Backlash!

Do you remember when we got scr*wed by Tractor Supply Company, well a funny think happened…

Lessons From Tractor Supply’s Sudden Reversal On Its Commitment To DEI

Forbes

By Edward Segal

July 14, 2024

A company that publicly proclaims and touts a set of principles and values, but suddenly walks away from them, runs the risk of creating a crisis for the organization and its brand.

Tractor Supply Company, which bills itself as the country’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, is a case in point.

The company’s sudden reversal last month of its publicized years-long commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a cautionary tale about the challenges when serving a diverse customer base in these highly politicized times. It is also instructive on what can go wrong when making public statements about sensitive hot-button issues.

To the cheers and back patting that the conservatives gave one and other we were thinking of Shakespeare.

Backlash

Tractor Supply’s efforts to stem criticism about its policies—while putting out one fire—simply created a new fire of criticism when groups including the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and the National Black Farmers Association denounced the company’s actions.

‘Embarrassing Capitulation’

“Tractor Supply’s embarrassing capitulation to the petty whims of anti-LGBTQ extremists puts the company out of touch with the vast majority of Americans who support their LGBTQ friends, family, and neighbors,” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis told The Advocate. “It sends an appalling message, during Pride month, to see a rural staple go out of their way to bring harm to their LGBTQ customers and employees,” NPR reported.

The thing is that discrimination is still illegal. If they discriminate against an employee because of a protected class it is still illegal.

Tractor Supply’s experience demonstrates a hard truth for companies that seek to serve diverse customers: by publicly catering to the concerns or demands of one segment of customers, you might alienate and upset another segment.

Um… you every heard of the saying, “You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t”?

Business leaders should think strategically before issuing statements or taking public positions on hot-button issues. That means carefully considering the impact a publicized position would have on different segments of its customer base, and how those customers might react.

It shouldn't have been considered a "business strategies" but rather it should be considered the right thing to do.

Now as they jump ship their true motives came out… greed. They were only doing it for the money.