Revisited editors note (11/18). Gosh. We thought that Oprah listened and fixed this problem. But, you decided. Each of the #OprahsFavoriteThings for 2018 is again linked to her Amazon page. Are they paid a percentage of each sale? Why did they not directly link every gift idea directly to the small businesses’ website? Going to Amazon means lost revenues to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. How exactly are those products selected anyway? Is it based on “wow, this is cool?” The full backstory and prior post from last year follows.
Click here to see that all of this year’s gift items are linked to Amazon
[Tweet “Did Amazon’s market power lockout #SmBiz from making Oprah’s Favorite Things® list? #OprahsFavoriteThings”]
Editors note (11/8/17): We are pleased to share that since we began this consumer advocacy outreach, the “Oprah’s Favorite Things” gift listing has an update on its website. Each company gift item has a direct link to order from the merchant, rather than just through Amazon. Win one for small businesses. And, there is an “ad choice” informational icon button on the “Available on Amazon, Shop Now” banner. However, on the main Amazon page, there still is no clear messaging explaining whether there may be an affiliate marketing component, as best that we can determine. We are unsure if there is “clear and conspicuous” full disclosure information of a possible relationship, if it exists, between the gift guide and Amazon?
- Did Amazon’s market power lock out small businesses from making Oprah’s Favorite Things® list if a gift item is not available on Amazon?
- Did Amazon’s influence perhaps even invalidate the credibility of the famed gift guide “handpicked by Oprah,” when you compare it with American Express’ Shop Small® Small Business Saturday® to help and promote shopping at local businesses?
- Are O Magazine editors aware of the impact of potentially only choosing items listed on the Amazon platform? Can customers directly buy from the merchant? Although, its website has a link and banner advising that Oprah’s Favorite Things are “Available on Amazon, Shop Now.” We do not have the answers to these questions but are interested to learn more. [Editors note, we reached out to identify the criteria for being listed and if products profiled must be available on Amazon? No reply yet].
Preamble
We are staunch Oprah Winfrey loyalist advocates. Her inspirational, humanitarian and career of helping so many is legendary.
[Tweet “Were small businesses not selling on Amazon shut out from #OprahsFavoriteThings list?”]
For two decades, a bright spotlight is again shining as 102 of the pioneering entrepreneur’s “Favorite Things” gift list is announced. We congratulate all our fellow entrepreneurs as they prepare for the “Oprah Effect” to churn out life-changing new orders from this year’s mention.
The Power of Amazon
Were small businesses shut out from being considered for Oprah’s Favorite Things® gift directory because they were not listed on Amazon.com?
In 2014, we almost made the list. After being asked to send the contributing style editor at O Magazine our ScanMyPhotos.com photo scanning box to digitize her photos, we were nearly there. [Since 1990, we have digitized 600 million pictures.] Then, we got word she and her editors “loved it.” Better yet.
We geared up for the December listing, but just weeks prior to the coveted edition, lamentably, we learned ScanMyPhotos did not make the cut — nor did she. All her pictures were scanned and hundreds of dollars were spent to rush the media review kit — with overnight delivery, along with every extra scanning service included. Her departure from the magazine was an obstacle, but we persevered, never gave up and tried, again and again, to help get noticed and digitize generations of family photos.
[Tweet “Is the #OprahsFavoriteThings “Oprah Effect” Affected by Amazon?”]
The Problem
Because if all the items are available on Amazon, it shuts out many innovative small businesses — which only sell directly to consumers — from making the famed list. At ScanMyPhotos.com, we looked into selling on Amazon but chose to stay independent to personalize each order and boost direct relations with our customers. The reason? Photo scanning is highly personalized, emotional, requires extensive concierge-level assistance and extra care.
Did many lose out because they aren’t selling on Amazon.com?
The Question?
Were other innovative businesses with equally creative gift ideas that are not listed on Amazon overlooked?
Epilogue
We love Oprah and no hard feelings, especially if we missed something here.
Everyone at ScanMyPhoto’s looks to 2019 as we try, try again. As there are still 3 1/2 trillion analog photos to scan, and the average household has 5,500 snapshots. So, we hope you will still have your pictures digitized to preserve all your nostalgic family memories — even without us making the cut… this year.
