Your Makerspace Should Be On Amazon
Creating sustainable makerspaces is difficult and makerspaces need to use every trick available. Here are some ideas for leveraging Amazon to support your makerspace.
Wishlist: You should have a makerspace wishlist with items needed for your makerspace. You should have a QR code and URL of the wishlist on the wall so visitors and members in the space know how to contribute to the space. The wishlist URL can be included in newsletters, websites, social media posts and emails. Think about both big-ticket items as well as regular consumables. A wishlist gives people that want to support the space something concrete to give. Be sure you ask your makerspace community for ideas of what should be added to the wishlist. You might also find that people already have item that they are willing to donate.
Referral Links: You should have Amazon referral links for equipment and supplies used in projects and workshops in the makerspace. If you create tutorials or videos the referral links should be included in the materials sections. If classes are taught in the makerspace, referral links to the actual items used should be given out with the class materials. The makerspace earns advertising fees off purchases made during shopping sessions initiated with the link. The makerspace will need to sign up for an Amazon Associates account. Be careful that the account is setup in a way that access is maintained even if the person in charge changes.
Amazon Influencer: If your makerspace has enough social media followers, it can apply to the Amazon Influencers program. The Amazon Influencer program allows you to create your own page on Amazon with a vanity address for your makerspace. The links are essentially the same as the referral links above but makes it easier to share a single location for all your recommendations. Check out my page at https://www.amazon.com/shop/designmaketeach as an example. You want supporters of your makerspace to start their Amazon shopping trips on your shopping page. Your makerspace will receive advertising fess off qualifying purchases made during shopping sessions initiated from the page.
Amazon Smile: If your makerspace is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, it might be able to register as an Amazon Smile recipient. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of the shoppers choice. In my previous school, the PTA was registered as an Amazon Smile recipient. Parents were encouraged to start their Amazon shopping trip at smile.amazon.com and select the school PTA as the charity.
Did I get anything wrong or do you have other ideas? Does your makerspace leverage Amazon to support your programs? Leave a comment and let me know.