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Previous_Floor t1_iz175jv wrote

This should come as no surprise. The lesson to be learned here is that business and politics don't mix well. When you alienate 50% of your potential customers, it's a recipe for failure.

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Low-Medical t1_iz1at8n wrote

Chick-fil-A is thriving. Patagonia is doing great. People seem to love that Black Rifle Coffee.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz1cnig wrote

Yes, Chick-fil-A is thriving but I'd argue that they would be 2X thriving. I mean, half the country boycotts them.

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ReefaManiack42o t1_iz1lvpf wrote

Your math is off though, cause the majority of Americans don't follow politics/news or vote. So it's more like 25% of the people disagree with them and would boycott them, IF they knew anything about them, but I'm sure a good percentage of that 25% don't even know Chick-fil-A's political stance.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz1x7lh wrote

The bottom line is...

Politically, the nation is divided roughly 50/50.

Any business that expresses strong political views is stupid.

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Low-Medical t1_iz22we4 wrote

Well, I guess that is probably true from a B-school point of view. Unlimited growth is the goal. And any money left on the table = failure. In the case of a company like Patagonia, maybe more conservatives would buy their stuff if they kept quiet about climate change or Bears Ears National Monument. But clearly they made the decision that the loss of potential revenue was worth it. Then again, maybe they made the calculation that not that many conservatives shop there in the first place (preferring Cabela's or whatever), so being vocal about environmental causes would increase loyalty among an already left-leaning customer base. This would actually be interesting stuff for a case-study - do you try to capture the entire market? Or do you focus on a very enthusiastic sector of the market? I think either could be successful, depending on the business.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz1ymj9 wrote

You know why Curt Schilling isn't in the Hall of Fame? It's not because he wasn't good enough. And it's not because he screwed the State of RI with his video game company. It's because you need 75% of the vote to get in, and that's not happening when you shoot your mouth off about politics.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz1elcp wrote

And where would Taylor Swift be today if she hadn't kept silent about her political views when she started in Nashville?

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Espeeste t1_iz26kcr wrote

Niche marketplaces have always existed. Politics isn’t the only thing that can cut out potential customers.

Point blank Sephora sells nothing to half the population and seems to be fine.

Strip Clubs provide services that cater to only a portion of the population by design as well. Many people don’t like their business at all. They’re doing fine.

The Vegan restaurant up the street only has vegan food so anyone who doesn’t like that is cut out… they’re fine.

That said even politics don’t seem to have that much of an effect. Home Depot is a huge supporter of Trump and the election deniers, and they seem to be doing fine.

Really seems like the lesson learned here is that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz2cln0 wrote

>Really seems like the lesson learned here is that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Strip clubs and vegan restaurants are no different than wine bars or fast food chicken sandwich restaurants. All of them only appeal to a portion of the population.

If the business owners at any of those places make strong political statements, they cut their customer base in half.

This isn't difficult to understand.

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Espeeste t1_iz2czao wrote

The point you’re missing is that they already cut out a lot of people from their business and a business cutting people out for politics is not different than any other niche.

That’s because it’s not different. Don’t confuse the hypothetical negative effects of exclusion in business with the positive effects of focus.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz2e1i6 wrote

No business appeals to everyone. Why would anyone in their right mind choose to alienate half of their potential customers that their business does appeal to? It makes no sense.

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bungocheese t1_iz2jo7m wrote

Their niche is specialty wine, and not boomer napa cab. That already is not going to appeal to a conservative customer base, so at worst it's alienating something like 20% of their possible consumer base, but I doubt that.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz2d4nn wrote

Home Depot is essential and doesn't really have competition. Very poor example.

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Espeeste t1_iz2diqb wrote

Hah Home Depot is a broad duopoly and a right wing donor for its whole existence. They’ve done very well. It’s a great example. Hobby Lobby does well too.

So does Patagonia.

Again, you’re talking out your ass. You keep going you’re going to run out of toilet paper.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz2euy5 wrote

All of these places could be doing better without the politics.

Again, this isn't difficult to understand.

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Espeeste t1_iz2hru0 wrote

You think it’s easy to understand specifically because you do not.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz2qc4a wrote

Let me ask you, Espeeste, why do you think this wine bar failed?

Do you think maybe it's because they didn't have enough customers to keep the doors open? If so, do you think maybe alienating people at least contributed to that? This isn't rocket science.

Or are you going to tell me that the wine bar didn't fail and they just closed because they want to spend more time with their families? And maybe import Sake? That sounds familiar.

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Low-Medical t1_iz2lcx9 wrote

The firearms business is a good example of a business where talking about politics will do nothing but help your business.

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Previous_Floor t1_iz2p0v9 wrote

And what if a democrat wants to buy a gun?

2 gun shops. 1 with extreme political signage and the other without. Where's the democrat shopping?

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Low-Medical t1_iz2quhl wrote

If the owner puts up, say, a “Let‘s go Brandon” sign, it may turn off said Democrat, but if 3 Republicans for that one Dem (or even 2 for 1) see the sign, think “Hell yeah, brotha!”, and choose to stop by, then it’s a calculated risk that pays off in business

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