December 09, 2005

Who can read this and conclude Ford hates gays and must be boycotted? Americablog. As fruity as Americablog's conspiratorial conclusions are regarding Ford's business decisions, so too will be the results of their inane boycott this time next year.

''The decisions with regard to advertising was a business decision,'' Ford spokesman Mike Moran said. He said Ford's Volvo brand would continue advertising in gay publications. Ford has not advertised its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands in those publications.

Moran said Jaguar and Land Rover, which are part of Ford's money-losing Premier Automotive Group, have decided to cut back on their advertising everywhere. The Premier Automotive Group reported a pretax loss of $108 million in the third quarter.

''They feel pressure on their marketing budgets, so they decided to streamline marketing across the board,'' Moran said. ``They're not supporting as many publications and events as before in 2006.''
[Ford to end some ads in gay publications - Miami Herald - 12-07-05]

Could Ford's supposed hatred of gays be a larger factor in advertising cuts in gay publications than it's $2.2 billion loss over the past year? Americablog says, "You bet your black helicopters it does!"

"Ford will assure investors if their next announcement clearly signals that they have cut to a level that will ensure profitability until they can produce products that people are eager to buy,'' Brian Bruce, who helps manage $18 billion in equity, including the automaker's shares, for PanAgora Asset Management in Boston, said in an e-mail.

The company and General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, are struggling to sell cars and trucks in the U.S. as Asian rivals such as Toyota Motor Corp. win record market share. Ford had a third-quarter loss of $284 million, ending a streak of six consecutive profitable quarters, and has lost money in North America for four of the past five quarters.
[Ford, Readying Restructuring, Fires Contract Workers - Bloomberg - 12-09-05]

December 09, 2005

People are coming around. Ford's decision to withdraw ads from gay publications comes amidst $2.2 billion losses and failed marketing. Calls for a boycott of Ford by a loud minority that craves validation from corporate America desperately needs to believe Ford hates them.

The Malcontent

If I had to speculate (without pulling a Jon Aravosis and trying to figure out why it's all a malevolent right-wing plot), I'd say Ford made a marketing decision in light of their losses, knew they were going to be pulling two products from LGBT publications, and let the AFA know just to get them off their back. If they were going to be canceling marketing anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone?
[We're So Easy to Bait - The Malcontent - 12-08-05]

Christian Grantham has written a very sensible post which has made me change my mind on the whole Ford thing.
[To Boycott or Not - Gay Orbit - 12-08-05]

Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation, called Ford's "record of fairness ... an excellent model for other corporate entities to follow."

"Ford admits that it will cease advertising some brands, such as Jaguar and Land Rover, in 'gay' media, but will continue with others, like Volvo, but that those are business-driven decisions, not a response to the homophobes of the AFA," Montgomery said. "We are confident that Ford will continue to support the broad community of people who buy their products and look to them for leadership in fairness, diversity and equal treatment.
[Built Ford Tough? - Between The Lines - 12-09-05]

I'll keep my eye on Ford's profit reports throughout Americablog's boycott. I'll also take a look at what Americablog proposes to do about those gay publications Ford reapproaches with ad buys following a reassessed marketing strategy.

December 08, 2005

Eva Young received a clarifying statement from Dallas Ford dealer Jerry Reynolds, reportedly involved in discussions with AFA.

"No deal was made, no deal was brokered. Ford is cutting their advertising in ALL areas, especially when it comes to Jag and Rover, two divisions that continuously lose money. Volvo was a different deal...they are profitable and will continue to advertise in gay publications.

You can believe the press or you can believe me, whichever you choose. But there was NO DEAL made with the AFA, period."
[Dallas Ford Dealer Jerry Reynolds Responds - Lloydletta - 12-07-05]

Gays and lesbians threatening a boycott of Ford over their decision to withdraw ads from gay publications have a choice. 1) They can accept the fact that Ford has lost $2.2 billion over the past year and need to reassess their failed marketing strategy, or 2) they can toss Ford in bed with people who hate gays and play the victim.

Accepting Ford's decision amidst significant losses allows Ford the space they need to reassess their marketing strategy and come back to the gay community with something that works. Unfortunately, the choice of a loud minority segment of the gay community that desperately craves acknowledgement from corporate America is promoting a victim response that does nothing to help Ford or gay publications that advertise their products.

