Please Stop Selling Me Stuff

I freely admit I follow a lot of influencers on social media. Mostly style and lifestyle, but really all manner. I love seeing how people dress, what they eat, their favorite books, the art on the walls, it’s the voyeurism for me. While there’s a lot I absolutely love, there is one thing I most certainly do not, the hard sell.

Selling as always been a part of social media. From sponsored posts to takeovers, items people can purchase to recreate outfits to product recommendations, selling has always been a part of content creation and as someone who has been on both sides I totally get it. Companies want their products shared, creators share and want to get paid, it’s a win/win…except lately it feels like it’s not.

I’ve noticed a growing trend of skipping right past the soft sell, and hitting followers right over the head with the hard sell. There is no nuance, no finesse, just “here are 5 things to buy on Amazon”. And it’s not just once in a while, it’s weekly if not daily, and I think it’s pretty gross.

I’m saying this as someone who loves to shop, and as someone who works in marketing for a clothing retailer, it’s too much. Weekly shopping haul videos seem, at least to me, so wasteful and gluttonous. No one needs to buy multiple items of clothing and full outfits every week! Especially when those items of clothing are poorly made and look like they’ll disintegrate if you get caught in a light rain, I’m looking at you Shein. Buying new full outfits daily, weekly, even monthly is not an expression of personal style – it’s the complete absence of personal style. Any numbnuts can buy a months worth of outfits, it’s not creative or interesting. Show me what you have already in your closet and all the new ways you can wear what you already have!

I know creators need to get paid, and creators DESERVE to get paid, but there has to be a better way. Shoving cheap clothing (I’m talking cheap as in quality, not cheap as in price) is not it, my friends. That being said, here are six sweaters you need to buy from Amazon right now…just kidding!