Wednesday: Is that sample you are sending actually a loaner? Here's some factors to consider first (and something DISTURBING from my inbox!)
PS: Don't miss out: The completely FREE recording of last month's Zoom webinar event covering pitching, trends, and all things holiday gift guide season is now available -- grab the link right here!
Hi, friends!
Today, I wanted to have a brief discussion on a topic that arose out of my ever-anxiety-inducing inbox.
After sending out yesterday’s email about samples vs. gifts (and knowing the difference), I received an email offering me a sample of a cookware brand. So far, pretty standard, right? I get that sort of email every day. I’m a food writer, after all.
But here’s the interesting part: In the course of the email, they said the sample — of cookware, which I would be USING IN MY KITCHEN WITH FOOD — would be “a sample on loan for testing.”
When I asked for clarification (because…what??!), i.e.: If they truly intended to have people use a cooking vehicle in their home and return it, it was confirmed they were offering “samples through a loan process for people to test for editorial consideration and return to us.”
I mean. Gross. I obviously said no to the sample — which is an item I’d have been happy to test because, clearly, if it’s a loaner to me, it’s been a loaner to someone else, and will be a loaner after me, and aside from the inconveniences involved in the loaner process (which we will get to shortly in this email) there’s also the ICK factor…I don’t want to cook in a pot someone else has used, and I don’t want someone else to have to do so either.
Lets discuss the potential issues here: What if the person getting it after someone else has used it is from a kosher home? A vegan home? A home with severe allergies? Do you think someone who doesn’t, say, eat shellfish or pork, is going to want to use a pot that last week had a pork roast simmering in lobster stock? (For example, for those that keep a kosher or halal home, simply cleaning a pot that has had food that goes against dietary restrictions in it does not make that vessel acceptable to use.)
Now, to be clear, I’m not kosher myself, but I’m very sensitive to the needs of those who are, and I’d not want anything that was in my home to go to a house with those restrictions after. It’s a matter of consideration and respect.
Just. No. Ew. No thanks.
But one thing they actually DID do right? Disclose it was a loaner before we got any further.
A few dozen times each day (several hundred times a day, this time of year), I will be emailed asking if I’d like a sample of something to consider for an upcoming story.
I, in general, say no to MOST of those sample offers — we’re talking like 90% — (I simply don’t have the space, TBH, but also I know budgets are tight and I’m only going to accept a sample when it’s truly helpful for what I’m working on currently or I something I am confident I will have strong potential to write about in the future) - in this one potential case I’m about to illustrate for my point, I said yes.
For some background: There was no mention in the initial email of it being a trial or a loan, and this was not a high-priced item.
After agreeing to the sample (which, again, I did not ASK for, but was offered in an email initiated by them, and not by me) and going back and forth over several emails working out the specifications, I was told it’d be a short-term loaner.
Ultimately, I had to graciously decline the sample.
(And, to be honest, I’m grateful for that exchange, because there’s been countless times I received a package in the mail where I found out it was something that needed to be returned AFTER receiving it…with no acknowledgment of that beforehand.)
Everyone is dealing with limited budgets these days, and everyone has every right in the world (a responsibility, even) to plan events or offer samples for review within the confines of that budget. But they need to do so while providing full disclosure. That’s simply the only right thing to do.
Those of us who do not have access to a mail room or a car or a FedEx drop off location in nearby proximity (or perhaps…exist in a walkup apartment with super limited space) may choose to not accept a product to be sent at all if it means having to pack it up, get it to some sort of drop-off center and send it back after and should have that knowledge informed in their decision making process.
This serves as an important reminder: When sending a sample, whether for consideration or review, ALWAYS say beforehand if you have expectations of it being returned. Loaners are fine - but ONLY if agreed that is the situation beforehand and not involving A COOKING DEVICE. Disclose all the important information that will impact a person’s decision before someone has it in their home. It’s the considerate, professional, and responsible thing to do.
Check out our complete holiday gift guide pitching recording - it’s available right here, right now!
