Company (Penzy's) loses 40k customers after calling Republicans 'racist'

[babylonsister]

https://www.wfla.com/news/national/company-loses-40k-customers-after-calling-republicans-racist/

Company loses 40k customers after calling Republicans ‘racist’
National
by: Devin Willems
Posted: Feb 1, 2022 / 06:07 PM EST / Updated: Feb 1, 2022 / 06:10 PM EST


(WFRV) – A spice company that is headquartered in Wisconsin, but has stores across the country is doing a sale to try to get customers back after they lost over 40,000 when they called Republicans ‘racist’.

According to Penzeys Spices, they called Republicans racist in their ‘Voice of Cooking’ email list. The company said their action started a ‘Boycott Penzeys’ motion.

In a Facebook post, they say the statement cost the company 40,005 customers to unsubscribe from their Voice of Cooking email list. The 40,005 unsubscribes reportedly translated to about 3% of the list.

However, it was also mentioned that 30,000 new customers have signed up, but they are still down 10,000.

In an attempt to replace some of the customers they lost, Penzeys is offering a sale of two $25 gift cards for $35.

[Celerity]

1. "Republicans are racist weekend"

it is the truth, on balance

[peacefreak2.0]

2. Penzey's is a good company with great values

and excellent products. If you can support them, please do.

[usaf-vet]

44. We aready do. Last two Xmas and young couple marriages are our favorite reason to must buy Penzey!

We always buy spices for young married couples to get their cooking supplies started.

And we always send Penzey products to those family members all around the county. Buy and drop ship a double advantage.

[WinstonSmith4740]

59. What a great idea!!!

We always buy spices for young married couples to get their cooking supplies started.

I remember what it was like getting a kitchen supplied when I got started on my own. Nothing like being in the middle of cooking and realizing you don't have the right herbs or spices.

[usaf-vet]

62. Save on wrapping and postage. Except my wife figures what we should save...

...... might as well buy more spices with the savings. I was never great at math but that calculation is over my head.

[WinstonSmith4740]

80. It's called "women's math"

It's the same way we figure we saved $100 by spending $150, so we really only spent $50. Don't try to understand...it'll just hurt.

[usaf-vet]

83. I miss that math class in HS and college. Thanks for the enlightenment. NT

[Lonestarblue]

50. I just joined the email list.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. They're Overreacting

1% of subscribers is a blip.
Unless that 1% spends disproportionately, it's essentially nothing in the long run.
If that 1% spends in the lower quartile of subscribers, it's even closer to nothing.

[Probatim]

38. WFLA is overreacting.

And my guess, since I'm on their mailing list and buy infrequently, is that a net loss of 10k customers won't hurt Bill Penzey.

[ProfessorGAC]

63. That, Too!

It's a nothing story breathlessly reported by the "news" station.
And, I think Penzy's could have ignored the whole thing.

[Probatim]

67. I've read Bill Penzey's emails and he's done giving two shits about republicans.

He knows who his good customers are and he's catering to them. I cheer when I read his newsletter and send it along to other filthy libruls who think like me.

[ProfessorGAC]

68. If, As You Say...

...the gift card deal is a reward to loyal customers, rather than a promotion to cover that puny loss of subscribers, I applaud it and retract my criticism.
If not, my opinion stands.

[GoCubsGo]

76. He frequently has promotions.

I have patronized this company since the 1990s. His promotions often have themes, many of them politically-related. Heck, he even has spice blends named "Revolution," "Forward!" and "Justice." Given how vocally anti-Trump/anti-right-wing he has been for the past several years, I'm kind of surprised that the wingnuts are just now getting upset with him.

[dalton99a]

4. Kick

[FelineOverlord]

5. Thanks! Just signed up

In the welcome email it says:

"Our regularly $3.95 Galena Street and $5.29 Arizona Dreaming are only $2 each with the entirety of those $2 being split between the national Black Lives Matter organization and Milwaukee’s own BLOC."

AND

"We're giving away 10 little but powerful BLM stickers with any purchase"

[Lochloosa]

6. Now they are only down 9999. And I'll buy stuff.

[nilram]

45. 9998 and counting. Ditto

[romana]

52. 9997! nt

[AZSkiffyGeek]

7. Republicans shop at Penzey's?

They've been attacking TFG/Republicans since I first heard of the company. That's why I heard of the company!

