Corporate boycotting - do you do it? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion

Corporate boycotting - do you do it?

[89 posts] [28 contributors]

Topic Rating:

(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:

Started 1 year ago by Twixlen
Latest reply from TomOver

Tags:

12…5 Next »

Twixlen
The Weston District
Login to Send PM

Maybe not the best title, but it's something that's on my mind. I heard a story on NPR last week, regarding Lululemon - they have the quote "Who is John Galt?" on their retail bag, a quote that's from "Atlas Shrugged."

If you buy apparel from Lululemon, it's pretty likely you're familiar with tree pose, warrior one or downward facing dog. The retailer sells high-end, stretchy yoga clothes for those yogis wanting to make a fashion statement and Lululemon seems to be hoping that, in the midst of savasana or meditation, some yoga practitioners will ask themselves this question. Who is John Galt?

That question is on shopping bags that Lululemon recently started to give out and it's got some of the company's core customers up in arms, vowing never to shop there again.

Full story here.

Personally, there are some places I avoid - Chick-fil-a and their ridiculously delicious Jesus-filled-chicken sammich being at the top of that list. As much as I love that sandwich, I just can't bring myself to give money to them, knowing their corporate climate regarding equal rights and diversity - and knowing that they are big-time donors to some ultra-conservative groups (Focus on the Family).

Does this kind of thing matter to y'all? Beyond a business being local or sourcing locally or doing many of the other things that seem to be important to folks, does it matter who owns the business, and what they choose to support?

Posted 1 year ago #
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM

I haven't eaten at or bought products from Bob Evans since they fooled Kasich into handing over millions to leave the South Side for New Albany.

Posted 1 year ago #
pilsner

Login to Send PM

Corporate boycotts almost never work (Although I'll never again buy any BP product after the BP oil blow-out).

Boycotts play into the idea that whoever has the most money and power in the market gets to decide who wins and who loses.

Rather than boycotting, I think people should organize to change laws when they feel like a company or cartel is exploitative or predatory.

The Sherman Anti-Trust laws are still on the books they just haven't been enforced in over 30 years. Trust-busting could break up corporate oligarchies.

Most of the stores in malls were locally owned 40 years ago. Now they are practically all franchises or corporate owned. And our money gets whisked away to Bentonville Arkansas, New York and ultimately China when we buy consumer goods.

Posted 1 year ago #
rus

Login to Send PM

Twixlen said:

Does this kind of thing matter to y'all? Beyond a business being local or sourcing locally or doing many of the other things that seem to be important to folks, does it matter who owns the business, and what they choose to support?

Similarly, do people look for businesses which share / support their views and purchase products / services from those businesses even if they're less than thrilled with the product / service in question?

Posted 1 year ago #
dru
IV
Login to Send PM

pilsner said:

Most of the stores in malls were locally owned 40 years ago. Now they are practically all franchises or corporate owned. And our money gets whisked away to Bentonville Arkansas, New York and ultimately China when we buy consumer goods.

if you're talking mall stores, much of the money gets whisked away to Columbus, Ohio.

Posted 1 year ago #
misskitty
Columbus
Login to Send PM

I like to give people and business their right to have their own set of beliefs. I won’t boycott someone just because their run by conservatives or liberals. I won’t stop shopping at target because they don’t let the salvation Army right there bells there. I tend to avoid someplace when they pick a individual issue and flaunt it. For example if Meijer came out and made a public declaration that they support Paterno I would avoid that place. Although each declaration and situation will be unique so I guess it just depends .
I avoid Wal-Mart like the plague. It’s not because of their beliefs as conservatives. It’s because they treat their employees poorly and their ok with it. As a business they have succeeded and that’s great but it’s important to treat the people that help you get that success with respect.

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
The Weston District
Login to Send PM

rus said:
Similarly, do people look for businesses which share / support their views and purchase products / services from those businesses even if they're less than thrilled with the product / service in question?

I don't think people will support a business if the product isn't there. But if two business have the same product, someone makes the decision on who to purchase that product from - the resurgence of farmer's markets is a good example of this.

Posted 1 year ago #
rus

Login to Send PM

Twixlen said:
I don't think people will support a business if the product isn't there. But if two business have the same product, someone makes the decision on who to purchase that product from - the resurgence of farmer's markets is a good example of this.

