Category: Small Businesses

Alternatives to Using Amazon

Online shopping alternatives available while Amazon is pursued for monopolistic practices

Over the last three decades the retail side of Amazon has grown to where you can buy almost anything through them.  I have bought stuff through them and probably so have you.  While this one-stop shopping may be convenient for customers, it has the added effect of creating a monopoly—posing problems for smaller retailers, communities and even Amazon employees. 

Legal Challenge to Amazon

Small Business Rising, an online support organization for small businesses, is currently seeking signatures by small business owners/management for a petition to support an effort to reign in the breadth and depth of Amazon’s influence. 

Posted in May, 2026, on the website they state:

We’ve seen Amazon use their influence to skirt accountability before. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — we must show our support for this lawsuit and trial to discourage the FTC and states from backing down — either through settlement or dropping the case. Don’t let Amazon get away with a slap on the wrist.

Their effort stems from the Federal Trade Commission September 2023 lawsuit accusing Amazon with monopolistic practices.

The FTC position on its website begins as follows:

The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general today sued Amazon.com, Inc. alleging that the online retail and technology company is a monopolist that uses a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power. The FTC and its state partners say Amazon’s actions allow it to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from fairly competing against Amazon.

In her December 20, 2019 article, New York Times columnist Karen Weise gives a background scenario in how Amazon puts the squeeze on the businesses that it contracts with on its website.

Alternatives to Amazon

In the meantime, this brings the question to the surface, “are there alternatives to Amazon when it comes to shopping online for a variety of product categories?” 

Several large retailers have opened their websites to third-party sellers, the latest being Best Buy.  A few months ago I was searching for a musical recording console and found one pictured under Macy’s.  Other retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and others have done it.  These items, like the console, are not sold in stores.  They are stored with the supplier and are shipped from them directly to the customer.

In this case, there is no fulfilment center, and thus can be a cheaper alternative than going the Amazon route.  Also, it means the land where a fulfillment center is built can be used for other purposes.  Communities are realizing this now with Big Tech data centers.

Customers also have alternatives available—perhaps with not as large a selection but also not as controversial.  An example is eBay.  Once again, items are shipped directly from the supplier.  Another is Etsy.  This site specializes in various handmade household items that can be monogrammed.

Rolling Stone magazine recently posted 21 Amazon Alternatives and what each focuses on.  The website GoodGoodGood also has an alternative list, including reasons why each is better than Amazon.

Radio Shack

Finally, if you are looking for electronics supplies there is…Radio Shack!  Seems like the retailer that was a go-to place in the 1970s-90s still exists online.  They once again sell only their own products.  And they have retail stores available—but with a twist.  They are located only in small towns and partner with local shop owners as resellers to sell their products.

Screen Actors See Paramount Offer as a Flop

Hollywood actors in opposition to the Paramount deal with Warner Discovery.

Hollywood

Over a thousand Hollywood actors, actresses, executives and skilled artisans signed a letter in opposition to the Paramount deal with Warner Discovery.

Published on April 13 and posted on the website blockthemerger.com, it addresses multiple consolidation issues:

“This transaction would further consolidate an already concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries—and the audiences we serve—can least afford it. The result will be fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world. Alarmingly, this merger would reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to just four.

“Our industry is already under severe strain, in large part due to prior waves of consolidation. We have witnessed a steep decline in the number of films produced and released, alongside a narrowing of the kinds of stories that are financed and distributed. Increasingly, a small number of powerful entities determine what gets made—and on what terms—leaving creators and independent businesses with fewer viable paths to sustain their work.

“Media consolidation has accelerated the disappearance of the mid-budget film, the erosion of independent distribution, the collapse of the international sales market, the elimination of meaningful profit participation, and the weakening of screen credit integrity.”

In the April 13 New York Times, Benjamin Mullin writes that despite this effort he expects the Paramount deal to close:

“Paramount’s deal with Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to close later this year pending approval from shareholders and government regulators. The company has said that it does not expect any significant impediments to closing in the United States and that some countries, like Germany and Slovenia, have already given their approval to proceed.”