[Harker]

12. They only buy salt.

No pepper.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

16. They should have plenty of salt already... nt

[CentralMass]

23. :-)

[Harker]

25. Spice is the variety of life...

or something like that.

[mopinko]

13. that's what i was gonna say.

tho i have a nephew in milwaukee that worked for them as a graphic designer, too.

you'd have to be stupid to not notice.

[CentralMass]

24. They were throbbing members.

[ancianita]

31. +1000

[Emile]

8. Once the word gets out I look for them to gain more customers

than what they lose.

[SharonClark]

9. "Voice of Cooking email list"

losing people from an email list, although not a positive thing, does not translate to actual lose of sales or customers.

[TheBlackAdder]

35. Yep. Knowing RWers, they love to steal stuff (free info) and then buy things wherever cheaper.

.

They mainly have loyalty to themselves.

.

[DeeNice]

10. Well, if the sheet fits...

[Celerity]

18. it does

[Kali]

39. good one!

I would almost buy that!

[LiberalLovinLug]

46. I imagine a few MAGAts actually would love to wear that hat

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[gibraltar72]

14. Been considering them

Now I have another reason.

[Blue Owl]

15. Gonna sign up right after I cancel my Spotify acct

[spanone]

17. Snowflakes can't handle the truth.

[Baitball Blogger]

19. How do you become a member?

Do I go to the "sign up for emails" section? Or is there another link?

I like spices, and I don't think we have Penzeys in Florida. What a find!

[Totally Tunsie]

20. Just signed up for their website and e-mails...

Received their "Welcome to Penzy's" e-mail with some nice special offers, all of which expired YESTERDAY. I responded to their Welcome to let them know - hopefully they'll come up with others.

In an attempt to replace some of the customers they lost, Penzeys is offering a sale of two $25 gift cards for $35

^^THIS is one that expired yesterday.

[PTWB]

26. It still works for me right now.

[Totally Tunsie]

27. Just received a reply from Penzey's...

They're giving a 1-day grace period - TODAY.

[GoCubsGo]

77. They have promotions fairly regularly.

Not the first time he's had gift card deals, either. There will probably be another around Valentine's Day.

[Totally Tunsie]

78. Thanks.

Penzey's did e-mail me back saying they were giving a grace day to order until midnight tonight. I did place an order and opened an account. I like their product line.

[Totally Tunsie]

28. UPDATE: 1-day grace period for Penzey's offers...

Penzey's responded to my e-mail about their expired offers in their Welcome. They are giving a 1-day grace period for orders TODAY.

Morning and apologies. These offers are all still live as a grace day.

We will get things adjusted on the email,

Kevin at Penzeys

On Fri, Feb 4, 2022 at 10:02 AM XXXX wrote:
Hi Folks~
I just signed up for your e-mails and received your Welcome message. However, everything in your welcoming offers expired YESTERDAY!

Your products do look interesting, though.

​

[LizBeth]

29. Is it just creating an account? That is the only thing I saw, so I made an account.

[brooklynite]

30. Dropping off a mailing list does not equate to no longer being a customer

[Kaleva]

41. +1

[chowder66]

32. Signed up!

[iluvtennis]

33. The truth hurts. n/t

[maryellen99]

36. Got my first order ever yesterday and am going to be using them this weekend nt

[rainin]

37. I just created an account, too. I hope our numbers exceed their's.

Doing the right thing can be hard. I applaud their courage.

[Hekate]

40. They're good people with a good product, but I think that email was a bit over the top...

I like them, and I’m not going any place.

[apnu]

42. So net 1% loss. Won't mean a thing to Penzy's bottom line.

Good for Penzy’s for taking a a shot.

[TygrBright]

43. Subscribe to their list! It's not just sales emails.

They have lovely, sometimes funny email posts from Bill Penzey, recipes and tips for using spices, and lots of political commentary. Even if your idea of seasoning stops at salt, pepper and hot sauce, it's worth being on their mailing list.

encouragingly,
Bright

[WestofDenver]

47. Got their back

I just signed up for their list and ordered some pretty enticing stuff. Almost forgot...they included a free set of "I (heart) BLM" stickers!

