THIS HOT MESS MUST STOP + FORBES GIFT GUIDE DETAILS
Can we just get it together please?
Photo of the cutest little time suck before her hair became curly and wild.
I’ll get straight to the point since I have a lot on my plate today. I also wanted to share some details about Forbes' holiday gift guides and what I’m currently looking for. I’ll have more press opportunities later this week or early next week. I’m waiting on a few things.
By the way, my new TikTok account is really fun! Please follow it—I have just one follower so far, and it’s making me sad.
Link to TikTok
Dear Publicists: Please Stop Being a Hot Mess!
This is driving me insane! I keep getting pitched things (mostly for Forbes) at the very last minute that I sometimes want to cover but can’t. No, I can’t just throw an article together and cover something in 24 hours or less. (Okay, sometimes I can, but it’s very rare.)
Most writers have a general idea of their daily and weekly schedule. I’m fine with last-minute assignments from editors, but if you’re a publicist asking me to cover something at the last second, most of the time I simply can’t do it, even if I want to.
It also makes me wonder if you wanted someone else to cover the news and I was your last choice—especially when you offer it to me as an “exclusive” story. On that note, it’s infuriating when I’m offered an “exclusive” story about something only 12 people will care about, as if it’s an honor you chose me. 99% of the time, it makes no sense to offer me an exclusive story about the opening of an envelope.
I also understand your client may be giving you short notice, or you might not have all the assets yet. However, you could pitch something to me a bit earlier, even without all the info, and let me know that more details are on the way. I’m far more likely to give you coverage.
For example, a brand I really like is opening its first retail store next month. Their publicist, whom I’ve known and worked with for years, shared very little info with me—I only know the location and the month it’s slated to open. But because I was told this information with enough notice, I can plan to cover it in September.
While I have the same posting privileges as other Forbes contributors, when it comes to other publications I write for, I have ZERO POWER. I AM NOT AN EDITOR. I can pitch my editor at any time, but again, advance notice, even with limited info, is far more likely to get you coverage.
And while I’m specifically talking about myself here, it’s always better to pitch most writers in advance.
Forbes Updates
I’m done with Forbes for the year. Just kidding. But not really. I have around ten articles in the works, including a big Bravo celeb house tour and a feature on an influencer you’ve probably never heard of but who has a million followers and I’m mildly obsessed. So while I’m not saying “Don’t pitch me,” please understand I am super behind.
To be totally honest, my childcare situation in the Hamptons wasn’t what I anticipated. That’s why we only stayed for 5 weeks (again, don’t feel bad for me). I also wanted to enjoy my time away, so now I’m catching up.
Also, I will be doing lots of end of year trend roundups, but I can’t think about them until October.
MY FORBES GIFT GUIDE GUIDELINES/THOUGHTS/REQUIREMENTS
It must be DECOR or DECOR-ADJACENT like kitchen gadgets or furniture. Fancy hand soap is fine. Lipstick is not. This is because I am not allowed to include other things in my gift guides. I wish I could, but I can’t. Also, Forbes contributors (Vetted is different, and I don’t write for them) aren’t allowed to use affiliate links. I wish we were.
Here’s what I love to include:
Anything overpriced. There’s a reason why I include an $800 candle every year—it’s ridiculous, but I love it.
Gifts under $100 that are still nice and look like they’re more expensive.
Stocking stuffers that can actually fit in a stocking (a sofa is not a stocking stuffer).
Decorative items for kids like fancy bedding and crib sheets. Do you make a $9000 cashmere baby blanket? You’re probably in.
Anything you’d describe as “Waspy,” or that “people love in the South”—I’d probably be very into it. If it looks like it belongs in my house (follow me on Instagram), I will probably want to include it. And yes, I know this is biased, but I am drawn to a particular style, and I’m not going to include things that don’t excite me. Think: Nancy Meyers meets Lilly Pulitzer.
Anything from a luxury brand.
Items that are Greenguard Gold or OEKO-TEX certified.
Anything from a brand that mostly focuses on fashion but also sells overpriced wallpaper (like Missoni).
Just a heads up—I’m not super into a very modern aesthetic. This doesn’t mean I don’t like some modern things, but think more curves and marble and less angled legs pretending to be mid-century modern (WHICH SHOULD BE A CRIME). However, I do appreciate contemporary design and am open to that. But if your brand’s gift looks like it belongs in one of those $12 million houses that Josh Altman lists on Million Dollar Listing, I’ll probably delete your email.
AM I THE WORST? OF COURSE, I AM.
I HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL.
If you’re going to pitch me gifts, please use the subject line: SUBSTACK GIFT GUIDE
AmandaLauren212@gmail.com
Also, I may be doing gift guides for other publications but I don’t have details I can share yet.