What I Wore While Spending the Day With My Mom:
- purple beaded tank (Express)
- maxi dress (via Ross)
- bracelet (gift from my sister Stacy)
- earrings (inherited from grandma)
- flip-flops (gift at a friend bachelorette weekend)
Can I Get Your Input?
I received an email today from a marketing company that represents Old Navy. They offered me a $5 gift card "to show their appreciation for keeping a positive outlook on their brand." My first thought is that it's attempt to induce me to say nice things about Old Navy, so I should turn down the offer. (No big deal b/c it's only $5.) But then I realized that I do post a lot of outfits with lots of Old Navy items, so maybe it's just like they want to say thanks for all the times that I have given them a little "publicity" by wearing their clothes on my blog. I would never take money just to "promote" a product or brand. But is it wrong to take a gift for talking about something that I would talk about anyway? Because let's be honest, I love Old Navy and I own a lot of their clothes. And even though it's only $5, that goes a long way at Old Navy esp in their clearance section which is where you know I love to shop. LOL.
I don't think I will be accepting this thank you from Old Navy b/c I didn't start this blog for any personal gain (maybe some personal loss...of weight), but I would love to hear what you think esp if any of you have received the same sort of thing from Old Navy or other companies.
19 comments:
Love that maxi dress on you! The purple color looks so cool and refreshing!
I love the bracelet - its hard to tell from the photo, but is it abalone?
only 5$... they are very funny:D I have to say that I love your blog, see your happy face every day is a nice feeling;) Best wishes from Poland!
I don't think it is any big deal to accept the gift card -- as long as it comes with no strings or promises of future posts!
Since you do shop at Old Navy I think you should take it! Send them over my way!
http://cindyluvtoshop.blogspot.com/
I think that if there are no further obligations, it would be alright to take it. After all, by posting where your clothes are from, you're already plugging brands' products.
I think its nice that ON offered the gift card. I accepted a pair of shoes from Solestruck once since all I had to do was say where I got them from everytime I wear them. I view it as a little bonus since I do put a lot of time into Fab Finds Under $50, however, I say no to all of the link and banner solitations I get and don't have Google Ads on my blog.
Now, on to this lovely dress - it is absolutely gorgeous and you look great!
Ok so something similar to this happened to me. Someone asked me to promote their blog and I said well I don't know anything about it. and then they said write a review about anything you want but link to that item via my blog. I thought WHY NOT its nice and I would want someone to do it for me. THEN he sent me $20. I had already done it and posted it so I thought hey why not its money from his marketing budget. So in this case if its a brand you already like and already talk about take it. They want to say "thanks" I do know how you feel on the matter though.
I think if it's a thank-you gift for something you did of your own accord, there's no problem in accepting it. You wrote about Old Navy clothes because you genuinely buy them and enjoy wearing them.
For me, the question would be: will taking it make you feel constrained to say only nice things about them in the future? For example, if you buy a shirt there and it falls apart in two weeks, will you still be able to say that on your blog, having accepted their gift? If the answer is yes, I say take it.
Also, I love the print on your maxi dress. :)
(1) *LOVE* this dress.
(2) you shop there, you post regardless, i dont see the gift card as paid promotion. youre promoting anyway. so if you want to accept the gift card, go right ahead. if you dont feel comfortable keeping it, you could always make it a giveaway to your readers. either way, its your call. :)
You look gorgeous in purple! Wow!
I would take it and continue to post the way you've always been posting - both good and bad (if any) about ON. A lot of companies are looking at new ways of marketing themselves, and frankly, with the sheer number of women blogging about what (brands) they wear every day, I'm surprised more companies haven't approached more women for this kind of advertising. Since you're giving out your brand info anyway, why shouldn't you benefit from it?
That is such a beautiful bracelet! I don't think it's necessarily wrong to accept a gift like that - the main thing is that it doesn't change your opinion.
Very pretty dress and tank!
The ON thing is a little odd, but its the world we are in today. Companies depend on social media for a lot of advertising- self generated as well as word of mouth provided free from the public. I don't think there would be anything really wrong with accepting the money, but if it doesn't sit that well with you, even just the tiniest bit, you were right to decline it.
Unrelated topic, but somewhat of similiar situation came up on another blog http://lunchinabox.net/2009/05/08/bento-bloggers-know-your-worth/#more-2073.
BTW, keep up the good work, I enjoy your blog:)
I love the lavender and the braceelet. So Summery!
That dress looks great on you! I love the colors and the design.
As for the ON gift card, everyone has pretty much said what I would. If you can still be honest about ON, take it! It's just a thank you and not anything more. If they really wanted to buy your opinion, I would hope they would offer more than $5. :-)
Take the $5 and run and tell them to give you more next time! LOL!
I think you should take the gift card. Like you said you love ON and you wear a lot of their stuff.
Everyone - Thanks for the compliments and the input on the Old Navy gift card question. You guys are great! You all had really good points and some new insight. You are right, if they wanted to influence what I said, it would have been more than $5, so I'm looking at is as a thank you. And so I said accepted the offer with a big thank you.
Bianca - The bracelet has some parts that look like mother-of-pearl (which I think is the same thing), but since it was a gift I can't be sure.
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