Do big box stores demand better terms than indy stores from indy manufacturers? Yes, and that is why we salute Etsy for asking big box stores to sign a pledge to be less demanding and help indy manufacturers. Please find the article from HFN here:
Via this agreement, Etsy is acting as an proponent for indy creators.
Note: this is one part of the equation. Next up: getting indy manufacturers to agree vice versa to give indy stores the same terms as big box stores. Etsy's agreement is from the creator's perspective; it doesn't seek to help indy stores. Both indy creators and indy stores need protection and help.
Bridge is an agent for indy stores. We'd like to see an agreement that 'creators' like Lenox and other manufacturers sign that offers equal terms to big box stores and indy stores. Why is big box store X allowed to receive drop ships and pay in Y days when indy retailer Z gets none of those benefits? For the same reason that Etsy's agreement makes sense, so does this question.