To Amazon or NOT to Amazon…

Planters, Umbrella & Sail Shade from Amazon

…That is the question, and it’s an important one. Having worked for a small independent and locally owned retail company for the better part of 17 years, I can say with 100% certainty how much every community needs a good old brick and mortar. It creates a shopping experience and builds relationships, and those shops create community. Everyone I know has their go-to boutique whether it’s for a special occasion, retail therapy, inspiration or a gift. Those experiences and memories are worth their weight in gold.

It’s no shock that Covid was a game changer for the retail industry. I watched firsthand how much changed with in-store shopping and the effect it had on the community, the sales team, the store owners, and the retail experience. Because the world shut down, we got use to ordering online for EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING. Shopping from the couch became the new norm and is still stronger than ever.

Enter Amazon. The epicenter for anything, and everything you may…and more accurately…may not need at all. I am pretty sure Jeff Bezos poops gold at this point…but regardless, here we are. Because I am a devoted shop girl and love supporting local businesses, I had a really hard time wrapping my brain around the world of Amazon. Maybe it was the ethics behind all the “stuff” or bad quality and so on. I struggled with whether I could support it for a long ass time. My goal was that I couldn’t find it in town ( or at Target ) I didn’t needed it. As much as I try to live minimally, I get just as sucked in as the rest of the world. After a few pep talks with myself, I figured if I was shopping at Target, H&M, Zara, Walmart, Old Navy, Costco and basically every other big box store, why not lean in and hit the “buy now” button.

For the past 3 years my job was to shop for a living, and since that’s a hard habit to break, I leaned all the way in and now have an Amazon Associates page. They reached out a few months ago and after careful consideration, I decided to go for it. Each list is curated around my lifestyle, whether it’s lounge clothes for summer, books from The Goods Book Club ( but seriously support your local bookstore ) ideas for boys, beach essentials, entertaining, home decor, wellness and more. It’s all there and will continue to grow. I have chosen items I would buy, have bought, or think is the best in class for every budget.

Whether you love Bezos or hate him ( no judgement here ) pop over and check out my page.

Here is my link for anyone who wants to check it out!

Side note - I still shop local 90% of the time!