You can think of the retailers who stock your items as marketing partners. They promote your products and brand when they present your work to their shoppers or when they do PR outreach to the press.
Wholesale is a fresh challenge for many sellers who have been hustling for those one-off sales or doing craft shows. It requires organization, planning and efficient production. If you're eager to make your business a more well-oiled machine, wholesale can be a motivating factor.