Amazon Prime Day has come and gone, and we're headed into a long weekend...
I'm sure many of you took advantage of the great deals, I get why it’s such a huge thing to so many people. The sales, the discounts, the convenience of one-click shopping — it’s hard to resist, right?
But for small businesses like ours, it’s a whole different story.
The Cost of Selling on Amazon
We have tried twice to get HopePodz up on Amazon, and we failed both times.
We thought putting HopePodz on Amazon would be a great way to reach more people, but wow, it was tough.
It took months just to get our products listed, and then we had to pour money into ads just to have a shot at being seen. Sales were almost zero. Amazon fees cut into our margins. And there was no way we could afford to compete with big brands like Blueland, who spend tons on advertising.
But honestly, the worst part? Even if we could afford to sell on Amazon, we’d be cut off from you, our wonderful HopePodz community. Amazon does not allow us to connect with you directly. And for us Hopes, it's our connection with you that gives us way more hope and energy than any Prime Day sale ever could.
What Prime Day Means for Us
Amazon Prime Day started as a way for Amazon to celebrate their birthday and offer huge deals to Prime members. Now, it’s turned into this massive, two-day shopping event. Last year, Amazon pulled in over $12.7 billion in sales, and this year, the numbers are expected to top $13 billion. Crazy, right?
For Amazon, Prime Day is great. For a small, family-run business like ours — it’s a real challenge. Advertisers alone spend millions (we’re talking over $500 million on Prime Day ads in 2022!) just to get their products noticed.
And that’s where we hit a wall — we simply can’t compete with that kind of ad spend. We rely on something more meaningful: you and your support.
The Free Shipping Illusion
Amazon offers free shipping because they’ve got warehouses everywhere, and they’ve built a system where it looks like shipping is "free." But in reality, nothing is free, right?
We have to ask our customers to cover the cost of shipping — which can range from $3 to $50, depending on where you live in Canada — because we just don’t have the infrastructure to absorb those costs. And when we do that, it’s so we can keep our products eco-friendly and high quality, without cutting corners.
Let's Talk About the Planet
Another thing that weighs on my mind is the environmental cost. In 2020 alone, Amazon generated over 599 million pounds of plastic waste from its packaging. For a company like ours that’s all about sustainability, that’s tough to swallow. We’re here to reduce plastic waste, offer planet-friendly alternatives, and help you make a difference. That’s the HopePodz way. But when Prime Day comes around, the focus shifts, and it’s easy for companies like ours to get lost in the noise.
Your Support Matters So Much
I know Prime Day is tempting. The deals are hard to beat. But when you choose to shop with us, it’s about more than just buying a product. You’re choosing to support a small, family-run Canadian business that’s making a positive impact. Every HopePodz purchase helps us continue our mission to provide sustainable, plastic-free alternatives — and that’s something Amazon can’t offer.
A Big Thank-You From Us Hopes
We just want to say thank you. Seriously. Your advice, your feedback, your support — it’s what keeps us going. We’re a small team (just the five of us!), and we couldn’t do this without you.
This Thanksgiving, here's to YOU for being a part of our HopePodz family.
Join the Conversation
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