Today, Faire is launching Faire Milestones, a new awards program created to recognize the powerful growth stories emerging across our marketplace. Its first honor, the Relationship Award, celebrates brands that have built deep, lasting connections—growing to 1,500, 2,500, 5,000, or even 10,000+ retailer relationships through Faire. In total, over 10 million new relationships have formed between brands and retailers on Faire, and thousands of brands have been stocked by at least 1,000 retailers through the platform. 

“Through this community we are creating a powerful network of independent stores that is larger than any chain,” said Faire co-founder and CEO Max Rhodes. “This collective approach not only strengthens local retail but also shapes the future of direct-to-consumer brands by unlocking the full potential of the wholesale channel.”

Even amid a shifting economic landscape, brands on Faire continue to grow with the support of independent retailers. Together, they’ve sold nearly $8 billion in wholesale inventory to-date on Faire, driving even more volume in global consumer sales. KITSCH and W&P are among the Relationship Award’s inaugural honorees, and exemplify the achievements the Faire Milestones program is designed to celebrate.

From door-to-door sales to over 22,000 storefronts on Faire

Since joining Faire in 2019, global beauty brand KITSCH has generated nearly $38 million in sales on the platform. As a recipient of the new Faire Milestone Relationship Award, KITSCH has long embraced indie retail as a core part of its identity, and as a result has been stocked in more than 22,000 Faire retailers—seven times more locations than Sephora globally. 

“Independent retailers have been the backbone of KITSCH’s growth from the very beginning,” said KITSCH founder and CEO, Cassandra Morales Thurswell. “Starting KITSCH by going door-to-door to boutiques and salons, I experienced firsthand the passion and community that independent retailers bring. Our roots are deeply embedded in specialty, independently owned retailers, and they continue to be an integral part of our journey.”

Scaling sustainability from Kickstarter to over 4,700 storefronts

Similarly, sustainable kitchen brand W&P joined Faire as an early adopter in 2017 and has since generated nearly $10 million in sales and been stocked in over 4,700 retailers – on par with the number of Walmart locations in the U.S.

“Small stores should really be a component of any omnichannel strategy. There’s a lot of talk about owning DTC relationships, but we really feel we want to meet the consumer where they are,” said W&P co-founders, Eric Prum and Josh Williams. 

Faire’s global marketplace connects brands and retailers to unlock new avenues of growth in the multi-hundred-billion-dollar wholesale market. Every year, independent retailers on Faire increase the number of brands they order from annually, underscoring the compounding growth potential for brands on the platform.

As small businesses continue to navigate economic uncertainty, Faire Milestones will shine a light on the creativity, resilience, and partnerships that fuel their growth. These recognitions celebrate the connections and resourcefulness that help independent businesses navigate change and continue to thrive.