December 07, 2005

The American Family Association (AFA) has a long history of failed boycotts. As Carpetbagger points out (via Kevin Drum), each company they boycotted saw increased revenues. The myth pushed by several blogs, including Carpetbagger's, is that Ford was the only company to give in to their demands.

The AFA launched a nine-year boycott of Disney, for example, during which time none of the group's demands were met and the company enjoyed a surge in profits. The AFA also launched boycotts against Crest toothpaste, Volkswagen, Tide detergent, Clorox bleach, Pampers, MTV, Abercrombie & Fitch, K-Mart, Burger King, the Carl's Jr. hamburger chain, Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old Navy stores, NutriSystem, and American Airlines. Late last year, the AFA went after the movie "Shark Tale," because the group believed the movie was designed to brainwash children into accepting gay rights. Then, it was American Girl dolls. Then it was Target for its lack of the word "Christmas" in its advertising. The whole thing is pretty embarrassing, but the AFA just keeps doing it.

So, in June, when the AFA went after Ford Motor Company for its support of the "homosexual agenda," the company was supposed to just blow it off. Instead, it's doing what the AFA demands.
[Ford, where backing down to nutcases is Job One - Carpetbagger - 12-06-05]

Ford is "doing what the AFA demands?" That doesn't account for one glaring factual ommision that sets Ford apart from the other companies boycotted by the AFA. Ford's "business decision" to no longer advertise in gay publications comes as Ford announced significant losses.

Over the past year, Ford's pretax profits in North America have fallen from almost $1.8 billion in the first nine months of 2004 to a loss of nearly $2.2 billion for the same period in 2005.
[Ford's fix-it plan - Detriot News - 12-07-05]

Most bloggers prefer to claim Ford is giving in to threats of boycott rather than reassessing their marketing plan. The fact is gays simply aren't buying their product with the supposed half a billion dollars they spend every year. The less room gays give Ford to reassess their marketting strategy on how to best win gay customers, the less likely it is Ford will resume advertising to a radioactive market trying to hold them hostage.

December 07, 2005

As you've probably read, there is a lot of blabber online about gays and lesbians boycotting Ford because they will no longer place their classy ads in gay publications.

I don't blame Ford. Gay newspapers are the wrong venue for a prestigious American company like Ford. Besides, I personally don't know a single gay or lesbian that drives a Ford. Not one. Do you? When Ford says it's a "business decision" to no longer advertise in gay publications, I look around at the cars my friends drive and easily conclude they are 100% correct. The return for their support looks flat lined.

But that doesn't stop some gays and lesbians from feeling betrayed, targeted and vengeful toward Ford.

Since Ford has apparently chosen to stop advertising in only gay publications, I — as well as other gay and lesbian (and other sympathetic) Americans — will choose not to a consider Ford when we shop for a new car.
[Another Reason Not To Buy A Ford - GayPatriot - 12-05-06]

That was posted under the title "Another Reason Not To Buy A Ford" over at GayPatriot. If you dig below what this title is really saying, you'd see there are already other reasons gays and lesbians wouldn't have bought a Ford in the first place. GayPatriotWest assures us he "will choose not to a consider Ford" the next time he shops for a car. What kind of car did he get the last time?

Over at the Ritalin-fueled Americablog, the attacks on Ford have been fast and frothing.

Use the links below to find your local dealer, and tell them to call Ford headquarters or you won't be shopping with them any time soon, nor will your friends or family.
[Contact your local Ford dealership - Americablog - 12-07-05]

You "won't be shopping with them any time soon, nor will your friends or family?" Give me a break! When was the last time John Aravosis ever stepped onto a Ford dealership's lot to consider buying a car? What kind of car was the last one he bought?

According to Witeck Combs, gays and lesbians are more likely to support companies that advertise to the community. That doesn't seem to have worked for Ford.

Nearly half (48%) of all GLB respondents say they find it most important or very important when considering products or services to see advertising that is clearly tailored to a gay audience with gay imagery, people or copy that speaks to them as a gay person and that appears in both mainstream publications and gay publications.
[National Survey Shows Gay-Specific Marketing Practices May Influence Brand Loyalty and Purchase Decisions of Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals - Witeck Combs - 02-04-05]

I would challenge my gay and lesbian friends to honestly look at the cars they drive and ask themselves if Ford's years of outreach has paid off. If it hasn't, give them a break.