132. Boycotts, "Buycotts" and Public Shaming

This week let’s chat about using our consumer power for social change. Learn how our everyday purchases can become a force for good, from "buycotts" to boycotts to organized campaigns. Hear real-world examples of consumer-driven change, tackle the challenges of ethical shopping, and reveal strategies for aligning your spending with your values. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just starting to think about the impact of your dollar, this episode will inspire you to harness your consumer power and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable world. Tune in to transform your shopping habits into a tool for positive change!

Links from today’s episode:

The 2016 Campaign to remove Trump products from stores like Nordstrom, Sears, and Marshalls

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrabYourWallet 

ICYMI another episode you might enjoy:

Episode#36 Greenwashing 101 (recorded before the 2024 rebranding of this show)

Connect With Genet “GG” Gimja:

Website https://www.progressivepockets.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/prgrssvpckts 

Work With Me:

Email progressivepockets@gmail.com for brand partnerships, business inquiries, and speaking engagements.

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Transcript

Welcome to Progressive Pockets! I go by GG, that’s short for Genet Gimja. This is a show about our money, but not in the typical way that a lot of shows talk about money. It’s not really about making more money, it’s about looking at the money we have, and what power we might have to shape things around here. I’m talking about climate change, I’m talking about poverty and I’m talking about the oppression of our communities. This show is about exploring the power we have with our money. There are episodes about where we bank and how that might be a tool for societal change. There are episodes about our investments and how we can shift towards more socially responsible investments that are less harmful to our planet and people. There are episodes about how we give.

And today’s episode is about using our consumer power for social change. Yes! Let’s talk about how we spend. As consumers, our dollars are like votes that shape the marketplace. But without the electoral college LOL. 

I think we're probably all familiar with boycotts - refusing to buy from companies engaged in unethical behavior as a form of protest. 

But have you ever heard the term to describe the opposite concept - the "buycott." This is when we intentionally direct our spending toward companies upholding strong values around environmental sustainability, worker rights, diversity and inclusion, and other ethical practices. Basically, we vote with our dollars.

By voting with our dollars for the businesses doing good, we incentivize more corporations to get on board with progressive change. It's using our consumer power in a proactive way to grow positive forces, not just punish bad actors.

We can look at the rise of brands like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, and Toms that have baked social and environmental missions into their business models. They've proven that shoppers want companies who are focused on more than just profits.

Okay, so we know buycotting ethical brands is a powerful tool for change. But how do we actually put this into practice? The first step is getting clear on your personal values and priorities.

You might be thinking about environmental protection, fair labor practices, corporate accountability, advancing equity. 

There are companies that are making efforts to walk the walk in terms of those values. Here are a few quick examples.

You might decide to buy outdoor gear from Patagonia because of their environmental work and push to use recycled materials. For household products, you could choose Grove Collaborative's sustainable, cruelty-free, ethically-sourced options. You can shop from your local farms and co-ops that treat workers well. You could shop from Imperfect Foods, they are a produce delivery company that is focused on reducing food waste in our system.

Of course, none of these companies are perfect.

The key is being an educated, intentional consumer. Read the news, support journalism that is keeping an eye on these corporations. And don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions! These companies want our money. We can shape the conversation and their priorities.

So we’ve talked briefly about boycotts, we talked about the opposite which is the buycott, where we shop from companies who are trying to be less extractive.

Looking beyond our individual choices, we can also flex our collective consumer power through organized activism campaigns targeting businesses. So not just a boycott but actually a campaign to protest a company’s actions.

It feels like a lifetime ago, or does it, but you might remember the campaign that was a boycott combined with a social media campaign to pressure retailers not to carry Trump branded products. This was after the Access Hollywood tape when Trump bragged about grabbing women’s genitals. Do you remember that Ivanka Trump had a shoe line and there were other products like home decor products against all odds LOL, anyway, the campaign was successful. Companies like Nordstrom, Sears, and Kmart dropped Trump merchandise.

When we consumers unite and apply strategic pressure through boycotts, buycotts, and public shaming, even corporate giants tend to listen. Hitting companies in their bottom line is often the most effective path to change.

That being said, I don't want to downplay the challenges of consumer activism. It's not always easy or straightforward to determine which companies are truly ethical. There's some greenwashing and empty PR spin out there. If you missed it, episode 36 was about greenwashing, that episode seemed to resonate with listeners.

Cost can also be a major barrier. Sustainable, ethically-produced goods usually come at a premium.

And of course, getting everyone on board, I’m talking about other shoppers here. Getting other shoppers on board with this way of shopping doesn’t happen overnight. I do tend to think that most consumers want the same things, we don’t want our planet and our people to be exploited by corporations. But even among shoppers who are on the same page, I don’t think all consumers know that we have choices or that our choices can actually make a difference.

So community-building and collective action is crucial. Let’s share resources and spread awareness about ethical businesses. Let’s participate in organized boycott and buycott campaigns for greater impact.

I think our best bet is to think about our consumerism as a tool in a holistic set of money tools at our disposal. When we combine our thoughtful approach to shopping with a strategic thought about our investing and banking and giving. It starts to really add up to something. And eliminate that cognitive dissonance of having a certain set of beliefs and wanting a certain type of world, but taking action that works against what we actually want.

At the end of the day, we all want to feel good about how we're spending our money. We want the dollars leaving our wallets to be forces for good in the world, not contributing to harm towards our planet and people.

By exercising our consumer power - through intentional spending, organized campaigns- we can incentivize corporations to be better.

So to recap, here’s what we covered today:

• Spending choices act as votes in the marketplace, with boycotts and "buycotts" serving as tools to influence corporate behavior and promote ethical practices.
• Implementing intentional consumerism involves aligning personal values with spending choices, researching companies, and supporting businesses with strong social and environmental missions.
• Organized consumer campaigns and community efforts can significantly pressure companies to change, though challenges like greenwashing and higher costs of ethical products exist.
• Combining ethical consumerism with strategic investing, banking, and charitable giving creates a comprehensive strategy for using money to drive positive societal and environmental change.

Welcome to the new listeners of the show. I hope you like it around here. There is a deep catalog of well over a hundred episodes, so dig in and let me know what you think.

You can always reach me at progressive pockets at gmail dot com. The best episode topics come from your suggestions so drop me a line anytime. And let me tell you about the newsletter. It is concise, it comes out about once a month. No spam no filler. You’ll get links and more info and sometimes I can also just go into a little more than I can on the podcast. So you can sign up for the newsletter at progressive pockets dot com or you can just send an email to the show saying subscribe and you’ll get added. Just send that email to progressive pockets at gmail dot com.

Let’s end with a quote. This one comes from the author and educator John Green.

“I sometimes see people say that social change is impossible. But this is just not true. Social change is INEVITABLE. What isn’t inevitable is the timbre and shape of that social change, which we decide together.”

Let’s talk again soon!