I’ve asked both Lam and the Times for comment. With today’s shoppers increasingly overwhelmed by information when researching a new product, sites like Wirecutter are playing a uniquely important role for them and one that will inevitably contribute to their continued growth and success. Trends change faster than Wirecutter’s typical publishing schedule. The Times itself saw digital ad dollars drop 7 percent last quarter, citing “declines in traditional web display” ads. Chen said that, because of that focus, the style coverage won’t heavily focus on trends. The Wirecutter also owns The Sweethome, which takes the same approach for home appliances and other gear.īoth sites make their money via affiliate links, which generate revenue when consumers click on them and make purchases via e-commerce sites like Amazon.ĭigital publishers have become increasingly interested in that approach, as digital advertising revenue becomes more difficult to find. Best for Produce: iDesign + The Spruce Crisp Berry Bin at Lowes. It’s an impressively run business with a very attractive revenue model and its success is built on the foundation of great, rigorously reported service journalism, CEO of The New York Times Company Mark Thompson said. Best Quantity: Rubbermaid 42-Piece Food Storage Container Set at Amazon. The New York Times has purchased five-year-old product recommendation service The Wirecutter and its sister site The Sweethome. The Wirecutter provides recommendations for electronics and other gadgets that are both obsessively researched and simply presented. Best for Refrigerator Organization: The Spruce by iDesign 7-Piece Refrigerator Organizer Bin Set at Amazon. The Times will pay more than $30 million, including retention bonuses and other payouts, for the startup, according to people familiar with the transaction.īrian Lam, a former editor at Gawker Media’s Gizmodo, founded The Wirecutter in 2011, and has self-funded the company’s growth. They'll search google, and then end up a pen-focused sites like Well-Appointed Desk, Pen Addict, Fountain Pen Network, and possibly even here. I can list some of the ones I like: mixerowners on groups.io for stand mixers. People do'nt go to some random website like Wirecutter or The NYT for pen recommendations.
The New York Times is buying The Wirecutter, a five-year-old online consumer guide. You have to find the forum of enthusiasts (not even straight reddit subs, the actual other website forums) to get the real deal.