AIBU to think influencers should stop asking small businesses for freebies

[PigglyWiggle]

Binky Felstead of Made In Chelsea (hugely privileged, from generational wealth) has been exposed for asking a small independent bakery to create her sons third birthday cake in exchange for “exposure” by tagging the bakery on Instagram. These has also now prompted another woman to come forward who says Binky did the same to her with her 9 layer wedding cake and NEVER did the tagging/exposure. I feel like I really want this to start a bit of a movement of people calling this bollocks out and end this tiresome period of the “influencer” generation.

YABU - Leave her alone
YANBU - Expose them all, they are grabby desperados who need to get a job

I did read once about a photographer who was approached by an influencer. He was a professional with a very successful business. She treated him like a starving artist waiting to be 'discovered'. Apparently, she offered to display pictures he took for her on her blog which had a couple of thousand followers. He pointed out to her that he already had over a million internet followers of his own, so her 2,000 were of no value to him.

I think a lot of people perceive professional artist and musicians in the same light as amateur hobbyists. Joe Bloggs who occasionally plays guitar down the pub would probably jump at the chance to, say, play at a big wedding for a few beers. The professional outfit that has put a lot of time and money into the business of providing good music for weddings and events is not interested in doing this for the 'experience', because it's their job, not a fun thing they do to entertain their mates. Unfortunately for them, there are a lot of starry-eyed Joe Bloggses about who are flattered by such requests, giving a false view of the industry as a whole.

Sadly, the creative industry lends itself to exploitation. People get starry-eyed over the possibility of 'discovery'. You simply don't get people nurturing secret dreams of being recognised as, say, a fantastic carpet fitter to the extent that they'll fit carpets just for the thrill of the chance to 'live the dream'.

A few people on Instagram I randomly follow keep posting free items they got. They are not influencers as such just have following due to being part of mummy follow-loops (not real engagement). I am especially annoyed when it’s days-out like Legoland, London zoo, etc. thinking to myself we all know it’s good and popular but instead of giving out so many free tickets, big businesses can actually make the price for everyone a little bit more affordable.

I have a small, handmade shop on there and I have never given anything free even though I’ve been approached many times. I make a very small volume of items and value them too much to send to people who don’t want to pay for them.

The other thing that annoys me is when the influencer doesn’t research the product before ‘advertising’.

Stacey Solomon, bless her, had many clothes on her kids that a quick image search tells you have been bought on temu/ aliexpress and the ‘small uk business’ she’s praising and tagging is just reselling/ drop shipping for three times the price.

Clemmie hooper did this with a washing machine/tumble dryer

'Do I go for x brand or y brand?'

I was watching with interest as I also needed a new washer at the time

Within a few days she was 'advertising' which ever brand (cant remember which one) had given her a freebie

She tried the same with a handbag months later (called 'the clemmie' it may have been mulberry-this was a long time ago and i can't remember) but they ignored her

Was pretty embarrassing watching her hint like hell online for a freebie

I really resent paying full price for something (and emma mattress was bloody expensive and shite-their customer service is dreadful) and these beggers get it for free

The bakery in question didn't name and shame though. She politely said no to the offer of shares and likes and redacted the name of the I fluencer. Some of her followers guessed and it snowballed

The idea of a collaboration to me means the cake lady was getting something in return i.e exposure. She didn't get said exposure.
I'm sure if the proposed collaboration was clearly stated from the outset i.e cake maker gives and delivers cake but gets nothing in return she would indeed have declined.

I followed a tv personality asking if anyone with a holiday accommodation wanted to do a collab, aka give me a free holiday.
really put me off. Didn’t hang around to see if they got 1

It’s cringe and awful! I am a little bit known in my niche industry (not via any social media, I don’t do that!) and I recently ordered a product which, when they learned who I was, offered it for free if I promoted it. No thanks, I’d rather pay!!!

Hopefully Pontins got in touch.

Several years ago, Billy Faiers ( allegedly) kept requesting, and receiving freebies from a small clothing company for clothes for her children. She then started up her own company using the exact same designs. Whilst nobody has ownership of a design,unless its patented, the designs were identical and it was a massive piss take.

JL Patisserie had the same thing with Glamorama, with the infulencer posting crap about them, but the locals rallies around and supported the shop.

I can’t help but think that this baker has played a blinder with this as they are getting way more publicity than they would have with the original offer.

Alternatively if the business posts the cheeky request on social media they end up with far more exposure than the "influencer" would ever have generated them.

It’s she now solving crimes on a cruise ship.

We did some work for an ‘influencer’, discounted and gave some free stuff. (Over £1000) When they asked for more and we said no, they slated us on their IG and even claimed we’d closed down.

For this business, I don’t feel as if it’ll affect them too much! However on the hole totally agreee with this opinion. Whilst certain influencers provide true value and care about creating good content, many are doing it wholly for the payday associated

I don’t see why the business owner needs to go and slag off someone to the papers.

Didn't you answer this in your first paragraph?

I follow quite a few and every time they post saying where can I buy this, I message and suggest google lens.
That and the world’s smallest AD or AF link on posts.

Years ago, Nigella Lawson found a retro dress in a small boutique in Somerset. She loved it and it really suited her. She wore it on a photoshoot for a magazine cover, which was amazing publicity for the boutique.

A few years later, I met the boutique owner, who told me that Nigella was lovely and had insisted on paying for the dress. So thankfully, not all celebrities are grabby freeloaders.

I also have a bloody Suri toothbrush bought over 2 years ago. Seeing all of the ads I almost wish I had never bought it!!

I was watching a reel of a garden renovation the other day and the influencer was talking about her new fire pit. And then mentioned that she'd contacted another shop and asked for a free one but they hadn't responded. I just would never have the gall.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest if people are stupid enough to work for free and go out of pocket on the promise of an Instagram share then that is on them

This will be be an unpopular opinion, but I think all influencers should be taken out and shot. Especially those with the fake, pouty lips, long, unstyled and unhealthy dyed hair as well as nails that are unnaturally long.
However, this seems to be a niche for anyone, who is not especially bright or educated.
Whatever will they do when the internet implodes?

See so many getting free hotel stays! Really puts me off staying at the places. I work hard to pay to stay, not just expect to get a free stay just because I put one story up to my 10k followers! (is that even enough to be considered anyone??)

How are they not embarrassed to be constantly trying to grab free stuff? The "ads" are also so fake and disingenuous so how do they even generate business?