Lately, it seems America’s biggest brands have decided that alienating half their customer base is a brilliant business strategy. Just ask Target how their dive into progressive politics worked out – their stock plummeted after conservative shoppers took their dollars elsewhere.
Or check with Bud Light, whose sales collapsed after their controversial marketing decisions left longtime customers feeling betrayed and traditional American values ignored. The lesson seemed clear: when companies prioritize politics over products, their bottom line suffers.
Yet some corporations apparently haven’t gotten the memo. The latest business is seemingly eager to test whether conservative dollars spend just as well as liberal ones. YETI, the high-end cooler and drinkware company whose products have become status symbols for outdoor enthusiasts.
But their recent decision might leave them out in the cold with conservative consumers. Is YETI deliberately inviting the next conservative boycott?
Mugged by Corporate Politics
The Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women recently shared a frustrating experience that has conservatives reaching for competitors’ products instead of their YETI mugs. The nonprofit organization, which focuses on educating and empowering young conservative women leaders, attempted to reorder custom mugs from YETI – the exact same mugs they’d successfully ordered before.
But this time, YETI abruptly canceled their order after accepting payment, claiming they couldn’t produce the mugs because they contained the word “conservative.” Yes, you read that correctly – apparently “conservative” is now too controversial for a coffee mug.
From ‘The Blaze’:
“We thought cancel culture went out with 2024 but here we are,” said the center. The organization said that it had ordered mugs from YETI before and simply needed to restock them. The group put in the order and received confirmation from the company. Then they received an email that their order was canceled.
YETI’s explanation? According to their email, “YETI is unable to customize products with text or logos that are licensed, copyrighted, profane, or political in nature.” The company representative later clarified during a phone call that the phrase “conservative women” falls on “the political aisle,” making it unsuitable for their products.
The Center points out a glaring inconsistency: they’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, legally designated as non-political, and YETI had previously fulfilled identical orders without issue. “We ordered the EXACT same product from Yeti last year with no problems. Nothing is different—their terms haven’t changed in the last 10 years,” they noted. So what changed? Did YETI suddenly decide conservative customers weren’t worth the trouble?
Conservative: The New Four-Letter Word?
The backlash was swift, with conservatives taking to social media to express their disappointment and reconsider their relationships with the brand. Many are asking: if “conservative” is too political, would “progressive” receive the same rejection?
Connecticut State Representative Craig Fishbein didn’t mince words: “Well, that solves it for me. A couple of years ago, I had them make one for me that said on it ‘Atlas Shrugged – Now Non-Fiction’ (a political message if ever) and I recently lost it. Was gonna order a new one from them. NOT NOW!”
This isn’t YETI’s first rodeo with conservative controversy. Back in 2018, the company faced significant backlash after cutting ties with the National Rifle Association, prompting boycott calls from Second Amendment supporters. Have they learned nothing from their previous missteps, or from watching Target and Bud Light stumble?
A Pattern of Corporate Cold Shoulders
What makes this situation particularly frustrating for conservatives is the apparent double standard. If the word “conservative” is deemed too political for a coffee mug, one wonders if YETI would similarly reject orders containing other political identifiers. Would a mug celebrating “progressive values” meet the same fate? Americans who value traditional principles are starting to notice a pattern.
The incident raises important questions about consistency in corporate policies and whether certain viewpoints face more scrutiny than others in American business. For conservatives who have watched numerous companies embrace progressive causes while shunning traditional values, YETI’s decision feels like part of a familiar pattern.
At the time of publication, YETI had not responded to requests for comment about the controversy or explained why previously acceptable orders were now being rejected. Their silence speaks volumes. Should conservatives now add YETI to the growing list of companies that seem more interested in political posturing than serving all their customers? Your wallet might have the final answer.
Key Takeaways:
- YETI canceled an order from a conservative women’s nonprofit specifically because of the word “conservative”.
- This continues a pattern of major corporations showing a double standard to liberals and conservatives.
- This episode could lead to a new boycott, this time of Yeti.
