and the role Faire played in that growth
What retailers actually need from you on Faire to feel confident buying
The power of reviews, product photography and clear USPs on the Faire platform
Why founders need to stop trying to do everything themselves
When it makes sense to hire a Faire specialist agency vs keeping things in-house
Top tips for optimizing your Faire storefront and growing wholesale sales
Episode timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Let's Talk Shop
00:40 Meet Andrew from Bare Kind
01:30 The Journey of Bare Kind
03:03 The Power of Delegation in Business
05:10 Value-Driven Business Philosophy
09:12 The Impact of Faire on Bare Kind
12:46 Strategies for Success on Faire 19:07 The Importance of Personal Messages in Customer Relations
20:08 The Role of Templates in Streamlining Communication
21:00 The Journey of Bare Kind and Faire
23:33 Top Tips for Optimizing Your Faire Presence
25:50 Who Can Benefit from Our Services?
27:15 The Value of Specialized Agencies
30:44 Proudest Moments and Reflections
32:53 Where to Find Us and Final Thoughts
Links mentioned
Bare Kind Socks that save animals: 👉 https://barekind.co.uk
Bare Kind on Faire: 👉 https://barekindsocks.faire.com
Candid Founders (Andrew's Faire-specialist agency) 👉 https://candidfounders.com
Small Business Collaborative (host Therese) Website: 👉 https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk
Instagram: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative
If you enjoyed this episode and want to grow your wholesale business on Faire, tag me and Andrew on Instagram with your biggest takeaway, or share it with a founder who needs to hear this.
17 Nov 2025
Turn Black Friday Buyers into Regulars with Sarah Mathias from This Is Growth
Today we are diving into the questions every small product business is asking in mid November. Am I ready for Black Friday. Is it too late to plan. What should I focus on if I do not have much time. How do I reengage a quiet list. How do I stand out in a crowded inbox. And once the weekend is over, how do I turn those new customers into repeat buyers.
This episode is packed with practical, commercial advice to help you stay focused and profitable during the busiest season of the year.
I am joined by Sarah Mathias, founder of This Is Growth. I have long admired Sarah’s straight talking business advice and I am so excited to bring her to the podcast. Sarah helps product brands become more profitable and more memorable through smart, commercial marketing that brings the whole picture together. She blends brand, email, content, ads and conversion strategy in a way that feels clearer, more strategic and more doable for small product businesses.
If you have been feeling behind, overwhelmed or unsure where to put your energy, this episode will help you get focused fast.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Black Friday Readiness
01:01 Meet Sarah Mathias: E-commerce Expert
02:29 Current State of Black Friday Preparations
04:19 Effective Last-Minute Strategies
07:12 The Power of Email Marketing
09:33 Consumer Behavior and Email Frequency
17:36 Alternative Black Friday Strategies
19:21 Value-Based Campaigns and Brand Perception
27:29 Big Brands vs. Small Businesses
30:07 The Genius of Brand Recruitment
31:13 Navigating Black Friday Dilemmas
33:26 Effective Email Marketing Strategies
37:39 Post-Black Friday Customer Retention
46:13 Planning and Organizing for Success
51:28 Final Thoughts and Workshop Invitation
In this episode we cover
What to do if you feel behind
What is still possible in mid November and what is not worth your time.
Where to focus when time is short
Why email is the fastest way to generate revenue and how to use segmentation to warm up your best buyers.
How to reengage a quiet email list
Who to email first, what to send, and why no one is judging you for going quiet.
How often you can email during Black Friday
Why most small brands send far too few emails, and why unsubscribes are not the problem people think they are.
What to do if you cannot offer a big discount
Alternative strategies that still convert, including bundles, gifts with purchase and value based messaging.
How to write subject lines that stand out
Why your subject line needs to be clear, bold and unmissable during Black Friday week.
How to turn new customers into repeat buyers
Why Q1 is critical for retention and the simple offers that bring customers back quickly.
Short term planning for December
Why gifting, last shipping dates and customer expectations matter more than you think.
What brands who are thriving right now have in common
Planning, simple strategy and a trading calendar that keeps everything moving.
If you only do one thing this week
Email your list. Email outperforms social at every turn in Q4 and most small brands are not emailing nearly enough.
Links mentioned
Small Business Collaborative
Website: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small_business_collaborative/
Sarah Mathias, This Is Growth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisgrowthecom/
Website: https://www.thisisgrowth.co.uk/
Free Workshop: From One Time to Lifetime
If you are listening in real time, Sarah and I are hosting a free workshop together this week.
From One Time to Lifetime: How to turn your seasonal customers into returning customers
Date: Thursday 20 November
Time: 12 pm UK time
Register free: https://smallbusinesscollaborative.myflodesk.com/retention
You will learn:
• How to identify your highest value customers
• How to bring Q4 customers back quickly in Q1
• The key retention levers that work for small product brands
• A simple plan you can follow for the next three months
Come
27 Oct 2025
What Retail Buyers Are Searching for This Christmas with Anne-Claire from Faire
In this episode of Let’s Talk Shop, I’m joined by Anne-Claire Morel, International Marketing Manager at Faire, to uncover what’s trending in wholesale and retail buying ahead of Christmas 2025.
We dive into the data-driven insights behind what retailers are actually searching for and buying right now – from vintage Christmas décor and cosy classics to the rise of the “little treats” trend. Whether you’re a brand selling on Faire or looking to reach more stockists, this conversation will help you understand how buyers think, what’s performing well, and how to make your products easier to discover.
You’ll learn:
What’s driving Christmas 2025 wholesale trends
The top product categories and colour palettes performing on Faire
How to optimise your listings with keywords and filters
Why low minimum orders and seasonal refreshes matter
How to use Faire Direct and marketing tools to grow your wholesale sales
Perfect for product-based business owners, makers, illustrators, and designers who want to increase wholesale orders, attract more retail buyers, and plan a strong Q4 sales strategy.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome
02:10 – Overview of Faire and Its Role
02:56 – Defining and Identifying Trends
03:48 – Global Trends and Regional Differences
04:40 – Christmas Trends and Popular Products
07:02 – Little Treats Trend
10:48 – Using Filters and Keywords Effectively
15:57 – Faire Direct and Marketing Tools
18:00 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Links Mentioned
Download the Faire Forecast – the latest trend report for brands and retailers:
https://fairewholesaleinc.sjv.io/VxX7Pa
Retailers: Get 50% off your first order (up to £100) when you sign up via this link:
https://fairewholesaleinc.sjv.io/qzdYjN
Brands: Join Faire and start selling to more stockists:
https://fairewholesaleinc.sjv.io/19AJYx
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallbusinesscollaborative
Learn more and work with me: https://www.smallbusinesscollaborative.co.uk
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