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From The Economist | Print edition | Business | Jan 24th 2019

Companies can appeal to workers and consumers with liberal messages
Gillette achieved viral fame by taking a stand against "toxic masculinity" in a new advert

Arguing that men should refrain from bullying and sexual harassment does not seem terribly controversial. But a new advert from Gillette, a razor firm, recently achieved its 15 minutes of viral fame by taking a stand against "toxic masculinity".

Of course, encouraging a few conservative commentators to blow their top was probably part of Gillette's strategy. Its gamble was that the free publicity from the controversy would more than offset any lost sales to men who wanted a razor rather than a lecture.

A similar bet worked for Nike last year when it unveiled an ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback who lost his job after kneeling during America's national anthem as a way to protest against police racism. A few conservatives burned their Nike shoes in protest. But the company's share price quickly rebounded and Nike's sales rose as millennials showed they were more than happy to buy footwear that attracted the opprobrium of President Donald Trump.

Nike's customers may be more accustomed to politically tinged marketing than those of Gillette. The sneaker firm has tried hard to enhance its image after being caught out by criticism of its labour standards at suppliers in Asia in the 1990s and early 2000s. Taken together, the campaigns are part of a phenomenon dubbed "woke capitalism", in which companies try to associate themselves with liberal social values. It may well be that executives genuinely do agree with such sentiments. But it is also about positioning brands with millennial consumers (those who reached adulthood after 2000) who often have more freewheeling views than their elders.

"A younger generation of consumers is seeking products that are aligned with their causes," says Renee Richardson Gosline of the mit Sloan school of management. Patti Williams of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania agrees that consumers expect brands to share their values, and not only represent the best value and utility.

By the same token, companies also want to recruit workers from the same generation, which also means appealing to their values. "Young people don't want to work for a company if it is seen as harmful to the environment or society," says Jaideep Prabhu of Cambridge University's Judge Business School. They want to be proud to say where they work.

Big firms have in the past shown social awareness. In 1969, at a time of high racial tensions, Coca-Cola ran an ad called "Boys on a Bench", which showed black and white youngsters sitting together, enjoying the fizzy drink. What gave the ad extra bite was that segregation had only just ended in the southern states; previously the kids could not have gathered together. Coke followed this with its famous "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" ad portraying multiracial harmony.

Those adverts were rather more subtle than the modern examples. But firms are once again being pushed into the political forum because America's "culture wars" cover many issues that affect the workplace. Larry Fink of BlackRock, a giant asset manager, wrote in his latest annual letter to chief executives that "society is increasingly looking to companies, both public and private, to address pressing social and economic issues. These issues range from protecting the environment to retirement to gender and racial inequality."

It is also worth remembering that firms have long been part of the political process through carefully co-ordinated, expensive lobbying campaigns. Last year, for example, eight firms including Alphabet (Google's parent) and Amazon each spent over $10m lobbying America's Congress, according to Opensecrets.org, a website. If firms can push a conservative, low-tax-and-regulation message, why not a socially progressive one?

Lower taxes and less red tape usually mean higher profits, of course. Shareholders will need to be convinced that woke capitalism can do the same. Clearly, brands can benefit over time. A survey by Morning Consult of 2,201 consumers found that the proportion who felt the Gillette brand shared their values rose from 42% to 71% after seeing the firm's ad. And, as Ms Gosline notes, Gillette is facing a lot of low-cost competition. Positioning the brand as "more than just a blade" may be a wise business move, she says. Harry's, a rival, had already come out with a report on modern masculinity late last year. Selling razors is a cut-throat business.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline "Woke, not broke"

Written by Columna Durruti, 01.02.2019 at 22:01

From The Economist | Print edition | Business | Jan 24th 2019

Companies can appeal to workers and consumers with liberal messages
Gillette achieved viral fame by taking a stand against "toxic masculinity" in a new advert

Arguing that men should refrain from bullying and sexual harassment does not seem terribly controversial. But a new advert from Gillette, a razor firm, recently achieved its 15 minutes of viral fame by taking a stand against "toxic masculinity".

Of course, encouraging a few conservative commentators to blow their top was probably part of Gillette's strategy. Its gamble was that the free publicity from the controversy would more than offset any lost sales to men who wanted a razor rather than a lecture.

A similar bet worked for Nike last year when it unveiled an ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback who lost his job after kneeling during America's national anthem as a way to protest against police racism. A few conservatives burned their Nike shoes in protest. But the company's share price quickly rebounded and Nike's sales rose as millennials showed they were more than happy to buy footwear that attracted the opprobrium of President Donald Trump.

Nike's customers may be more accustomed to politically tinged marketing than those of Gillette. The sneaker firm has tried hard to enhance its image after being caught out by criticism of its labour standards at suppliers in Asia in the 1990s and early 2000s. Taken together, the campaigns are part of a phenomenon dubbed "woke capitalism", in which companies try to associate themselves with liberal social values. It may well be that executives genuinely do agree with such sentiments. But it is also about positioning brands with millennial consumers (those who reached adulthood after 2000) who often have more freewheeling views than their elders.

"A younger generation of consumers is seeking products that are aligned with their causes," says Renee Richardson Gosline of the mit Sloan school of management. Patti Williams of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania agrees that consumers expect brands to share their values, and not only represent the best value and utility.

By the same token, companies also want to recruit workers from the same generation, which also means appealing to their values. "Young people don't want to work for a company if it is seen as harmful to the environment or society," says Jaideep Prabhu of Cambridge University's Judge Business School. They want to be proud to say where they work.

