Penzey's Spice CEO: "Republicans are racists" (1 Viewer)

[parasaurolophus]

Interesting strategy

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I’m going to guess they know the demographics of their customers broadly speaking.  Not the strategy OR tactic I would personally pursue, but as people on these boards love to point out, a private business can do what it wants.

 

[sho nuff]

They have been bashing the right for a while.

I am fan of their products, but their messaging becomes too political and awful much of the time.

 

[Sabertooth]

I’m going to guess they know the demographics of their customers broadly speaking.  Not the strategy OR tactic I would personally pursue, but as people on these boards love to point out, a private business can do what it wants.

No different than selling “#### your feelings” shirts or whatever.  It’s awful.  It will probably be successful too.  

 

[parasaurolophus]

I’m going to guess they know the demographics of their customers broadly speaking.  Not the strategy OR tactic I would personally pursue, but as people on these boards love to point out, a private business can do what it wants.

Not really the case here. This owner is more of the I am rich and this is what I want to do kind of guy. He is also a massive hypocrite. 

Of course they can do what they want.

Did somebody say they can't? 

 

[Summer Wheat]

I just Googled Bill Penzey.   He looks exactly what I pictured him to look like. A pasty white little butterball of a man.  Penzey SR started the lucrative spice business in the 50s.  Jr grew up wealthy and inherited the business,  lives in a million dollar plus home on a suburban lake outside Milwaukee far away from any people of color and poverty.

Also, there was an interesting article asking why Penzey spices are not in black communities or the inner city.

 

[Juxtatarot]

All publicity is good publicity?

 

[knowledge dropper]

I just Googled Bill Penzey.   He looks exactly what I pictured him to look like.  Penzey SR started the lucrative spice business in the 50s.  Jr grew up wealthy and inherited the business,  lives in a million dollar plus home on a suburban lake outside Milwaukee far away from any people of color and poverty.

Also, there was an interesting article asking why Penzey spices are not in black communities or the inner city.

Seems like he is projecting his racism on others.  

 

[joffer]

Always interesting to compare and contrast the thread titles started by left-leaning posters vs right-leaning posters.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I just Googled Bill Penzey.   He looks exactly what I pictured him to look like.  Penzey SR started the lucrative spice business in the 50s.  Jr grew up wealthy and inherited the business,  lives in a million dollar plus home on a suburban lake outside Milwaukee far away from any people of color and poverty.

Also, there was an interesting article asking why Penzey spices are not in black communities or the inner city.

I know how much this board dislikes wealthy sons who inherited businesses from their fathers and grow up in an ivory tower.

 

[Desert_Power]

Always interesting to compare and contrast the thread titles started by left-leaning posters vs right-leaning posters.

Or what is considered worthy of starting a new thread. 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Not really the case here. This owner is more of the I am rich and this is what I want to do kind of guy. He is also a massive hypocrite. 

Of course they can do what they want.

Did somebody say they can't? 

Not really familiar with him.   What is the nature of his hypocrisy?

 

[Juxtatarot]

I’ve never understood the pricing of spices. Is their $7.49 jar of ground cumin going to be that much better than what I can get at Aldi’s for about a dollar? I guess it might be fresher but isn’t this mostly a commodity?
 

 

[Summer Wheat]

I know how much this board dislikes wealthy sons who inherited businesses from their fathers and grow up in an ivory tower.

Yep, there is a mold.

 

[Joe Bryant]

As others have said. This is not new.

And this is not some random small local business. They have 50+ retail locations and a large online presence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penzeys_Spices. They have enough money to be able to afford spending over $100,000 on social media calling for Trump's impeachment. 

I have been a customer in the past and stay subscribed to the newsletters just because I'm fascinated by his strategy. 

He tested the water after the election in 2016 with a strongly critical email and sales reportedly increased. 

He's an independent business person and can absolutely support what he wants. I just find the taking sides part fascinating. 

 

[Sinn Fein]

The general consensus in the business community is that business and politics don't mix, but one Wisconsin company is turning that logic on its head and profiting off strong, left-leaning statements sharply criticizing President-elect Donald Trump made by the company's CEO.

Wauwatosa-based Penzeys Spices is apparently cashing in big time thanks to peppery anti-Trump comments Bill Penzey, the company's CEO, made in November after the presidential election. The manufacturer and retailer of spices said in an email to customers Thursday that — in the two weeks since Bill Penzey said that all Trump voters "just committed the most racist act" since segregation— sales have skyrocketed regardless of the political firestorm that was wrought.

According to that Dec. 1 email sent to customers, online sales are up 59.9 percent and gift box sales are up 135 percent since those remarks. Apparently, customer loss — even though there were promises of boycott on social media in protest of Penzey's comments — wasn't much of a problem for the spice maker.

 

[HellToupee]

choose love

 

[Joe Bryant]

choose love

I"m not totally ruling out the whole thing is an elite long game troll by Penzey's financed by Elon Musk...

 

[Alex P Keaton]

As others have said. This is not new.