Farmers markets may not be the best example. Some seem to think the product is better than what one gets in a conventional grocery store ( not arguing that one way or the other, but noting the observed perception ).

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
Login to Send PM

joev said:
I haven't eaten at or bought products from Bob Evans since they fooled Kasich into handing over millions to leave the South Side for New Albany.

Yeah, but were you going to eat there anyway? ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM

Walker said:
Yeah, but were you going to eat there anyway? ;)

There were times when we would - especially in spots like Jeffersonville, where options are limited. And we would buy some of their products in the grocery store on occasion. I know my small drops are negligible to their bucket - my boycott is less about hurting them than choosing to reward businesses that behave more ethically with our money.

Posted 1 year ago #
pilsner

Login to Send PM

I'm not supporting what Bob Evans did but it's likely that its competitors uses the same tactics to lower their taxes.

So wouldn't it be wiser to channel our energy to creating the political will to create laws so companies can't get away with blackmailing localities?

Senator Bernie Sanders and some other progressives have introduced laws that would take away highway funding from jurisdictions (local and state) that offer tax goodies to steal jobs from other communities.

Posted 1 year ago #
SusanB
Hungarian Village, Columbus' fastest growing Gayborhood!
Login to Send PM

I boycott Jimmy V's. I still won't gas up at BP.

Posted 1 year ago #
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
Login to Send PM

joev said:
There were times when we would - especially in spots like Jeffersonville, where options are limited. And we would buy some of their products in the grocery store on occasion. I know my small drops are negligible to their bucket - my boycott is less about hurting them than choosing to reward businesses that behave more ethically with our money.

We've done the same with BE. We also haven't been inside a WalMart in 3+ years.

I agree it is more a question of which businesses you choose to reward w/ your cash, not really about the ones that miss it.

Posted 1 year ago #
greenquarteracre
NW Columbus
Login to Send PM

In 1977 a boycott against Nestle was started due to their aggressive marketing of infant formula in lesser financially developed countries. The boycott received considerable media attention and eventually the WHO developed a code for marketing such products. I was surprised to find out that the boycott is still going, albeit with little media interest, due to reported code violations by Nestle as reported by Oxfam and other health organizations.
So do corporate boycotts work? Sadly, it doesn't seem to have helped in this situation.
(On the plus side though, it may have brought more attention to the benefits of breastfeeding in this country.)

Posted 1 year ago #
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
Login to Send PM

Absolutely. Each dollar I spend is a vote for what businesses I want to see succeed. For me,some of the satisfaction I get from spending my money comes from where I spend it, not just what I buy.

Some places I avoid all together, other "less preferred" (walmart, big box) places need to clear a hurdle, like 20% below market, etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
turnedNOTburned
Grandview/Columbus, Ohio
Login to Send PM

pilsner said:

Rather than boycotting, I think people should organize to change laws when they feel like a company or cartel is exploitative or predatory.

+1

Posted 1 year ago #
rus

Login to Send PM

turnedNOTburned said:
Absolutely. Each dollar I spend is a vote for what businesses I want to see succeed. For me,some of the satisfaction I get from spending my money comes from where I spend it, not just what I buy.

Hate to admit it, but I do some of that myself.

Posted 1 year ago #
Twixlen
The Weston District
Login to Send PM

rus said:
Farmers markets may not be the best example. Some seem to think the product is better than what one gets in a conventional grocery store ( not arguing that one way or the other, but noting the observed perception ).

OK - so hardware stores vs big box, or local grocery stores vs big box.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
Login to Send PM

turnedNOTburned said:
Absolutely. Each dollar I spend is a vote for what businesses I want to see succeed. For me,some of the satisfaction I get from spending my money comes from where I spend it, not just what I buy.

+1

I was in need of a cast iron skillet recently and went to Zettler Hardware Downtown for it. They didn't have the exact one I wanted, so I went to their sister store Goodale Hardware to get what I needed.

I probably could have found a skillet cheaper at Walmart or even Target, but when considering the lifespan of a cast iron skillet, it's pretty negligible.

Posted 1 year ago #
Porky
C-Bus' East Side
Login to Send PM

turnedNOTburned said:
Absolutely. Each dollar I spend is a vote for what businesses I want to see succeed. For me,some of the satisfaction I get from spending my money comes from where I spend it, not just what I buy.

I agree 100%

Posted 1 year ago #