A quarter of US shoppers have dumped favorite stores over political stances (2 Viewers)

Users who are viewing this thread

  • Optimus Prime

    Well-known member
    Joined
    Sep 28, 2019
    Messages
    12,829
    Reaction score
    16,596
    Age
    48
    Location
    Washington DC Metro
    Offline
    Has anyone changed where they shopped?

    We do shop less retail than we used to

    Mostly because we switched to buying from amazon
    ================================


    Americans are changing their shopping habits and even dumping their favorite stores in a backlash against corporations that have shifted their public policies to align with the Trump administration, according to a poll exclusively shared with the Guardian.

    Four out of 10 Americans have shifted their spending over the last few months to align with their moral views, according to the Harris poll.

    • 31% of Americans reported having no interest in supporting the economy this year – a sentiment especially felt by younger (gen Z: 37%), Black (41% v white: 28%) and Democratic consumers (35% v 29% of independents and 28% of Republicans).
    • A quarter (24%) of respondents have even stopped shopping at their favorite stores because of their politics (Black: 35%, gen Z: 32%, Democratic: 31%).

    More Democrats (50%) indicated they were changing their spending habits compared with Republicans (41%) and independents (40%).

    Democrats were also more likely to say they have stopped shopping at companies that have opposing political views to their own – 45% of Democrats indicated so, compared with 34% of Republicans.

    It’s a sign that consumers with liberal views are starting to use their wallets in response to politics in the private sector.

    Most recently, this has been seen with a backlash against Target – the seventh-largest retailer in the US that has enjoyed a typically favorable reputation among liberal consumers.

    In January, Target announced it was ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, including a program that helped the company carry more Black- and minority-owned brands in its stores, saying it was trying to “stay more in step with the evolving external landscape”.

    Along with calls for a boycott on social media, Twin Cities Pride, the organization that runs the annual pride festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Target is headquartered, said it was dropping the company as a sponsor because of its announcement.

    “What is more important is that we send the message that companies do the right thing,” Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in January.

    The last few years have shown that boycotts usually come from the consumer base whose party is not in power in Washington. When Joe Biden was president, conservatives boycotted companies that were deemed too “woke”.

    After the beer brand Bud Light partnered with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a sponsored social media post, a backlash against the beer grew online. Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, lost $395m in the ensuing months amid calls for a boycott.

    Now that Donald Trump is back in the White House, liberal consumers seem more ready to respond to political tides.

    After Trump won the election, multiple companies announced they were rolling back their DEI policies and pledges – much of which was created in response to Black Lives Matter protests after the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

    Though some companies had been quietly rolling back DEI programs after the supreme court ruled affirmative action in higher education unconstitutional, raising questions about whether the court could end up scrutinizing diversity efforts in the workplace in the future, most companies were reticent about announcing any rollbacks publicly.

    That changed after Trump won the election, as the president said in his campaign that he would end all DEI.…….

     
    Has anyone changed where they shopped?

    We do shop less retail than we used to

    Mostly because we switched to buying from amazon
    ================================


    Americans are changing their shopping habits and even dumping their favorite stores in a backlash against corporations that have shifted their public policies to align with the Trump administration, according to a poll exclusively shared with the Guardian.

    Four out of 10 Americans have shifted their spending over the last few months to align with their moral views, according to the Harris poll.

    • 31% of Americans reported having no interest in supporting the economy this year – a sentiment especially felt by younger (gen Z: 37%), Black (41% v white: 28%) and Democratic consumers (35% v 29% of independents and 28% of Republicans).
    • A quarter (24%) of respondents have even stopped shopping at their favorite stores because of their politics (Black: 35%, gen Z: 32%, Democratic: 31%).

    More Democrats (50%) indicated they were changing their spending habits compared with Republicans (41%) and independents (40%).

    Democrats were also more likely to say they have stopped shopping at companies that have opposing political views to their own – 45% of Democrats indicated so, compared with 34% of Republicans.

    It’s a sign that consumers with liberal views are starting to use their wallets in response to politics in the private sector.

    Most recently, this has been seen with a backlash against Target – the seventh-largest retailer in the US that has enjoyed a typically favorable reputation among liberal consumers.

    In January, Target announced it was ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, including a program that helped the company carry more Black- and minority-owned brands in its stores, saying it was trying to “stay more in step with the evolving external landscape”.

    Along with calls for a boycott on social media, Twin Cities Pride, the organization that runs the annual pride festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Target is headquartered, said it was dropping the company as a sponsor because of its announcement.

    “What is more important is that we send the message that companies do the right thing,” Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in January.

    The last few years have shown that boycotts usually come from the consumer base whose party is not in power in Washington. When Joe Biden was president, conservatives boycotted companies that were deemed too “woke”.

    After the beer brand Bud Light partnered with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a sponsored social media post, a backlash against the beer grew online. Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, lost $395m in the ensuing months amid calls for a boycott.

