Nearly three months after funneling $150,000 to a candidate who opposes gay marriage, Target Corp. is still dealing with the backlash from liberal groups who oppose the move. But while discussing the economy and other factors attributing to a fairly good year, the company told Ad Age last week that the negative attention hasn’t actually hurt the bottom line.
First, some quick background: The Minneapolis-based retail giant made the July 6 donation to a pro-business group called MN Forward that is backing GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. The contribution was allowed under the Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United ruling and related regulatory decisions that allow companies to give unlimited amounts from their corporate accounts to political causes.
Target faced an outcry from groups that saw the donation as a betrayal to the company’s gay-friendly reputation. But in an interview with Ad Age’s Natalie Zmuda, Target Exec VP-Chief Marketing Officer Michael R. Francis said the protests and boycotts appear to have had a “negligible impact,” given sales for July and August were in line with expectations. Still, the retailer is taking the situation seriously.
Full Story from Advertising Age
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.
,” he tweeted today.