For those who missed out, you can grab the whole recording of our best practices for pitching holiday gift guides this season webinar for free (yes, completely free!) as a benefit for upgraded subscribers - it’s well over an hour of commentary, Q&A, and tons of information you can use this season. Grab the details here.
Book your consulting session!
I still have some space available for October!
I can join your team on Zoom, a phone call, or in-person and do a team Q&A and answer any of your questions about planning events, mailers, trips, pitching, followups, etc — giving you a very necessary media perspective. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if you are interested in chatting more and setting something up :)
We can switch it up in any way you or your team needs. While most of my calls do end up being virtual, I just did one where we did our session over a martini lunch! I’m available for whatever your team prefers. Lets chat.
I’m now contributing to the Yahoo Creators platform, writing a wide range of lifestyles topics: check out my author profile to see some of my most recent pieces! (This is updated daily - usually multiple times daily - so you’ll want to keep checking it out for new content!)
Limited-time deal on ad placement!
I’m offering a seasonal special on advertising in this newsletter. I’d love to place your sponsored posts and advertising in this Substack, which goes out to nearly 10,000 media professionals every single day.
Note: I do limit advertising to only what would be of interest to my readers, but am open to both short paragraph blurbs and dedicated posts - if you are interested in chatting details and scheduling something, please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com today!
Tools of the trade
Press Hook is where journalists, newsletter writers, and podcasters source expert quotes, hi-res images, product samples, affiliate info, and brand story angles — all from vetted brands in one searchable hub. It connects journalists and brands in what feels like a really user-friendly, organic way and I use it often to browse for sources and products aligned with my current projects and I’ve often found precisely what I need, when I need. Give it a try!
Exciting news from our friend Sarah Karger (who recently was a star expert panelist for our big holiday gift guide pitching workshop!) - she just launched her new course, Affiliate Marketing & Performance-Based PR for Publicists - It’s built specifically to help PR pros and agencies add affiliate management as a core capability, something we all know is completely essential in today’s media landscape. This is in-depth training that equips publicists with the exact strategies to:
Set up affiliate programs for clients
Pitch commerce editors with confidence
Deliver measurable ROI through performance-based PR
It’s a must-have for anyone trying to navigate this ever-changing biz!
Newly published or freshly updated
Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.
Yahoo Creators: Check out my author profile (I have several new stories a day across the lifestyles umbrella, so that’s the best way to stay updated!)
Forbes.com: 10 Caffeine-Centric Ways To Enjoy National Coffee Day
Today.com: Best drugstore wrinkle creams 2025, according to experts
Today.com: What Are The Best Drugstore Eye Creams? Experts and Editors Reveal Their Favorites
Southern Living: The Best Potato Chips, According To Southern Chefs
Southern Living: The Best And Worst Times To Go To The Grocery Store
Southern Living: How To Cook A Perfect Steak Every Time, According To Southern Chefs.
Travel & Leisure: 15 Amazon Business Casual Clothes for Summer Travel.
Southern Living: The One-Pan Cheesy Meal I Make Whenever I'm Too Tired To Cook
Travel & Leisure: 6 Best Business Travel Airplane Outfits, From $12
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Travel Writer, and I Swear by These Packable Ballet Flats for Comfort, Support, and Long Days on My Feet
Travel & Leisure: I Found the Perfect Walking Shoes to Prevent Sore Feet During Travel — Score Styles on Sale Up to 62% Off
If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.
Here’s what I’m working on:
Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.
Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.
Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.
Forbes
Before pitching: Please be sure to refer to my photo submission guidelines for help with photo submission best practices!
I’m sourcing for Halloween-inspired cocktails, National Vodka Day, and National Taco Day. For these, I’m looking for interesting and inventive dishes on menus at restaurants/bars nationwide.
Name of dish/cocktail
Restaurant, city, state, website
Description of dish
Quote from chef about dish/cocktail (plus name and title of person quoted)
Image and photo credit (I prefer links to attachments and remember to follow my instructions on how to label your file names, thanks!)
have a great day <3
aly
Ick is right!