And this is not some random small local business. They have 50+ retail locations and a large online presence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penzeys_Spices. They have enough money to be able to afford spending over $100,000 on social media calling for Trump's impeachment. 

I have been a customer in the past and stay subscribed to the newsletters just because I'm fascinated by his strategy. 

He tested the water after the election in 2016 with a strongly critical email and sales reportedly increased. 

He's an independent business person and can absolutely support what he wants. I just find the taking sides part fascinating. 

It is indeed fascinating.  Despite likely voting similarly to this individual, I’m not a fan of his approach and it will make me unlikely to buy his products going forward.  But I’m probably not his target demographic either.

 

[sho nuff]

I’ve never understood the pricing of spices. Is their $7.49 jar of ground cumin going to be that much better than what I can get at Aldi’s for about a dollar? I guess it might be fresher but isn’t this mostly a commodity?
 

On some things…yes definitely better sourced.  Ground cumin being one of theirs I have liked a lot (smoked paprika the other as well as their Penzey’s cinnamon).

My mother (definitely not a lib) used to go there quite a bit…we don’t have one near us so I would go when visiting them and later would order by the bag (more economical that way and they send free stiff or do free shipping)

 

[Joe Bryant]

It is indeed fascinating.  Despite likely voting similarly to this individual, I’m not a fan of his approach and it will make me unlikely to buy his products going forward.  But I’m probably not his target demographic either.

Exactly. I voted his way too but found the snark and condescension and sweeping generalization gross. It was enough to make me stop buying from them. And FWIW, I used their spices in making BBQ sauces 4 gallons at a time so I was a pretty good customer.

I know nothing about his business ability but I''m guessing there was enough upswing in business to offset what he might have lost from people like me. Or maybe he doesn't care. I truly have no idea. 

As I've said before, I do think this kind of messaging from him and the Jemele Hill type stuff like the below is tricky.

If you vote for Donald Trump, you are a racist. You have no wiggle room.

 

[djmich]

As I've said before, I do think this kind of messaging from him and the Jemele Hill type stuff like the below is tricky.

It does nothing but divide us further, its hard to conclude that is not an objective of either of theirs.

 

[Sabertooth]

The general consensus in the business community is that business and politics don't mix, but one Wisconsin company is turning that logic on its head and profiting off strong, left-leaning statements sharply criticizing President-elect Donald Trump made by the company's CEO.

Wauwatosa-based Penzeys Spices is apparently cashing in big time thanks to peppery anti-Trump comments Bill Penzey, the company's CEO, made in November after the presidential election. The manufacturer and retailer of spices said in an email to customers Thursday that — in the two weeks since Bill Penzey said that all Trump voters "just committed the most racist act" since segregation— sales have skyrocketed regardless of the political firestorm that was wrought.

According to that Dec. 1 email sent to customers, online sales are up 59.9 percent and gift box sales are up 135 percent since those remarks. Apparently, customer loss — even though there were promises of boycott on social media in protest of Penzey's comments — wasn't much of a problem for the spice maker.

This is interesting.  

 

[Desert_Power]

Meanwhile, here is a clip of Trump last night saying white people can't get the vaccine or therapeutics because of racism. False claims to stoke the racial divide, but I'm going to guess he is a bit more influential than some random spice company CEO.

 

[djmich]

Meanwhile, here is a clip of Trump last night saying white people can't get the vaccine or therapeutics because of racism. False claims to stoke the racial divide, but I'm going to guess he is a bit more influential than some random spice company CEO.

lol silly statement by him....however the "but Trump" is funny too

 

[Summer Wheat]

The general consensus in the business community is that business and politics don't mix, but one Wisconsin company is turning that logic on its head and profiting off strong, left-leaning statements sharply criticizing President-elect Donald Trump made by the company's CEO.

Wauwatosa-based Penzeys Spices is apparently cashing in big time thanks to peppery anti-Trump comments Bill Penzey, the company's CEO, made in November after the presidential election. The manufacturer and retailer of spices said in an email to customers Thursday that — in the two weeks since Bill Penzey said that all Trump voters "just committed the most racist act" since segregation— sales have skyrocketed regardless of the political firestorm that was wrought.

According to that Dec. 1 email sent to customers, online sales are up 59.9 percent and gift box sales are up 135 percent since those remarks. Apparently, customer loss — even though there were promises of boycott on social media in protest of Penzey's comments — wasn't much of a problem for the spice maker.

Good, I am totally against the cancelling and the boycotting culture in this country.  

I never heard of these spices before anyway, but if I am out of pepper, I don`t care what his views are.

 

[RCon]

I know nothing about his business ability but I''m guessing there was enough upswing in business to offset what he might have lost from people like me. Or maybe he doesn't care. I truly have no idea. 

I know nothing about this company or the CEO beyond what I've read in this thread, but I suspect that changing the bolded OR to AND may well be the correct answer.

 

[sho nuff]

It does nothing but divide us further, its hard to conclude that is not an objective of either of theirs.