Is It All for Naught?

It is good that these professionals have taken the time to create a public awareness campaign in opposition.  But as Mullin hints, it may all be for naught.

Why?

Well, the powers that be in this proposal, as with most major acquisitions, are focused just on share price.  This benefits shareholders, which benefits investors.  Others, like the Hollywood professionals here, are pushed aside.  The regulators and judges often feel the same way.

What can be done?

In my opinion, Federal law should be strengthened regarding the definition of trust and monopoly so that it includes the importance of stakeholders as well.  In other words, if a majority of the acquired employees are opposed, include this in the Federal definition of monopoly.  Provide a vote to find out and weigh it in the decision.  You could also include organized customers as well.  Employees and customers suffer the most from acquisitions focused mainly on an attractive share price.  This needs to be spelled out in law so less wiggle-room for big acquisition-friendly regulators and judges.

 

 

 

 

Heard of the Robinson-Patman Act? If you spend money, you should.

Small retailers have a law to help them compete but is little used.

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Have you noticed a considerable decline in local and regional retail businesses over the years?

Small groceries, pharmacies, hardware, music shops, bookstores have lost out to what we now call “Big Box”.

Some of this can be contributed to changing shopping tastes.  Big Box can offer the stock and breadth of products that smaller retailers cannot.  I admit that I go to Big Box for this reason.  Also, Big Box has a stronger online presence that some retail businesses have either not adapted well to or refuse to. 

Robinson-Patman Act

Local and regional retailers do have the support of the Robinson-Patman Act.  It was enacted in 1936 by Senator Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas and Representative Wright Patman of Texas.  The Act was designed to restrict price discrimination by large suppliers and protect small retailers from national chain stores.  Suppliers could offer discounts to retailers who bought in bulk, but criteria had to be available to any retailer, without favoritism to individual ones.

The 1980’s saw enforcement begin to wane, as challenges to price discrimination began being seen as anti-competitive.  Businesses were allowed to violate either the law or the spirit of the law and get away with it.

Walmart and Pepsi Collusion

In late 2025 The Institute of Local Self Reliance sued the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make public censored details from the case involving PepsiCo and Walmart.  Brought by three Walmart customers, the suit alleged that PepsiCo was informing Walmart what other retailers were paying for the product and conspiring with Walmart’s knowledge to charge them a lower price, in keeping with Walmart’s well-known message of having lower prices.  The Trump Administration subsequently supported the decision by the current FTC to not pursue it any further.

Legislation

On March 19, 2026, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut filed in Congress the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act.  In effect it would strengthen the Robinson-Patman act by eliminating loopholes that currently allow large companies from striking better deals with suppliers than their smaller rivals.  In other words, it would further codify as illegal the arrangement that occurred between Walmart and PepsiCo. 

Conclusion

One thing I advocate is strengthening anti-trust laws to allow for a greater definition of what anti-trust and anti-monopoly behavior is.  This can allow judges have better clarity as to what is in violation and what isn’t.  I support this law.  Equally important, it should go further and eliminate bulk discounts to large retailers.  Testimony from local and regional retailers on this would be welcome, and the media picks up on it as a priority. 

Contact your Senators and ask them to support this legislation.  At the same time ask them to support the Break Up Big Medicine Act, a bi-partisan legislation by Senators Hawley and Warren.  This targets Big Pharma and its acquisitions of health care companies and pharmacies.

 

 

The Core of American Capitalism

Human interaction is an overlooked part of capitalism defined

In the News

I see where Warner Bros. Discovery is giving the Paramount offer a second look at being acquired.  Paramount initiated this acquisition pursuit way back in September, 2025.  It has gotten much media attention, in the national news outlets as well as the business news.

If someone was not a student of economics and relied on the news media for his or her information, you may get the impression that this acquisition, and other big ones that get media attention, are the center of our economic system.  In addition to this acquisition, there is also the constant chatter of how Big Tech is investing umpteen dollars in artificial intelligence.  This sure has had an effect, both positive and negative on the stock market recently. 

Where is this Core?

