Picture this. You own a small candle business. You pour, package, and ship everything by hand. One morning your inbox explodes with TikTok DMs: “Hey girlie, can you send me 20 candles for my bachelorette party? We’ll tag you!”

Translation: work for free, so maybe my drunk bridesmaids post your brand on Instagram. Spoiler—most don’t.

Welcome to the freebie hustle, bachelorette edition.

The Rise of the PR Package Grab

It started innocent enough. Influencers asking for collabs. A little trade—your product, their reach. But TikTok bridesmaids turned it into a feeding frenzy. Now every bridal party thinks they’re a PR team. They slide into DMs with copy-paste pitches, demanding free goods like you’re Party City.

For small biz owners, it’s exhausting. You want exposure, not exploitation.

Why It Feels Gross

Here’s the thing. Real influencer marketing is about alignment and strategy. You pick someone whose audience actually matches yours. You agree on terms. You both win.

But mass DMs from random brides? That’s spam, plain and simple. No targeting, no effort, just “gimme free stuff.” The entitlement burns out business owners who are already juggling supply chains, taxes, and customer service at 2 a.m.

The Fight Back

Some businesses are done playing nice. They’re replying with discount codes instead of free boxes. Others are auto-deleting. A few clap back publicly, exposing the worst offenders. And you know what? The audience cheers them on. Because no one likes a freeloading vibe.

How to Handle the Madness

1. Set clear policies. Post them on your site. “We don’t offer free PR packages. Here’s our collab form.”
   
   
2. Create a tiered response. Serious influencer? You’ll chat. Copy-paste bride? You’ll redirect.
   
   
3. Offer wholesale or discount codes. If they really love your brand, they’ll pay—even at a reduced rate.
   
   
4. Protect your time. You don’t owe anyone a freebie. Period.
   
   

Flip the Script

Instead of waiting for spammy requests, find influencers who actually matter. Micro-influencers with engaged audiences beat a random bachelorette group any day. And when you choose the partnerships, you control the narrative.

The Real Flex

Saying no is powerful. Every freebie you don’t send is cash saved, energy preserved, and brand value protected. You’re not a gift bag. You’re a business.

Bottom Line

The next time a bridal squad slides into your DMs, remember this: exposure doesn’t pay rent. Your brand deserves better than freebie hunters. So stop treating your business like a party favor. If they want your stuff, they can click “add to cart.”

‍