[DanieRains]

48. Just Signed Up And Ordered Box

Need some different seasoning anyway.

[DanieRains]

49. Most Republicans Are So Stupid They Don't Know They Are Racist

It's just how their rat brains work.

[hippywife]

51. Another stupid headline.

They didn't lose 40K customers, they lost 40K email subscribers. That in no way translates to actual buying customers.

[c-rational]

58. Good catch - I noted the same.

[Farmer-Rick]

53. Just signed up for their newsletter

I go through a lot of spices. I'm too busy to look over their products today but within the next couple of days I will be ordering.

Got to help out fellow rational people.

[efhmc]

54. Never heard pf them before but now have thanks to DU and signed up.

[StClone]

60. I am in retail and I live in WI and have never heard of them!

Sound like good citizens unlike WI-based QuickTrip and Menard's.

[IronLionZion]

55. Liberals are better customers for a spice company

conservative eat horse dewormer and drink their own urine

[DownriverDem]

56. Wow

I though Penzeys leaned left. Why were there so many right leaning customers?

[ARPad95]

70. Maybe it's because us lefties order items as gifts for our right leaning family members who don't

know Penzy's background. They like the items so much they sign up for the newsletter and order directly from Penzey's.

[keroro gunsou]

72. not so much left

mr. penzey (bill) is an old school eisenhower republican, you know, before they lost their damn minds. he's got some socially left leaning issues, and he hates trump and his army of lemmings like the plague. mr. penzey is a pretty good egg, the few times that i have had the chance to speak to him. we talked about the hard right turn the republican party has taken recently and he just rolled his eyes and blamed the trumpers and mitch "the bitch" mcconnell. when i made mention that there will be a special place in hell for what mcconnell has done to screw over this country, he smirked and did not disagree.

[WinstonSmith4740]

57. Thanks for the head's up.

Just joined their mailing list, and will buy my spices from them in the future. Republicans never have been able to handle the truth.

[arkielib]

61. I paced an order from Penzeys

and subscribed to their email list right after it was reported that Bill called Republicans "racist". I placed another order today after reading this post.

[Tess49]

64. I just signed up and placed an order. Looking forward to the different Currys I ordered.

[nolabear]

65. We have a store nearby. Great gifts and Great spices!

Spread the word. They’re well worth the effort.

[Maru Kitteh]

66. Okay. Well, I've been meaning to order

Guess I will.

[Earth-shine]

69. I placed a $50 order last week.

Unfortunately for Penzeys, that's a six-month supply.

I'll certainly order again, but I've barely opened stuff from this purchase.

[ecstatic]

71. I need a new all purpose spice. nt

[Pobeka]

73. Signed up. I used to shop the store in Portland OR when I visited.

I'll be making my spice orders exclusively from the online store now. Penzy's has the best spices, and newsletters from what I can tell.

[NanananaFatman]

74. Just got my order

Including gift cards to give away so new customers are created.

They stand with us. I stand with them. Plus it’s an awesome store.

[GoCubsGo]

75. "...doing a sale to try to get customers back ..."

Um, no. He's having a sale, because always has sales and deals. Sometimes they have a theme. Sometimes they don't. It's not the first time he's done the gift card thing, either.

[niyad]

79. Been shopping Penzey's for many years, both mail order and in-store (when I

was fortunate enough to be near one). Love them!

[Samrob]

81. They will gain 50K across the country. They are a great spice place.

Love them! Order by email.

[BumRushDaShow]

82. I have 2 cabinets full of their spices

Used to actually have one of their retail stores not far from me but they eventually moved it downtown. And then had to move around a couple places before settling not far from where I worked but then I retired.

What is great about them (outside of Bill P.'s hilarious emails) is that they will often add some "extras" or surprises in the box with what you ordered including samplers and even some 1/4 cup jars that they are trialing.

And regarding any loon "boycotts" - well their fave place is his sister and BIL's company (which was his family's original one before he spun off on his own) - The Spice House.