In my opinion, it started with thousands of men and women throughout the decades who, with some material and financial resources combined with inspiration, went on to create great companies, both large and small,  throughout this country.

I remember reading how both Apple and Microsoft got started in garages.  There is also Walt Disney starting out creating a Mickey Mouse cartoon called “Steamboat Willie.” 

However, since 1980 there have been individuals and companies involved in directions that have shifted much of our economy away from innovation and more about domination.  We have been introduced to such things as investment banks, leveraged buyouts, corporate raiders, hostile takeovers, private equity, private credit, stock buybacks, Pac Man defense, activist investors.  In my opinion they have all immensely deviated from this basic core.

The people involved in these activities are far away, literally and figuratively, from many people found on Main Streets throughout this country.  family and friends may work for local or regional businesses, where upper management has regular face-to-face contact with both employees and customers. 

This personal, human interaction is, in my opinion, where you find the core of our capitalist system.  Laws and tax reform should be in place to help keep businesses independent who want to be independent.  Legislators should give primary attention to small business issues more than corporate campaign contributions. Large corporations are not inherently bad, but the distant relationship between management and employees and customers located hundreds of miles away or across oceans, reduces these people to being mere statistics on paper or a screen.  Decisions can thus be made without the decision makers having any personal interaction with those on the front line.  Decisions based on statistics is important but should also include the personal input from employees and customers.

Final Thoughts

I have written before wondering what is going through the minds of Warner employees with all this acquisition talk.  Customers are also faced with the thought of less entertainment choices and possibly higher costs.  This is high dollar negotiations with huge financial consequences for everyone involved.  Fees and profits are to be earned by some, maybe not all.  Careers may also be on the line.   It is all very important.

It makes for high drama and entertaining news headlines, but has consequences.  Such corporate wheeling and dealing is far removed from what occurs on Main Street America.  Some may call this capitalism, and they may find sources to back that up.  But, in my opinion, this corporate world contributes to the decline in some American’s belief in the capitalist system. 

What do you think?

Independent doesn’t mean you have to go it alone

There are organizations that can help the independent thrive as independent

There are organizations that can help the independent thrive as independent

Are you an independent business?  Do you want to stay independent?  Does your independence feel threatened by those that are bigger than you?

One is the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).  Their motto is as follows:

We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan, member-driven organization that advocates on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners—both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals.

They are a business advocate, gathering member opinions nationwide in order to steer policy priorities.  They focus on taxes, healthcare, labor and regulations.

They also focus on competitiveness, working that both government and massive businesses make it impossible for them to compete.  Their website has a video on their anti-trust advocacy.

Another institute is the Center for American Entrepreneurs.  Their motto is as follows:

CAE is a nonpartisan Washington, DC-based research, policy, and advocacy organization that works with policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels across the country to build a policy environment that promotes new business formation, survival, and growth. We pursue this objective through a wide range of activities

They work in advocacy through an Advisory Council and provide issue analysis through a Research Council.  They also have a Board of Directors made up of entrepreneurs, startup investors and startup mentors.

There is also the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Their historical role has been to approve small business loans.  However, they are also involved with small business disaster relief.  In addition, their website provides links to various issues with starting a business, including how to win federal contracts. 

In  December, 2016,  Forbes magazine published the article, “43 Reasons You Should Support Small And Independent Businesses.”  They are primarily quotes from small business owners themselves.  If you identify with one or more of these, you may want to start a campaign to promote them to the general public.  In addition, they offer an Entrepreneurs and Small Business newsletter you can sign up for.

Cintas abandons pursuit of UniFirst

Tactic of pursuing hostile takeover fails

As a follow up to the article “Cintas and UniFirst’s Visions aren’t Uniform,” the Cincinnati Business Courier reported Cintas has dropped its bid for UniFirst.

In my opinion growth can be pursued by other means than acquisition. I heard this proposed acquisition referred to as a “hostile takeover,” which indeed it may have. These takeovers were often pursued years ago, made popular in the film, “Wall Street”. They do more harm than good.

Further articles will pursue this idea of growth and options available that companies can use to pursue it. Once again, the end doesn’t justify the means here.

