Comments on: Battling Brand Boycotts, and The Heat Be Rising on Beijing Olympics http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:57:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Chris Carr http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/#comment-2211 Chris Carr Thu, 17 May 2007 00:08:28 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/#comment-2211 Interesting ... this data/these studies seem to then suggest that it may be best for firms to just ride out the storm. Interesting … this data/these studies seem to then suggest that it may be best for firms to just ride out the storm.

]]> By: Erik http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/#comment-2210 Erik Wed, 16 May 2007 19:19:14 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/#comment-2210 I did a google search to try to determine if any studies have been done to determine if boycotts even make a difference. I got the clear answer from this search that the evidence is inconclusive. Therefore, should a company as large and successful as Starbucks or McDonalds or Microsoft even care about boycotts? Would a nationality-based boycott make any difference at all? We (Americans) have reportedly been boycotting French products for the last few years? Is it sending the French economy into a tailspin? I don't think so - and the numbers don't support that it's having any impact. There is nothing wrong with Starbucks or any other firm to transition into being a global brand, but I do not think boycotts have anything to do with it. I did a google search to try to determine if any studies have been done to determine if boycotts even make a difference. I got the clear answer from this search that the evidence is inconclusive.

Therefore, should a company as large and successful as Starbucks or McDonalds or Microsoft even care about boycotts? Would a nationality-based boycott make any difference at all?

We (Americans) have reportedly been boycotting French products for the last few years? Is it sending the French economy into a tailspin? I don’t think so - and the numbers don’t support that it’s having any impact.

There is nothing wrong with Starbucks or any other firm to transition into being a global brand, but I do not think boycotts have anything to do with it.

]]> By: Kerry Huang http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/#comment-2181 Kerry Huang Tue, 08 May 2007 18:59:29 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/battling-boycotts-and-the-heat-be-rising-on-beijing-olympics/#comment-2181 I think that Mark's take on Starbucks transitioning into a mulit-national company would be beneficial to protect itself against boycotts based on nationality. From what I gathered in articles and China Rises, the Chinese are very nationalistic. A company in China will need to walk a fine line to not upset the Chinese. For example. P&G Japan experienced a boycott/backlash against its SK-II beauty products. P&G handled the PR poorly (in the Chinese consumers' view), which resulted in a mob attacking the P&G office in China. Starbuck's move to position itself as a mulit-national company is smart and will provide some insulation from nationality boycotts. As for the PR battle in China, I think that China will lose. There are too many countries and organizations that have spoken out on various issues. China will not be able to fix a majority of them in time for the Olympics. Also, even though Beijing will look very nice for the Olympics travelers will undoubtedly travel outside of Beijing and visit other cities that have not been cosmetically changed for the world audience. As stated in the WSJ article, Eric Reeves believes that China is "counting on the international community having forgiven and forgotten." The problem is that everyone still remembers and refuses to forget. I think that Mark’s take on Starbucks transitioning into a mulit-national company would be beneficial to protect itself against boycotts based on nationality. From what I gathered in articles and China Rises, the Chinese are very nationalistic. A company in China will need to walk a fine line to not upset the Chinese. For example. P&G Japan experienced a boycott/backlash against its SK-II beauty products. P&G handled the PR poorly (in the Chinese consumers’ view), which resulted in a mob attacking the P&G office in China. Starbuck’s move to position itself as a mulit-national company is smart and will provide some insulation from nationality boycotts.

As for the PR battle in China, I think that China will lose. There are too many countries and organizations that have spoken out on various issues. China will not be able to fix a majority of them in time for the Olympics. Also, even though Beijing will look very nice for the Olympics travelers will undoubtedly travel outside of Beijing and visit other cities that have not been cosmetically changed for the world audience. As stated in the WSJ article, Eric Reeves believes that China is “counting on the international community having forgiven and forgotten.” The problem is that everyone still remembers and refuses to forget.

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