Business

Glenn Beck Continues to Surprise: Popular Tech Site GigaOM‘s Exclusive on Beck’s Online Store

Posted on May 21, 2012 at 7:30pm by Becket Adams
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Back in March, The Blaze’s Christopher Santarelli told us about Glenn Beck’s newest online venture, Markdown Marketplace.

“You’ve all heard and probably used daily deal and online shopping sites before, but Markdown Marketplace is a different opportunity,” Santarelli writes.

How so?

The site “support[s] handpicked vendors that operate their business the right way and exemplify the values that make this country great,” he explains. “The online marketplace will give these businesses a chance to sell their products to consumers they could not ordinarily reach, and give consumers a chance to support the great small businesses that are the backbone of the economy.”

A sample of some of the stores you can browse.

So why did Glenn Beck decide to get involved in the online market?

“I am launching the Markdown Marketplace so we all can have a place where we can support great small businesses,” Beck told The Blaze. “A place where you can put your money where your heart is.”

And launched it has. A GigaOM exclusive provides us with details: customers can now browse over 1,500 products in categories including food and beverage, camping gear, toys, games, and educational material, from over 50 stores all while supporting the backbone of the U.S. economy — small business.

“We are handpicking and curating [small businesses] for our audience,” Markdown.com president Keith Ferry told GigaOM. “They all met the rigorous criteria we set up,” including tests of samples and customer service reviews, the report adds.

But just as important as the rigorous quality tests is the fact that many of these stores “have a story to tell,” as Ferry puts it.

For example, maybe “they suffered a layoff and picked themselves back up off the mat to support their family. That’s probably the biggest requirement. Each company has a story to tell about why they’re doing what they’re doing. Our audience connects very well with that.”

Blaze readers may be familiar with some of Marketplace’s vendors: MyPatriotSupply.com, EmergencyGoBags.com, Simple Schooling, and Creative Learning Connection. But there are definitely some newcomers you’ll want to check out: Sent For Him (Christian greeting cards), BaconFreak (which is the most incredible thing we’ve ever heard of…seriously), Nuts For You, The Charleston Soap Chef, and several others.

Seriously? A store dedicated to bacon? Best. Thing. Ever.

“First and foremost it’s the stories, being able to connect with a small business in a way that [shoppers] ordinarily cannot do online,” Ferry said. “It harkens back to the days when you could walk down Main Street in your own town and do business with a handshake. That’s the kind of environment we want to create.”

And in the words of the site founder: “As a small business owner myself, I strongly believe in the power of small businesses. Their stories, their products and their passion is what makes America great,” Beck told GigaOM.

Glenn himself has also devoted an entire segment of tonight’s show to the new service. Watch him explain Markdown Marketplace below:

Click here to visit Markdown Marketplace.

This story has been updated.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (16)

CulperGang
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 11:30am
Bob, you sound ignorant. Ovbiously you don’t know that Beck has supported Paul. Obviously you never heard Pauls speeches, tons of them on UTube. Beck has NO choice but to support globalist handpicked gop candidates. The globalist have a habit of killing INFLUENTIAL people like Beck who can actually turn the tides on them. That said: disappointed in Beck softpeddaling for the globalist.
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Cap8tain
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 8:14am
If people would take the time to check out what is in their local communities, they would discover many similar products and services. A site like this is ok if you’ve got the disposable income for overpriced non essentials. WOW. 20 Bucks for 14 oz package of bacon.
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- hillbillyinny
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 8:28am
  Totally agree! Buy local as much as possible (and for food, directly from local farmers–KNOW who raises and handles your food (been doing this since becomming a farmer over twenty-five years ago!
  Report Post »
llleslie
Posted on May 22, 2012 at 7:17am
I checked out several of the vendors and they have great products. Downside – one vendor charged $4.95 S&H for each individual item ordered, even their $6.00 bar of soap. Another vendor charged $7.99 S&H for a 12oz bag of banana chips that costs $3.69. I like to help out but that is too much in my opinion.
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- jhrusky
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 12:06pm
  Shipping can be a killer, no doubt. Unfortunately, for lower priced items, the actual shipping costs (including boxing) can exceed the price of the item. This is not the vendor’s fault, of course, but it’s a tough obstacle to overcome.
  Report Post »
- Forced_Union_Worker
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:47pm
  When I retired, I turned my wife’s doll collecting hobby into an online business. For 10 years we sold and shipped dolls all over the world. Our business grew every year until 2009, in 2010 we had to shut it down. The biggest expense to an online business is the shipping costs. You try to pass the cost on to the customer by hiding it in the cost of the product, but at some point you just can’t. Every time the price of fuel goes up the profit for small business goes down. Good luck to all of these business, I know how hard running one can be.
  Report Post »
CATPBJ
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 11:00pm
||||||||||

BOOM Goes The Dynomite!

||||||||||
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Ming The Merciless
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 9:36pm
The browns and tans are to make you feel comfortable and give you sense of home.
It’s a psychological thing.

Just like Glenn is using hypnosis on his radio audience to vote for Bachmann (big govt, ‘truth’ fabricator) , then Rick Santorum (aka ‘Frothy’ – big govt) and then ultimately Mittens Romney (big govt).

But all that aside – I think this marketplace is a good idea and Glenn should stick to this kind of thing and leave politics in the rear view mirror as his candidate choices are horrible.

Last election his pick was John McLame and Palin! ‘Nuff said!
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- bitterclinger
  Posted on May 21, 2012 at 9:45pm
  Yeah, ’cause we’re all in fat city with your boy bammy.
  Report Post »
- AgentP
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 12:23am
  hypnosis…yeah, that is what makes me watch such painful shows. It all makes sense now. Thanks, captain douche bag, thanks for explaining that tricky stuff to the lowly and misled views like me.
  Report Post »
- Ming The Merciless
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:01am
  Not my boy bammy – Ron Paul 2012!
  
  There is an alternative to the one you’re being spoon fed by the lamestream and that is – R-O-N P-A-U-L 2-0-1-2-!
  Report Post »
- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 4:20am
  Poor Ron Paul, just look at all the BS you spewed above, no wonder no one likes RP. I‘m convinced it’s not RP people can’t stand, it’s his nuttier-than-squirrel-s**t followers. Perfect name you gave yourself, you freaks are really from another planet, planet Dumbarse.
  Report Post »
- burke
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 5:58am
  That must mean you voted for the Muslim stupid.
  Report Post »
- hillbillyinny
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 8:38am
  @ ding(ming)-a-ling
  
  We’re the thinkers, we listen to “all sides” on the issues and we CHOOSE THE ISSUE, SOLUTION, PURCHASE we WANT to do/make. We are “SUCKED IN” by the “messiah” and all of his different HALO’s!
  
  You thought your were being “merciless,” but you are only being droll. . .
  Report Post »
- Ming The Merciless
  Posted on May 22, 2012 at 12:26pm
  I love you freaks too – ha ha,,,
  Report Post »
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:06pm
Site looks a lot like Honeyville Farms site.

http://honeyvillegrain.com/index.html
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