Online Merchants Guild is a not for profit trade association created by online sellers for purposes of giving online sellers a voice and a vehicle for taking action to protect the online merchant community.
Why do sellers need such a trade association?
Well, one example that seems to resonate is to think about the recent incident where Mark Zuckerberg testified on Capitol Hill? For those of you who don’t remember, the questions he was being asked by Congress were shocking, demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of all things tech and ecommerce. For example, when Senator Hatch of Utah asked Zuck how Facebook can make money if it doesn’t charge for its service, Zuckerberg had to try hard to hold back his smirk and say, “Senator, We sell ads.”
This organization has been in need for some time. A group of sellers with so many common interests should have representation in the political space, and an ability to take legal action to protect itself from threats. I firmly believe that, if an organization like OMG existed ten years ago, this sales tax issue would never be as ridiculous as it is today. We have strength in numbers as sellers, and the ability to build one of the most powerful and influential advocacy groups in the country. One would think that if Wisconsin Cheese farmers have an organization to represent its lobbying interests, it's probably long overdue that we have a political advocacy group as well.
The businesses that OMG represents are not fortune 500 companies; most are usually owner-run. These businesses don’t have the scale to lobby, advocate or take legal action to protect their interests. Unlike Amazon, they don’t have negotiating leverage with the states. It’s scary for them to stick their necks out on controversial issues, because their business could be threatened by any number of states or Amazon. They need an organization to speak for them and act on their behalf.
Without our a common voice, the people who will determine the fate of eCommerce will be those who have no clue how it works, and that makes them more susceptible to lobbyists whose interests are squarely at odds with ours. Also, this isn’t just true for tax issues. OMG aims to be the sellers’ voice for all matters that are important to our members, such as intellectual property laws and trade. As issues come up our organization will be there to fight to ensure our members are protected from politicians making bad laws.
Of course ,this assumes that a substantial number of merchants join the organization. This is why we must band together and generate that voice that will fight for us and make sure that the people who must live with the consequences of e-commerce laws actually have a say in their creation.
Why do sellers need such a trade association?
Well, one example that seems to resonate is to think about the recent incident where Mark Zuckerberg testified on Capitol Hill? For those of you who don’t remember, the questions he was being asked by Congress were shocking, demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of all things tech and ecommerce. For example, when Senator Hatch of Utah asked Zuck how Facebook can make money if it doesn’t charge for its service, Zuckerberg had to try hard to hold back his smirk and say, “Senator, We sell ads.”
This organization has been in need for some time. A group of sellers with so many common interests should have representation in the political space, and an ability to take legal action to protect itself from threats. I firmly believe that, if an organization like OMG existed ten years ago, this sales tax issue would never be as ridiculous as it is today. We have strength in numbers as sellers, and the ability to build one of the most powerful and influential advocacy groups in the country. One would think that if Wisconsin Cheese farmers have an organization to represent its lobbying interests, it's probably long overdue that we have a political advocacy group as well.
The businesses that OMG represents are not fortune 500 companies; most are usually owner-run. These businesses don’t have the scale to lobby, advocate or take legal action to protect their interests. Unlike Amazon, they don’t have negotiating leverage with the states. It’s scary for them to stick their necks out on controversial issues, because their business could be threatened by any number of states or Amazon. They need an organization to speak for them and act on their behalf.
Without our a common voice, the people who will determine the fate of eCommerce will be those who have no clue how it works, and that makes them more susceptible to lobbyists whose interests are squarely at odds with ours. Also, this isn’t just true for tax issues. OMG aims to be the sellers’ voice for all matters that are important to our members, such as intellectual property laws and trade. As issues come up our organization will be there to fight to ensure our members are protected from politicians making bad laws.
Of course ,this assumes that a substantial number of merchants join the organization. This is why we must band together and generate that voice that will fight for us and make sure that the people who must live with the consequences of e-commerce laws actually have a say in their creation.
Co-organizers2
Paul Rafelson
Organizer
Newton, MA
Matt Colvin
Co-organizer