Cintas and UniFirst Visions aren’t Uniform

This is a classic example of what’s wrong with mergers and acquisitions today. 

Cintas Uniforms Truck

On January 7, 2025, Cintas Corp. announced a $5.3 Billion offer to purchase rival UniFirst.  Both companies’ core business is corporate uniforms.  Cintas is headquartered in Mason, OH, over 20 miles north of Cincinnati.  UniFirst is in Wilmington, Massachusetts. 

This proposed acquisition has an interesting history.  Cintas proposed acquiring UniFirst in February 2022, but the offer was rejected.  Management has now rejected this second offer.

Steve Watkins of the Cincinnati Business Courier quotes Cintas CEO Todd Schneider saying:

 “We call on the UniFirst board, its controlling shareholders and management team to immediately engage with us to reach a mutually acceptable definitive agreement that delivers the full value of this combination for shareholders and other stakeholders…We firmly believe in the compelling strategic fit between our two companies, and our offer would deliver immediate and compelling value to UniFirst shareholders…The combination would also amplify the benefits of Cintas and UniFirst’s ongoing technology investments to drive growth and benefit our collective customers and employee-partners.”

UniFirst issued a response, saying:

“The board conducted a careful review of the unsolicited proposal and determined that it is not in the best interests of UniFirst, its shareholders and other stakeholders,” adding the decision was made based on the offer price, business risks and feedback from its largest shareholders.

Cintas

Cintas is 3½ times larger, with $9.6 Billion in revenue, versus $2.7 Billion for UniFirst.  UniFirst has an interesting strategy, though, to fight back.

UniFirst posts on its website suggestions directed at customers of companies acquired by Cintas to consider switching to them.  And there is more than one company listed.  How about that!

Resistance Strategy

Cintas is not a bad company.  Watkins published an article in 2024 that highlights its positive work culture. 

Analysis

Cintas’s approach to acquiring UniFirst is a classic example of what’s wrong with mergers and acquisitions today.  It is a business chess game where the opponent is forced to play.

If someone came out of the blue to tell you what is in your best interest, would you like that?  Is this a way to win friends and influence people?  I know that many people preach about the benefit of “persistence”, but in this case “persistence” is really bullying, isn’t it?

If a company’s management is actively pursuing an acquirer, do their homework and find “the right fit”, that’s one thing.  A merger may be a better option than an acquisition, though.  In this case bullying tactics are used where the only real question the acquirer asks is “what’s in it for me?” 

Corporate Directions

Cintas’ approach to its employees is totally different to its acquisition process, isn’t it?  It is like they act as a Jekyll and Hyde company.  Do you believe companies should engage in bullying tactics with their competition?  Is this how you operate?  Does the end justify the means here?

AMERICA IS NO HUMPTY DUMPTY

It can be put back together again. Small businesses lead the way.

In the March 2016 edition of The Atlantic , author James Fallows wrote an article asking the question, “Can America Put Itself Back Together?”  It took him 14 pages, but his answer to his own question was an unhesitant “Yes.”

His was a journey, mostly by air, across the lower 48 to search for his answer.  He visited mostly small towns (cities that do not have major league sports teams), such as San Bernardino, CA, Duluth MN, Redlands, CA, the “Golden Triangle” of Columbus, Starkville, & West Point, MS, Holland, MI, and Sioux Falls, SD (and others.)

He reported how small businesses are providing the economic Renaissance in America.  He writes:

John Dearie, a co-author (with Courtney Geduldig) of Where The Jobs Are, argues that new business formation is the single most important guide to future employment trends.  This is because of the unlikely sounding but true economic observation that, over decades, all the net new job growth within the U.S. economy has come from firms in their first five years of existence (and mainly from fast-growing ones in their very first year).  Big established firms…employ a lot of people.  But the increase in jobs, overall, statistically comes from new firms, as they go from no employees to the first dozen or hundred.

America’s economic renaissance rests on a foundation of companies that are innovative, independent, and competitive with one another.  Taxes and regulations should allow these companies to exist and thrive and not be concerned with fighting off manipulative tactics from larger firms.