Prepare for Faire Winter Market (21–23. January 2026): Checklist & Strategy
It’s November which means the Faire Winter Market is closer than it feels. And while the holiday season is about to take center stage, this is also the smartest moment to start preparing for January.
Why?
Because January is one of the biggest wholesale months of the year.
Retailers restock after the holiday rush.
Boutiques refresh shelves for Valentine’s + Spring.
New budgets open.
And buyers are actively searching for new brands to bring in.
So even if things feel busy now, a few strategic updates in November and early January can mean a major boost in orders, visibility, and repeat stockists during the Winter Market.
Let’s make sure you’re ready. ❄️
1. Refresh Inventory + Realistic Lead Times
Before the market, double check:
Stock quantities
Variants (sizes, colours, packaging)
Lead times for January/February shipping
Estimated production timelines after the holidays
If you anticipate delays (very normal in Q1), extend lead times now so retailers know what to expect upfront.
The best customer service is clear communication.
2. Update Your Faire SEO for Seasonal + Reorder Intent
Even if you’re short on time, updating your:
Titles
Tags
Descriptions
with seasonal and retailer-intent keywords can dramatically increase visibility.
Add keywords like:
Valentine’s Day Gifts
Spring Collection
Everyday Best-Sellers
Giftable Wellness
Shelf-Ready Products
Small Batch Handmade
Mother’s Day Gifts
Remember:
Retailers shop by occasion, category, and gift purpose, not poetic product names.
3. Create Easy-to-Shop Winter Market Collections
Organise your shop to help buyers move quickly.
Create (or refresh) these collections:
Winter Market Best Sellers
New for 2026
Ready to Ship
Valentine’s Day Edit
Reorder Favourites
Mother’s Day Gifts
Clear collections = less scrolling = faster orders.
4. Add Pre-Order Listings (Yes, Before Stock Arrives)
If your Spring or Valentine’s products aren’t in yet, list them anyway.
Retailers need to plan ahead.
Clear pre-order options = early cash flow + confidence in production planning.
Just be sure to:
Add an estimated ship date
Label “Pre-Order” in the title
Use clean, clear photos (mockups are okay!)
5. Show Up Daily During the Market
This is where momentum happens.
During January 21–23:
Message new + returning retailers→Relationship > transaction
Follow up on abandoned carts→Most sales happen after follow-up
Answer questions quickly→Speed = trust
Share promos clearly→Buyers move faster when it’s simple
You don’t need to message constantly.
You just need to show up consistently.
6. Thank Buyers, It Increases Reorders
This is small but powerful.
Send:
Personalised welcome messages to new stockists
Friendly check-ins to returning customers
A warm thank-you message after fulfilment
Consistency builds loyalty → which builds repeat revenue.
7. After the Market Follow-Up Is Everything
The market isn’t the finish, it’s the beginning of new relationships.
After the event:
Fulfil smoothly
Follow up with gratitude
Encourage reviews
Add buyers to your reorder email workflows
This is where stable wholesale income is built.
Why Preparing Now Matters
Doing this in November means:
You don’t scramble in January
Retailers can *plan *with you
Your listings are already optimized when traffic peaks
You begin Q1 with confidence instead of catch-up
A few small shifts now → a strong, steady, reliable wholesale season ahead.
Need Support Preparing for the Faire Winter Market?
This is exactly what we help with.
At Sona Wholesale Consulting, we support small product-based brands with:
Faire SEO + listing optimization
Visual + conversion upgrades
Lead generation + retailer outreach
Reorder systems + retention strategy
Full account management if you want the platform handled for you
So you can focus on creating what you love while your wholesale grows steadily.
📆 Book a Free Discovery Call Here!
📩 Email: hello@sonawholesaleconsulting.com
Let’s get you ready for a strong start to 2026.
You don’t have to do this alone.
