What to Know
Influencer culture has really taken over in the last near decade. What seemed like a niche “job” has now become attainable for anyone with a portable microphone and a camera. But just because influencers and their followers place a lot of value in what they do, does that mean everyone has to? That’s the current debate on social media. A local small business in Nantucket is causing waves after posting a sign addressing influencers, many of whom have taken offense. It really started a conversation after Paige Lorenze, content creator and lifestyle brand founder, tried to call the signage discriminatory.
The store has been in business for nearly 80 years.
Four Winds Craft Guild is a local craft goods store that “has been in the business of buying and selling authentic local arts, crafts and baskets on Nantucket since 1948,” according to their website.
It was acquired by the Sylvia family in the 80s, and focuses on selling “authentic Nantucket Lightship Baskets and friendship purses, both contemporary and vintage, as well as sailor’s valentines, local artwork and carvings.” Everything they sell is “hand selected, one of a kind and hand-crafted” by local and national craftspeople.
They recently hung a “No influencers” sign inside their store, and posted about it on their official Instagram page.
Paige Lorenze took offense with the sign.
According to Page Six, Lorenze, who is married to tennis star Tommy Paul, left a very upset comment on the post, which has since been deleted.
“If you call yourself a feminist but proudly put up a ‘No Influencers’ sign, it’s worth asking who you are attempting to delegitimize, and why…” she began. “Mocking women when they become powerful in a new industry isn’t new. It’s just a strange message coming from a store that celebrates a craft with such a rich history of women shaping the island and its economy.”
And she didn’t stop there.
“For those who don’t know, the creator economy is overwhelmingly driven by women. Brands have shifted billions of dollars into creator marketing because it consistently delivers something traditional advertising can’t…. trust, community, and measurable sales.”
“One woman with a loyal audience can successfully launch a business at a scale that would have once required corporate backing and massive advertising budgets. That’s a win. This sign isn’t.”
The store doesn’t care about the opinions of influencers.
Jessica Jenkins, who runs the store’s social media, told the New York Times that Instagram took the post down, People reported.
Store owner John Sylvia, who made the decision to hang the sign, spoke with The Cut, telling them Lorenze’s accusations missed the point of the sign, according to People.
“This influencer culture, I just don’t play to it,” he said. “I’ve been doing this so long. I don’t really need it.” He said it was never about being against influencers, but he’s noticed an increase of people coming into his store and spending the whole time on their phones.
The store posted the image again on Instagram, captioning it “TAKE TWO 🎬”
Unfortunately, the influencer is still outraged.
Paige Lorenze also spoke with The Cut, going into further detail about what she took offense with. Lorenze’s lifestyle brand, Dairy Boy, opened its first flagship store on Nantucket in May, not far from Four Winds Craft Guild.
“I have no issue with the shop, and I hope people keep walking in and supporting island craftspeople. I just think Nantucket’s story is more generous than that sign,” she said.
She explained that what she took offense to was equating influencers with rude behavior. She claims to be against that type of behavior.
“This island also fills up every summer with bankers, lawyers, and developers, and nobody has ever carved a sign about any of them. The one job that got a sign is the one built almost entirely by young women. People can draw their own conclusions about that.”
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