Penzey's Spices CEO writes to his fellow CEOs

Facebook ^ | September 28, 2017 | Bill Penzey

[Roobarb321]

Dear CEO, In the wake of last weekend's NFL events, we have a few practical ideas from our own experience with boycotts since last November's election that I would like to share. In theses days where issues can engulf a business seemingly out of nowhere, there really is great value in planning ahead. As the NFL found, as much as they tried to stay on the sidelines, they could not keep the reality of politics being everywhere today from overwhelming events on the field.

It's important to recognize that for America, today's culture of politics being everywhere is not a passing fad or a trend that came out of nowhere. It is instead the outcome of our long-standing past colliding with what is hopefully our temporary present. America, though not yet perfect, is a pretty unique and amazing country, well crafted with realism by our founders to be forever seeking a more perfect union through greater equality for all. After 241 years of progress, this is who we are and something that can't be changed overnight. What has changed is the Republican Party.

As business leaders it's our job to look past our own party affiliations and previous political traditions and see the bigger picture. The fact is, and there's not much point in sugarcoating this, the moment the Republican Party chose to bring racism and the fear of "others" to the forefront of its election strategy is the moment being able to keep politics at a distance became a thing of the past. Like it or not, the moment the the Republican Party turned away from the drive for equality and began to instead promote inequality is the moment politics entered every facet of American life. Last weekend, in what may well be a turning point, while the players did the right thing in kneeling in support of equality, the owners did the math and the right thing. A big part of why so few until now have chosen to stand up to this administration on racism is that they've been very successful in creating an inflated sense that their support is much larger and far deeper than it truly is. Until last Sunday, they had pretty much succeeded in creating the sense that if you stood up to their racist bullying you would lose half your business. This past Sunday the owners called the administration's bluff.

When it comes to calls for boycotts from the right, we have some experience. And even if you didn't believe us before when we said those few that actually follow this president have almost no economic impact, the math is not hard to do for yourself. Most Americans simply don't vote. Even among voters, the president came in at well less than 50% and that was back in November when there still was the perception that he was a successful businessman and skilled negotiator. Factor in those just voting party lines, and the reality of who the NFL risks losing now that the president has called for a boycott by his supporters, and it's high single digits at most and it's not in the groups their advertisers most want to reach. In our experience, that loss will be more than offset by the bonus that comes with doing the right thing.

Here's the important part—if the NFL can keep their resolve, if they can hold their ground, they will push open a previously rapidly closing door to a whole new generation of viewers who, until Sunday, never saw the NFL as reflecting their values. The league has made missteps in recent years, leaving many who were their fans a decade to find other things to do on their Sunday afternoons. Standing up to the president in support of their players' drive to bring awareness to America's need for greater equality is something worthy of all our respect and a big step in bringing those lost fans back to the fold. Well done.

But for all that's good about what's come from the NFL's response to this issue, there's also something bigger in all this that we need to come to grips with. As much as the Republican Party cynically nurtured racism to elect the majority they needed to cut the Affordable Care Act and fund tax cuts for the wealthy, the reality is they can't control it anymore. Many of the NFL owners donated large sums to the Republican Party but still could not be shielded from what they set in motion.

To put racism back into its box won't be an easy task, or happen quickly, and it's going to take all of us acknowledging that this is a very real problem. That the very same people, who seem totally at ease giving a free pass to a white president for saying POWs are not heroes because they where captured, see a grave affront to our veterans that can't go unchallenged in African American athletes taking a knee to protest inequality, is an undeniable sign we have issues. Issues that won't go away by themselves.

One of the things we learned on our path is that giving visible support to those on the front lines of this struggle really means a lot, as does challenging behavior that crosses the line. From my emails it's pretty clear this president has emboldened many to share ideas and use words that have not been a part of public dialogue in a long time. As business leaders, we must not step back from calling out all that is at odds with the fundamental American belief in equality. This country is just too important to let fade on our watch.

Thanks for reading, and please pass along to wherever you think this can help,

Bill Penzey bill@penzeys.com

[nhwingut]

Guy needs to spend less time on political rants and more time on branding. Because that is some amateur design work (logos, labels, web design).

[ForYourChildren]

This idiot has a history of inflammatory rhetoric.

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“CEO Bill Penzey continues attack on Trump voters: ‘He has no constituency’”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/2/bill-penzey-penzeys-ceo-continues-attack-on-trump-/

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“Bill Penzey’s Spices Ain’t Nices”

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/bill-penzey-spices-trump/

“You may have read Tuesday Night’s email. In it I said: “The open embrace of racism by the Republican Party in this election is now unleashing a wave of ugliness unseen in this country for decades. The American people are taking notice. Let’s commit to giving the people a better choice. Our kindness really is our strength.””

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[lizma2]

"In theses days where issues can engulf a business seemingly out of nowhere."

He called Trump supporters racist!!!!! Now he's showning us he still an idiot.

Nearly went to the store last weekend (haven't been since last Nov.) Now it's on my permanently banned list!

[Moorings]

And even if you didn't believe us before when we said those few that actually follow this president have almost no economic impact, the math is not hard to do for yourself.

Wow. Just clueless this guy. Millions voted for this president. I guess they don't have any economic impact?! How does he manage to run a business?

Moreover, if the boycott is meaningless, then why did he bother to write a lengthy letter regarding this topic.

