Posted on 11/23/2021 10:16:54 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Target, Gap and Walgreens are among 13 companies that have been placed on a Christian conservative legal nonprofit’s “Naughty List” for failing to spotlight Christmas during the holiday season.
Last Friday, the Liberty Counsel released its annual “Naughty and Nice Retail List” of businesses that either “recognize and celebrate Christmas” or “silence and censor Christmas.”
The compilation criticizes companies that the organization believes are not doing a good enough job of spotlighting the true meaning of Christmas in their holiday-themed branding.
According to the list, Target is “naughty” because the retail corporation “has surprisingly few mentions of ‘Christmas,’” though it does have “references to ‘pack your season full of merry’ and offers ‘seasonal ugly sweaters’ and a ‘secret gifting room.’”
The pharmacy chain Walgreens “refers to the term ‘holiday’ frequently and only one reference to the term ‘Christmas’ on the website.”
Meanwhile, Gap has “no references to ‘Christmas’ or any biblical elements within product associations and advertisements.”
Other businesses named on the “Naughty List” include Academy Sports + Outdoors, Barnes & Noble, Burlington Coat Factory, Dick’s Sporting Goods, J. Crew Outfitters, The Limited, The Loft, Lord and Taylor, Rite Aid Pharmacy and TJ Maxx.
“Christmas is not the main focus of the holiday season at Rite Aid,” the list states. “The company uses phrases such as, ‘Holiday shop,’ the ‘destination for all your holiday needs’ and ‘shop Rite-Aid for the best holiday offers’ without any mention of the real Reason for the season.”
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, told The Christian Post on Monday that the goal is “to inform consumers of which retailers censor Christmas so they can make informed choices about where to spend their money.”
“Each year, we begin with the prior year’s list and then modify it as the Christmas season progresses,” he explained. “Consumers are encouraged to communicate with the retailers their matters of concern or compliments.”
Walmart is an example of a company that has softened its omission of Christmas during the winter shopping season, going from the “Naughty List” to the “Nice List.”
“For example, when we first launched this campaign, Walmart censored the word ‘Christmas,’” Staver said. “Christmas trees were called ‘Holiday trees’ and so forth. Cashiers were instructed to never say ‘Merry Christmas’ even when a customer initiated the greeting.”
“Our campaign urged consumers to register complaints, and they did. The following year, Walmart stated it would say ‘Merry Christmas’ early and often. The effectiveness of this campaign was demonstrated in this retailer’s decision to change its behavior. We have seen many retailers make similar changes.”
Liberty Counsel listed 24 companies that “recognize and celebrate Christmas.” Those include Sears, JC Penny, Nordstrom, Bath & Body Works, Macy’s, Lowe’s, Kmart, The Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Bealls, Best Buy, Kohl's, Loews, and Belk.
“Belk’s website uses the word ‘Christmas’ often when labeling products,” the “Nice List” states. “There are several Nativity scene decorations and those that have ‘Merry Christmas’ on them. However, only a few of the garlands and trees were actually labeled ‘Christmas’ greenery. Overall, Belk does a good job of celebrating the season.”
The legal group praised Bath & Body Works' website for greeting shoppers "with Christmas cheer."
"The website is decorated for Christmas and shoppers are encouraged to find out 'What Christmas Smells Like,'" the "Nice List" states. "This company is clearly not afraid to say the word!"
Best Buy received praise for its wide selection of Christmas movies and for selling Christmas sheet music. Home Depot, which sells Christmas trees, lights and decorations, was thanked for labeling holiday-themed decorations as "Christmas" instead of "holiday."
The Liberty Counsel also announced the launch of its 19th annual “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign,” which seeks to “educate and, when necessary, litigate to ensure that religious viewpoints are not censored from Christmas and holiday themes.”
“It is intentionally discriminatory to exclude Christmas from marketing when Christmas is by far the primary celebration of the season,” said Staver.
“Censoring Christmas during the Christmas season sends a terrible message that Christian viewpoints are unwelcome and must be excluded from the marketplace. The Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign is designed with the goal of stopping the censorship of Christmas.”
According to a 2018 YouGov poll , 64% of Americans prefer to say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays,” while 45% of respondents said they were more likely to patron a business if it has overtly Christian seasonal branding.
Target is about as secular as it gets. When they banned salvation army and their own employees from displaying anything Christian related ot was enough for me.....I wouldn’t go in target to throw up. Walmart is cheaper anyway.
Many of these retailers get locked into the marketing habit of only using Happy Holidays, and remain stuck there.
I would guess most just want to sell without somebody complaining that they are ‘offended’ by any Christmas reference.
But what about the majority of consumers who are likewise ‘offended’ by the lack of any Christmas reference?
They don’t seem to be worried about offending us.
I can recall noticing that trend even back in the early 1990’s.
I think it’s been almost two years since my local Rite Aid turned into a Walgreens.
I don’t like Walgreens much at all - Rite Aid had a much more neighborhood feeling, the employees were more friendly, and the stock was more interesting.
The only positive is that, so far, they’ve retained the pharmacist who has taken care of us for many years.
No surprises.
So, it hurts their business, but they do it anyway. Hmm, they must be serving some agenda apart from their profits.
“Christmas is not the main focus of the holiday season at Rite Aid”
True, but ours does have a “welcoming” rainbow flag decal on the front glass. Shows where their allegiance resides.
The Walmarts in my region,NE,play the same 12 Christmas songs over and over.
And really what makes them Christmas songs is the mention Christmas.
Most are leftist dribble and Last Christmas sounds totally gay.
The there singers like Bruce Springsteen and Madonna.
And of course Lennon’s sarcastic antiwar song disguise as a Christmas song.
And last but not least..over and over and again.
Feed The World.
I’d trade them all for a bench to sit on.
“Target is about as secular as it gets. When they banned salvation army and their own employees from displaying anything Christian related ot was enough for me.....I wouldn’t go in target to throw up. Walmart is cheaper anyway.”
Obviously, I’d NEVER go to Walmart either...considering the way they market to the lowest common denominator amongst us.
As to Target, I was there about 10 years ago and they had a promotion running for Hunchback Mountain...and they called it a ‘love story’. YUCK! Haven’t been back since.
It is not yet Christmas season.
Just watch any NFL game and count the number of times they insert “holiday” for Christmas.
“So, it hurts their business, but they do it anyway. Hmm, they must be serving some agenda apart from their profits.”
Naa, they don’t look at it that way. They just figure that our side doesn’t complain, while Jewish Leftists figure out their Jewish just long enough to send off complaints and threats. So they win, as usual.
Target also welcomes cross dressing men to use their women’s restrooms. Wonderful company.
Salvation Army is one of my favorite and most trusted and respected and appreciated charities our there.
Their justification at the time was SA didnt hire homos.
I worked for Target Corp at the time and it was a bit awkward boycotting my own company and hastened my departure.
While I was there business was booming and they had a very aggressive expansion plan, but after they continually shot themselves in the foot over social issues that turned into a contraction that continues to this day.
And they just keep doubling down on stupid.
My take anyways. YMMV.
It is in lower Michigan/upper NW Ohio. Some people had their decorations up last weekend.
One of my best buds is the store manager for a big city location. Rose from team member to executive team leader and up etc. However, he’s a bonafide rightwinger. He ignores lefty memos to celebrate pride or black month and after Pedo Joe “won”, specifically told the bookstore section not to change anything.
Minn HQ leaves him alone because he brings them money and runs a tight ship. He’s prepared to get fired anytime and has nothing personal on his desk if/when the order comes. Just walk out with the cell phone.
Ping
Thanks, 💯
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