    Now that Donald Trump is back in the White House, liberal consumers seem more ready to respond to political tides.

    After Trump won the election, multiple companies announced they were rolling back their DEI policies and pledges – much of which was created in response to Black Lives Matter protests after the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

    Though some companies had been quietly rolling back DEI programs after the supreme court ruled affirmative action in higher education unconstitutional, raising questions about whether the court could end up scrutinizing diversity efforts in the workplace in the future, most companies were reticent about announcing any rollbacks publicly.

    That changed after Trump won the election, as the president said in his campaign that he would end all DEI.…….


    It's funny this came up because I had a conversation with my partner over the weekend about how we would untie ourselves from Google, just because I'm annoyed by the direction they've taken and want to disassociate. Everything we have right now kind of runs through them, including Google Fiber, Google Home and YouTube TV. Not to mention all of my other stuff that's linked to Google. It's a pain in the arse.
     
    Guess I'll post this here

    And at least in EU some countries are not putting up with his shirt
    lon.jpg
     
    It’s a sign that consumers with liberal views are starting to use their wallets in response to politics in the private sector.

    Too bad many of them didn't use their vote, or voted for Jill Stein.
     
    Personally, I think it's silly to over react to what businesses do. They will always act in their own best interests to make more money.

    I focus on the products, experiences, and services.
     
    Guess I'll post this here

    And at least in EU some countries are not putting up with his shirt
    lon.jpg

    Part of that too is the surge in EV manufacturers, especially Chinese EV manufacturers, like BYD or JAC. BYD has overtaken the #1 spot in EV sales worldwide. Here in MX, BYD, JAC, and Volvo sell the best.

    Chinese products have the reputation of being cheaply made, or being knock-offs... that's still true to an extent, but Chinese manufacturing has significantly improved over the last 10 years. BYD especially has a really nice lineup... they're definitelly better looking than Teslas, and as good if not better than Teslas (and other manufacturers). I am considering buying one myself in the next couple of years, probably a Seal

    1739904422012.png
     
    not directly related to politics, but I've been shopping more locally and away from large businesses over the years.
     
    Posted this in another thread

    I do wonder if when we get another Democratic president, with dem control of the house and Senate (Please 2028!) will we see corporate America do another 180 and reinstate all the DEI programs they just shuttered?

    With shallow, meaningless PR written statements about how crucial diversity and inclusion is to a healthy company, economy and country and how important they always thought it was
     
    Posted this in another thread

    As an outsider looking in, it is evident that if the 2028 election results in a Democratic president—without Trump attempting to remain in power—the United States must take a serious look at how it ended up with a fascist-leaning government in the first place.

    What led to the resurgence of this dangerous ideology, and what systemic changes are necessary to prevent its return? Several key areas require urgent attention:

    1. Education & Media Literacy
      • Strengthen public education, with a focus on critical thinking and media literacy.
      • Teach students how to critically evaluate news sources and recognize misinformation.
    2. Corporate Power & Workers’ Rights
      • Reduce the influence of big businesses, particularly Big Tech, to ensure fair treatment of workers.
      • Strengthen workers’ rights, ensuring that a single full-time job provides a livable wage.
    3. Privacy & Data Protection
      • Implement privacy laws similar to the EU’s GDPR, granting individuals control over their personal data.
      • Require companies, including social media platforms and search engines, to disclose all collected information and honor requests for its permanent removal.
    4. Immigration Reform & Labor Protections
      • Establish legal pathways for immigrants and seasonal workers.
      • Enforce strict regulations ensuring that employers provide fair wages and accommodations.
      • Impose heavy penalties on businesses that exploit undocumented labor—at minimum, twice the amount they saved through illegal hiring practices.
    Addressing these issues is essential to preventing future authoritarian threats and ensuring that democracy remains resilient. If left unchecked, the conditions that allowed fascism to take hold could easily re-emerge. The time to act is now.
     
    Personally, I think it's silly to over react to what businesses do. They will always act in their own best interests to make more money.

    I focus on the products, experiences, and services.
    Ordinarily, I'd agree, but in this environment, I'm going to make a conscious effort to shop where DEI or similar programs are embraced. I am deaf and very aware as to how doing away with these programs affect those who may have a difficult time finding a good job. Those programs can be invaluable to people who may not have the same, equal opportunities that others do.

    These things matter, and because of that, I want to support companies who embrace equal opportunities for those who are disabled or economically disadvantaged.

    Once DEI or something similar is embraced again, I'll come around on shopping wherever, but certainly not now.

    Also, I refuse to give Musk a nickel, period. Then, now or in the future.
     

    Create an account or login to comment

    You must be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create account

    Create an account on our community. It's easy!

    Log in

    Already have an account? Log in here.

    General News Feed

    Fact Checkers News Feed

    Back
    Top Bottom