Store Wars: Conservative Consumers v.s. Social Justice Warriors

Store Wars: Conservative Consumers v.s. Social Justice Warriors

President-Elect Donald Trump is humorously referred to as a “Galactic Level Troll Master” for his ability to yank the chains of progressives and their media minons.

However, after his epic press conference this week, I would argue that Trump is the Obi Wan Kenobi of the rebellion against political correctness and social justice warriors that have dominated American culture for far too long. His example is now empowering America’s conservatives to push back against progressives who will never be appeased, using their wallets as their weapons.

Legal Insurrection fans are aware that Trump opponents organizing a boycott off L.L. Bean after it was reported that a member of the family that runs the business, Linda Bean, donated $60,000 to a Trump-supporting super PAC.

The organizers will be in for a big shock when they discover that “Tea Party”, independent conservatives who united in support of smaller government and adherence to constitutional principles, has not died. Our networks of communication are still intact, and we are now using them to engage in “store-fare”.

Within a week of the L.F. Bean story, every one of the pro-Trump and/or conservative news boards I monitor was encouraging a buy-cott of the apparel company. I know fellow author Mark Finkelstein is planning to make a purchase. And while I am a classic fashion maven, and Ivanka Trump’s line is more my style, my son is authorized to make a wish list of clothes.

In the wake of this boycott, Linda Bean reports that online sales have upticked. Additionally, L.L.Bean is moving into a new 110,000-square-foot warehouse Maine to support stronger demand for its iconic boots.

Furthermore, the “Tea Party network” is sharing the link to the progressive boycott website, grabyourwallet.com, and encouraging people to purchase from those businesses.

Of course, our wallets can cut both ways. Firms that think “virtue signalling” by insulting a large swath of its consumer base may want to rethink their marketing schemes.

One entity in my hometown has nearly been struck down in this consumer battle.

Macy’s apparel store, the original anchor for the 1961 Mission Valley Center mall, is closing starting next week, the struggling department store chain announced Wednesday.

It is one of 65 stores that will close this year nationally following three that closed last year. About 3,900 employees are affected with 140 at the Mission Valley location.

A clearance sale is set to begin Monday and run for eight to 12 weeks.

Pundit Don Surber noted that the department store chain’s troubles were tied into the corporate decision to give Donald Trump’s line of clothing the boot during the primary campaign mania in 2015.

.. CEO Terry J. Lundgren became an SJW.

After Trump entered the presidential race, Lundgren very publicly voided his company’s contract with Trump.

…In response, some customers ended their relationship with Macy’s.

From TMZ on July 13, 2015: Sources connected to the department store tell TMZ, Macy’s has received complaints from approximately 30,000 customers since ending its relationship with Trump nearly 2 weeks ago. We’re told the store has been “inundated with complaints” from customers who believe the department store is unfairly punishing Trump for his views on immigration.

Part of Macy’s problem is that on-line shopping is cutting into bricks-and-mortar store profits. However, dramatic messaging that insults a significant portion of your consumer base will ensure these consumers use their computers instead of the cars when seeking products.

Kellogg’s corporate types demeaned many their American consumers when they publicly decided to cancel their ads on Breitbart, because the conservative political opinion site wasn’t aligned with Kellogg’s values. The executives could have cancelled their ad buys quietly, and nobody would have suspected anything other than a revised marketing approach.

However, because of their choice to demonize Breitbart’s readers (including myself), I have decided that Kellogg’s will no longer be aligned with my money. It is amazing how many alternatives to Pop Tarts and Frosted Flakes you can find in today’s grocery stores when you look!

Time will tell how many other Americans are making the same free market choice, and if the Breitbart-lead boycott of Kellogg’s products will teach elite executives a valuable, free-market lesson.

The Huffington Post recently tried to persuade readers to boycott the publisher of the dramatic and entertaining conservative activist, Milo Yiannopoulos. Again, the conservative network stood strong.

LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER Milo Yiannopoulos’ upcoming book was announced, pre-orders for the controversial young conservative’s “Dangerous” propelled it to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list, knocking the recently deceased Carrie Fisher’s “Princess Diarist” down to No. 2.

“I think he has a much wider fan base than people realize,” said Tom Flannery, Yiannopoulos’ literary agent at AGI Vigliano.

Conservatism and traditional American values also have a wide fan base, and I suspect that many social justice warriors are going to be shocked by the “anger-signaling” of their fellow citizens through their purchase choices.

To progressives, I say: Witness the purchasing power of this fully-armed and -operational conservative consumer base. You have only yourselves to blame for its construction.

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