While I agree the messaging sucks.  I don't think a spice company is pushing to divide  us further…nor even in the top 100 reasons we are divided as a nation.  
 

 

[Sinn Fein]

Good, I am totally against the cancelling and the boycotting culture in this country.  

I never heard of these spices before anyway, but if I am out of pepper, I don`t care what his views are.

I am kind of the same way with Chick-fil-A - don't agree with the owner's politics, but like their chicken sandwiches.

 

[sho nuff]

lol silly statement by him....however the "but Trump" is funny too

Not really…Trumps words have a far bigger reach than Penzeys email blasts to those who have signed up for them.

A former PTUS who is still in the national spotlight saying things carries so much more weight than Penzeys does.

 

[Summer Wheat]

I am kind of the same way with Chick-fil-A - don't agree with the owner's politics, but like their chicken sandwiches.

I Never let politics get in the way of a good meal.

 

[djmich]

While I agree the messaging sucks.  I don't think a spice company is pushing to divide  us further…nor even in the top 100 reasons we are divided as a nation.  
 

I dont understand this.  I haven't seen anybody claim this is a top 100 or top 1000 reason we are divided?

When you say the spice company isnt pushing to divide us...what do you think the objective of claiming half the population is racist is?

 

[The General]

There’s a thyme and place for these things.

 

[Sinn Fein]

There’s a thyme and place for these things.

I did not see that cumin 

 

[The General]

I did not see that cumin 

The CEO sounds salty. 

 

[glvsav37]

A while back, a local supermarket was advertising "40% Off deals, but only for Trump Supporters" on facebook

Reading the comments was hysterical. So many were posting "Screw them, we should all go down there and say we support Trump and get our 40%, if we all do it  we can put him out of business!!?" 

The guy prob insulted so many democrats that he had the best sales of his life that day. 
 

 

[The General]

I definitely see this being a big dill.

 

[sho nuff]

I dont understand this.  I haven't seen anybody claim this is a top 100 or top 1000 reason we are divided?

When you say the spice company isnt pushing to divide us...what do you think the objective of claiming half the population is racist is?

To email his opinions and hope to sell to people who agree with him because thus far it has worked?

 

[The General]

Trying to curry favor with the radical left. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

And for the record he could call me every name in the book and I will still buy herbs de provence. 

That's it though since their other stuff is pretty much identical to what I can buy at places like woodman's at half the price. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

A little more background.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/ceo-who-called-trump-racist-penzeys-spice-mix

 

[Joe Bryant]

From the New Yorker article:

Penzey isn’t shy about how his politics have continued to benefit his business’s bottom line. “This is the future,” he told his home-town paper, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, in February of last year. “I think if you don’t care about your customers and what they care about, in a world of social media, no one’s going to talk about you.” Recent studies show that today’s consumers feel more allegiance to companies that take a position—any position—on major political issues, and that those pesky millennials are going out of their way to support companies led by figures who take left-leaning, progressive positions. In other words, Penzey is a savvy salesman who’s figured out how to capitalize on the political outrage of the Trump era and social media’s way of amplifying it—which might seem cynical if his political outrage weren’t so obviously real. When I wrote asking for an interview last month, he responded with one of the great rejection letters of my career, a long e-mail in which he assailed the food media, critiqued my past reporting, and suggested that I skip this story altogether and instead focus on the food industry’s sexual-harassment problem. 

 

[The General]

choose love

Sage advice.

 

[djmich]

To email his opinions and hope to sell to people who agree with him because thus far it has worked?

From the New Yorker article:

Division sells, thats for sure

 

[The General]

I am kind of the same way with Chick-fil-A - don't agree with the owner's politics, but like their chicken sandwiches.

The.folks who make Sriracha would have to do some pretty vile stuff for me to stop buying it. 

 

[Uwe Blab]

Sage advice.

The CEO needs to orega...I mean his garlic....

&#$%^ I'm bad at this.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Division sells, thats for sure

It's interesting for sure. From a pure business side, it's tricky to guess and risk how much the division will help compared to how much it hurts. 

To the bigger picture, the blanket generalization and accusation he makes are ungood and something I'm glad we've been mostly able to not have here. At least that's my take. 

 

[Summer Wheat]

Everyone has that one uncle who voices his poorly formed, misguided opinions at family gatherings.  Bill Penzey, owner of Penzey’s Spices, submitted his audition for Wisconsin’s crazy uncle in his heartwarming “Note from Bill” that not so subtly attacks conservatives and residents of suburbs.

In a bizarre sociology lesson nobody needed, Penzey informs us that Waukesha County is full of people who “fled west” because they were not ready for diversity. Yet Penzey himself took his family and fled to a lakefront west.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The CEO needs to orega...I mean his garlic....

&#$%^ I'm bad at this.

No worries. The jokes are cute but this is pretty ugly and not funny.

 

[djmich]

In a bizarre sociology lesson nobody needed, Penzey informs us that Waukesha County is full of people who “fled west” because they were not ready for diversity. Yet Penzey himself took his family and fled to a lakefront west.

They fled west-er