Big firms have in the past shown social awareness. In 1969, at a time of high racial tensions, Coca-Cola ran an ad called "Boys on a Bench", which showed black and white youngsters sitting together, enjoying the fizzy drink. What gave the ad extra bite was that segregation had only just ended in the southern states; previously the kids could not have gathered together. Coke followed this with its famous "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" ad portraying multiracial harmony.

Those adverts were rather more subtle than the modern examples. But firms are once again being pushed into the political forum because America's "culture wars" cover many issues that affect the workplace. Larry Fink of BlackRock, a giant asset manager, wrote in his latest annual letter to chief executives that "society is increasingly looking to companies, both public and private, to address pressing social and economic issues. These issues range from protecting the environment to retirement to gender and racial inequality."

It is also worth remembering that firms have long been part of the political process through carefully co-ordinated, expensive lobbying campaigns. Last year, for example, eight firms including Alphabet (Google's parent) and Amazon each spent over $10m lobbying America's Congress, according to Opensecrets.org, a website. If firms can push a conservative, low-tax-and-regulation message, why not a socially progressive one?

Lower taxes and less red tape usually mean higher profits, of course. Shareholders will need to be convinced that woke capitalism can do the same. Clearly, brands can benefit over time. A survey by Morning Consult of 2,201 consumers found that the proportion who felt the Gillette brand shared their values rose from 42% to 71% after seeing the firm's ad. And, as Ms Gosline notes, Gillette is facing a lot of low-cost competition. Positioning the brand as "more than just a blade" may be a wise business move, she says. Harry's, a rival, had already come out with a report on modern masculinity late last year. Selling razors is a cut-throat business.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline "Woke, not broke"

Gillette commercial is openly racist, agist, and sexist. No matter how many opinion pieces you copy from the internet, facts remain. Sad that intolerant Left (or should i say crypto-Right) is defending hate speech.

Written by Skanderbeg, 04.02.2019 at 12:44

Written by Columna Durruti, 01.02.2019 at 22:01

-snip!-

Gillette commercial is openly racist, agist, and sexist. No matter how many opinion pieces you copy from the internet, facts remain. Sad that intolerant Left (or should i say crypto-Right) is defending hate speech.

Please stop using the drugs you are on. Not that I discriminate junkies or the use of drugs; quite contrary. But in your case, they are obviously doing great damage.
Just hope you'll manage to recover some understanding, reasoning, intellect... brainpower.

Cringe

It's just an ad and PR stunt, stop being a pussy.

Written by Columna Durruti, 04.02.2019 at 14:25

Please stop using the drugs you are on. Not that I discriminate junkies or the use of drugs; quite contrary. But in your case, they are obviously doing great damage.
Just hope you'll manage to recover some understanding, reasoning, intellect... brainpower.

First, facepalm. Second, nice ad hominem.

You really can't see the irony and double-standard in your words? The commercial alienated atleast half of men, if not more, so are you saying half of us need to recover understanding, reasoning, intellect and brainpower? Man get off your high horse and (imaginative) moral highground.

Written by Skanderbeg, 05.02.2019 at 14:10

Written by Columna Durruti, 04.02.2019 at 14:25

Please stop using the drugs you are on. Not that I discriminate junkies or the use of drugs; quite contrary. But in your case, they are obviously doing great damage.
Just hope you'll manage to recover some understanding, reasoning, intellect... brainpower.

First, facepalm. Second, nice ad hominem.

You really can't see the irony and double-standard in your words? The commercial alienated atleast half of men, if not more, so are you saying half of us need to recover understanding, reasoning, intellect and brainpower? Man get off your high horse and (imaginative) moral highground.

Tbh, I think you need to stop getting triggered and offended by an ad and PR stunt. Quit acting like pussy mate, just an ad. It's not fucking "Spreading postmodernism" or anything else these "Anti SJWs" say. Jaysus. It's an ad.

Calm mate, calm.

Written by Skanderbeg, 05.02.2019 at 14:10

-snip-

Go fact yourself.

Written by Columna Durruti, 05.02.2019 at 21:57

Go fact yourself.

Wow such comeback, such hipster, you are really cool and youthful.

Written by DeepFriedUnicorn, 05.02.2019 at 16:57

Tbh, I think you need to stop getting triggered and offended by an ad and PR stunt. Quit acting like pussy mate, just an ad. It's not fucking "Spreading postmodernism" or anything else these "Anti SJWs" say. Jaysus. It's an ad.

Calm mate, calm.

In capitalism, product must be guaranteed and freedom of speech backed by the law regulations: in other words for you kid, you can't bullshit and get away with it. Societies collapse for less, we don't need misinformation and fake news spreading among idiotic millenials who are already military-evading pussies.

Numb people's brains with more fake news, and you won't need Russia to invade you in WW3, few unassimilated migrants will be enough. But hey, fine by me, i don't live in the West, that crap is not working east of Germany

Written by Skanderbeg, 10.02.2019 at 14:31

Written by DeepFriedUnicorn, 05.02.2019 at 16:57

Tbh, I think you need to stop getting triggered and offended by an ad and PR stunt. Quit acting like pussy mate, just an ad. It's not fucking "Spreading postmodernism" or anything else these "Anti SJWs" say. Jaysus. It's an ad.

Calm mate, calm.

In capitalism, product must be guaranteed and freedom of speech backed by the law regulations: in other words for you kid, you can't bullshit and get away with it. Societies collapse for less, we don't need misinformation and fake news spreading among idiotic millenials who are already military-evading pussies.

Numb people's brains with more fake news, and you won't need Russia to invade you in WW3, few unassimilated migrants will be enough. But hey, fine by me, i don't live in the West, that crap is not working east of Germany

What?