You know it’s a problem when a brand becomes a verb.
If ever there’s a tell-tale sign that a company has cornered too much of a market, it’s when its name transcends being a noun.
And I have a confession to make: I’m as guilty of Amazoning stuff as the next person.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-Amazon, but I do feel I might need to get back to spreading my spending a bit more round local shops and British business.
Simon Lambert says he’s trying to avoid sticking it all on Amazon this year, but what are your tips to support local shops and British business?
Over the past five years, I’ve shifted from occasional use of the online giant to weekly ordering – and often more.
My usage slowed when Amazon introduced delivery charges, but then stepped up a gear when the gateway drug of free trial Prime membership (taken out to see if the Grand Tour was any good when it started) turned into an enduring monthly subscription and full-blown ordering habit.
Books, power leads, light bulbs, Christmas light cable clips, a new bike wheel: I’m looking at my recent order history now and they’re all on there in that steady stream of stuff.
And if you think I’m bad for Amazoning things I would have once popped to a shop to buy, you should meet my wife.
What makes the family habit worse, is that I bet we are nowhere near the level of Jeff Bezos-boosting many households are at.
It’s no wonder it emerged this week that Amazon has pocketed 40 per cent of the £5billion extra cash spent online by Britons throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
That figure was put before MPs by Shadow Business Minister Chi Onwurah on Wednesday, as she called for more help for small businesses. Some have done surprisingly well in the crisis, but many have been absolutely battered.
Meanwhile, Amazon has absolutely cleaned up.
The problem, as the great Guns N’ Roses once sang, is that it’s so easy.
Surf Amazon’s site, find what you need, compare prices, read the reviews (with a pinch of salt), do a one-click order, and if you’ve got Prime it’s swiftly with you for free – perhaps as early as the next day.
This much we know – and we also know we should probably do more to support British retailers and in particular our local independent shops.
However, if you’re like me, good intention is often not followed through.
Hive is connected to hundreds of independent bookshops across the UK with its single easy-to-use website allowing users to order to collect or for delivery
This year though, I am trying to do things differently for Christmas presents, nudge those buying for me to do the same, and also to unearth places that you can get those books, games, records, CDs and other items from – with Amazon-style convenience – while supporting local stores.
While for many years I have bought local from butchers, grocers, bakers and wine and beer shops, my problem with other purchases has often been my last minute buying of most of what I need, which as you can imagine is magnified at Christmas.
Fortunately, for the tardy like me, the local high street has got more accommodating. Many small shops and firms have had to adapt to survive in the pandemic and business analysts suggest the past nine months have seen changes that would usually take three to five years.
So, check out your local shops both by visiting and by going online. You might be surprised what you find.
As an example, my favoured local village butcher – the Farm Butchery, in Codicote, Herts, to give it a namecheck, has just set up a comprehensive Christmas ordering page.
We’ve also featured lots of stories on This is Money this year of small businesses pivoting to sell online – or step up to offer a blended mix of on and offline for customers.
Jeff Bezos (pictured with Lauren Sanchez) is worth an astonishing $185billion, says Forbes
There are also a couple of websites that you can use for the books and other media that often have us running to Amazon.
Our reporter Grace Gausden featured two, Hive, and newcomer from the US, Bookshop.org, in this article on avoiding Amazon, written back in November.
Hive, for example, is connected to hundreds of independent bookshops across the UK with its single easy-to-use website allowing users to search for nearby shops.
They can order and either collect or have items delivered. Deliveries are free, no matter the cost of the order, with each bookstore receiving a cut of the profits made by Hive. It also sells and delivers DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, stationery and other gifts.
As a nudge, when asked by family for suggestions of what I want, I have been sending the links to the books and music I’d like from Hive rather than Amazon.
It’s unlikely those nudges, or me trying to make more of a commitment to shop local, shop British, or just shop with a company that pays what seems a fairer level of UK tax, is going to make much of a dent in Amazon’s profits, or to Jeff Bezos’ wealth – $185billion and counting, according to Forbes.
At least it’s a start though.
What I’d love to hear is your ideas for supporting local, small and British businesses and avoiding Amazon. Share your tips in the reader comments below.
