The latest KCRW Reports episode explores Giftphoria, a new Echo Park–based service positioning itself as an “anti-Amazon” by offering two-hour delivery of gifts sourced from local small businesses across Los Angeles. The report highlights how the platform aims to support neighborhood retailers by providing a community-focused alternative to national e-commerce giants—helping local stores compete in the era of same-day delivery.

“We’re building the anti-Amazon,” said Anthony Abaci, a co-founder of Giftphoria. “We feel like we’re pirates coming to take the king’s treasure. By working with local stores, we’re building a local army.”

Businesses like Giftphoria reflect a growing consumer desire for authenticity. “This is particularly strong among younger people—millennials and Gen Z—who feel that impersonal, big corporations don’t speak to them,” said Chris Tilly, professor at UCLA Luskin. “They’d rather connect with businesses that have meaning for them.”