With their latest service Prime Pantry, Amazon wants to help you stock your paltry pantry with “low-priced everyday essentials in everyday sizes.” Better yet — they’ll deliver them to your home in a one-size-fits-whatever-you-can-fit-into-it-up-to-45lbs box.
Yaaaa — WAIT! Don’t they already do that? Yup. Kind of. Well, there’s Amazon Fresh, their grocery delivery service, the shopping-by-photo-taking Amazon Flow and (the coolest option!!!) Amazon Dash, an at-home scanner and Siri-like companion that lets you scan or say what you need to restock your hizzy with.
Prime Pantry is a semi-exclusive service only available to Prime members. Don’t get all cocky though, Primeys — although the benefit of paying for the membership is that you generally don’t have to throw down for shipping on Amazon shopping, shipping on Prime Pantry is a flat $5.99. If you’re already coughing up $79 ($99 soon enough) a year for Prime, we know you’re probably like, um, haha that’s why I HAVE PRIME, jerks! And you would be totally justified in yelling that at the computer right now.
We like the idea of the box, which might help curb your own personal battle with bulk buying and overconsumption. By calling out “everyday sizes” along with low prices, Amazon suggests they’ll be offering you a CostCo-esque deal on Walgreens-size products that won’t take you years in your post-apocalyptic bunker to use up. The coolest feature we can spot on the tech side, is that a virtual Prime Pantry box shows up on the side of your screen while you’re shopping. It “fills up” as you add items to your cart so you’ll know if you’re reaching your limit or can squeeze another snack in.
You’re still probably trying to figure out what would make Prime Pantry a better buy than similar services like Soap.com (which, btw, offers free shipping after you hit $49, easy to do if you’re stocking up on groceries and assorted home goods). Since shipping is a flat price up to 45 pounds, you could game the Prime Pantry system by using it to buy anything that’s heavy: canned goods, laundry detergent, oils, bricks, cleaning supplies. And since not everything on Amazon has a Prime shipping option, you might end up saving on certain items not normally under the Prime umbrella. We’ll buy their “lower prices” claim too. A quick skim through their popular products, did get the coupon cutter in us to take notice.
Would you try filling your pantry with Prime Pantry? Do you buy groceries at the store or online? Sound off below!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.
