Post from the Barefoot Books Living Barefoot Blog, A brave decision promoting small businesses. Thank you! If you would like to know more about our ambassador program or join my team please email me, marshabarefootbooks@gmail.com.
So Long, Amazon!
by Nancy Traversy Fri May 24, 2013 1:21 AM EDT
As entrepreneurs, we admire Amazon and its ground-breaking accomplishments. However, living Barefoot is about creating a sustainable model which enables individuals to build small-scale businesses; it’s about the vitality of intimate relationships and the power of connection. We believe our future lies in supporting other small businesses and in growing our network of independent Ambassador distributors: – developing a community where personal connections matter, where we can bring our books to life for children, and where we can stay true to our values.
The challenges we have faced doing business with Amazon over the years are similar to those we experienced selling to the big box retail chains. Personal relationships with buyers are rare, particularly when you’re a small publisher. Our books become commodities that tend to only get promoted if they are heavily discounted and Amazon often starts selling them before we have even received our advance copies from the printer. This way of trading often drives small-scale businesses to the wall.
Since announcing this news a few days ago we have seen an outpouring of support not only from our Barefoot Books community, but from other publishers and people around the world!
Barefoot Books Ambassador Barbara Saunders Sims said, ‘I know each of my customers well and have worked hard to create wonderful, lasting relationships with them. This is the way book buying should be’.