Not selling enough spices, so he must have a lot of time on his hands.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That is one giant word salad. Does he have a point he’s trying to make? I could’t discern one.

[txrefugee]

He is a wordy Communist, who probably was converted to his un-American philosophy by some Leftist professors. When he campaigned for Hillary in his newsletter, millions quit buying his products. That is not the road to success.

[JayGalt]

I wonder if Penzey talked to Target?

I started shopping at the Teeny Tiny Spice Company www.teenytinyspice.com when he jumped the shark last time. Not going back to Penzey. I think he’s whistling in the dark.

[freedumb2003]

“Deer soon-to-be ex-CEO

The following is a list of ideas you want to implement if you want to go out of business very quickly.

You start by alienating your customer base and go from there.”

[caww]

I emailed ol Bill...no more spices from his company...

[ForYourChildren]

“Wisconsin-based Penzey’s Spice Company Spreads Pro-LGBT Message of Love to Its Customers”

http://www.towleroad.com/2014/06/wisconsin-based-penzeys-spice-company-spreads-pro-lgbt-message-of-love-to-its-customers/

Kyler Geoffroy
June 12, 2014

[caww]

Stunning denial ....can’t see in front of their faces! This guys a real fruit cake!

[Frangibled]

“Out of the blue”? Penzey and his ilk need to study a bit of history to learn which party is the party of racism and hatred. President Trump and the Republican party do not have their heel on minorities in this country.

There is nothing sold that cannot be done without: Kellogg’s, Target, Penzey’s, Bed, Bath, and Beyond are learning, as will the NFL that most of Americans have had it with liberal, radical progressives.

11/25/2016:
I quit buying from his company in March of last year. He hasn’t learned a thing. More customers will see him for what he is, and go elsewhere. The good news is that there are many great spice companies. My post and email to him then:

Penzeys Shows Me its True Colors
3/4/2015
Frangibled to All:

This is not the first time I have seen the owner of Penzey’s preach his views to his customers. The first was a very radical pro-gay, anti-conservative message via email, and in his catalogs. Here is my email to Bill Penzey after receiving his email today:

“Dear Mr. Penzey,

We love your products. Have purchased them for years, sent them as gifts, etc.

I defend your right to your opinion. I do not appreciate you using your customer base for a soap box. This is the second time I’ve seen you do this. I don’t like it.

Are you prepared to lose 50% your customers? Half of America disagrees with you. You have worked hard to be a successful business; remember, you are not the only spice source. “Love people, cook them tasty food” does not mean shove your political views down our throats.”

[BlueYonder]

This is advertising pure and simple. The writer knows he cannot reach the entire market, having trashed his customers and having been rejected by them many times in the past. He has no hope of redemption so why not double down? There are likely a few more ultra lefties not yet opening their wallets to buy his nonsense. By publishing this unsolicited free “advice”, he hopes other CEOS will join his misery and more useful idiots will buy from him.

[caww]

.....”Bill Penzey Insults Conservative Customers”..

Feedback is already happening....

https://rightwisconsin.com/2017/07/25/bill-penzey-tells-customer-he-has-no-say-in-politics/

[GSWarrior]

My wife won’t be happy to hear this.

[caww]

Penzey wrote in an email on July 19...

...”if you vote for an openly racist candidate, who wants to take health care insurance away from 23 million Americans,.... you don’t get to say you want what’s best for all of us,”

[ForYourChildren]

“https://www.penzeys.com/cook/themes/love-grows-here/";

“Love Grows Here”

Every once in a while you have to take a moment to stop and see what an amazing time it is we live in. So much so right is happening right now all around us.

As part of a growing nationwide movement toward marriage equality, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation and the national ACLU’s LGBT project challenged our state’s restrictions on marriage in Federal Court.

Their challenge was successful. Before that final decision—and now in updates since—four of the couples involved graciously agreed to share the stories of their lives, their cooking and their love. People who give of themselves to move human rights forward are always seen as the bright spots of their time in history books. These couples are all true heroes and worthy of our thanks. Lots of love here. Lots of tasty food as well.

There is so much to celebrate here. What we are witnessing right now might not be simply something that happens once in a lifetime. What we are seeing really might be a once-in-forever moment. We are so lucky to be the ones living here on Earth in this time, to witness this incredible event. REJOICE!!!

Bill

[ForYourChildren]

From their website:
https://www.penzeys.com/cook/themes/love-grows-here/

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"Bill Hurtubise and Dean Palmer"

For same-sex couples in Wisconsin, the U.S. Supreme Court decision means it’s finally possible to plan for weddings and lifetimes together. "People my kids' age are never going to understand the fuss, and I think that's great," says Bill

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"Garth Wangemann and Roy Badger"

"For same-sex couples in Wisconsin, the U.S. Supreme Court decision means it’s finally possible to plan for weddings and lifetimes together. Garth Wangemann and Roy Badger married Nov. 8—the day after their 39th anniversary."

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[Arm_Bears]

As a CEO in my own right (two small, private companies), this guy can go piss up a rope as far as I’m concerned.

Business Rule #1: Know your customers.

Business Rule #2: Don’t piss-off said customers.

The NFL has shown that it does not grasp either rule and, accordingly, will reap the consequences.

[Doche2X2]

Having used Penzy’s Spices for years and had a cabinet full of them, I wrote the company and told them I was not buying any more of their products because of their sanctimonious CEO.