Online marketplace Faire grows Powder Design’s US sales

How B2B platforms help today's retailers

Many retailers that have adapted to the challenges and changes of recent years see continued value in trading online. B2B platforms can help companies maintain and even accelerate growth in today's more remote global business landscape.

Sara Medina, SDI’s Consumer Industries Trade Specialist for the US, says:

“B2B trading platforms like Faire provide Scottish companies with a low-cost, low-risk way to engage with independent and speciality retailers in the US, cutting out the need for an in-market distributor. 

“If companies dedicate time and resource to managing their presence on these platforms, they could see real success and sustainable growth in the US market, just as Powder Design has demonstrated.” 

Our Consumer Industries team can help you dive into online B2B marketplaces. They currently provide a live market opportunity for B2B ecommerce in the US.

Visit our market opportunities page to register your interest 

For more general support, including guides to online marketplaces, check out our dedicated ecommerce pages 

Getting started with B2B marketplaces

B2B ecommerce was uncharted territory for Powder Design. But the company saw a good fit between their products and the Faire site’s aesthetic and range of wholesale clients. Setting up was easy: 

“The platform is simple to use, and the backend dashboard isn’t overly complicated. So, uploading products was a straightforward process, mirroring how we upload products on to our own website,” says Powder’s founder, Lisa Beaumont.

“Because of the ease of use for the buyer, it encourages a regular flow of lower value orders, which is great for us and our clients alike. We don’t need to face huge spikes in demand, and retailers don’t need to order and store vast amounts of stock.” 

Diversifying and increasing sales

Like many online marketplaces, Faire offers users tools to boost their profile and reach, including marketing and promotions features, customer messaging, analytics and reviews. “We regularly use the messenger function to engage with prospective clients and to answer their queries, which often leads to orders and great relationships,” adds Lisa.  

Faire has also helped Powder Design diversify its client base. The company now supplies a wide range of retailers, from holiday and gift shops to women’s boutiques, florists and bookstores. 

Powder Design’s sales have steadily increased since they joined the platform. Orders through the site have become a reliable revenue stream. The company reports repeat customers growing into the hundreds, with exponential increases month-on-month.  

With a projected first-year turnover on Faire of around £250,000, Powder is aiming for 50% growth in years two and three as its customer base continues to grow. 

What can you gain from B2B marketplaces?

The team at Powder Design would like to assure Scottish companies considering B2B marketplaces that it is worth dedicating the time and resource needed to set up.  

“Orders won’t come flooding in straight away, but if you spend time building up good relationships with clients, the reorders — combined with great testimonials and reviews — mean that you will see growth,” says Lisa.  

Faire supports Powder Design in interacting with clients, managing the company message, keeping on top of its inventory and new products, and sustaining the appearance and quality of listings. The platform also allows Powder to build up a valuable database the company can use to notify existing and potential customers about new collections and in-platform promotions. 

Support for Scottish businesses

Help is available for any businesses thinking about selling online and via B2B marketplaces. Scottish Enterprise offers online workshops and masterclasses on identifying appropriate online marketplaces, product listing and promotion, considerations for selling in certain countries and digital strategy. 

We also have a team of in-market specialists based overseas who can connect you with international marketplaces and help you get started. 

Our series of ecommerce webinars include sessions on specific marketplaces, which guide attendees through the registration processes and demonstrate how to become successful. 

Check our events listings to explore upcoming sessions 

For companies with a specific ecommerce need, we also provide one-to-one support to help make the digital switch easier, including how to digitise processes, supply overseas markets and adopt ecommerce for the first time.