The Hug Heard Round the World! (a message from Bill Penzey of Penzeys Spices)

[Mousetoescamper]

I'm a longtime Penzeys Spices online customer. The company's been attacked by Trump and right wing media following Kamala's visit to Penzeys' Pittsburgh store last week. Here's an excerpt from the email I received from the company this morning.

The Hug Heard Round the World!

One week ago today Vice President Kamala Harris visited our Pittsburgh store. There’s a good chance you’ve seen a video of her visit, if not you can watch it here. Her and her interaction with our customers really was nothing short of awesome.

At first there was the coverage of her visit. Then the right wing backlash. Then the coverage of the backlash. But then came Penzeys popping up on international news sites and people emailing appreciation from around the world.

Clearly the humanity of the vice president’s visit struck a chord everywhere. I've been around the world a bunch and understand news isn’t stopped by borders, but this was something different. People everywhere were moved by her visit to our Pittsburgh store last Saturday. That’s no small thing.

And we can all imagine a group of people in a different country all watching the coverage on their own media. But I really liked how this email from Thursday made it all so personal even if it did make me blush.

Hey Bill,

I’m on a short vacation in Helsinki and the video of Kamala shopping is everywhere here. One of my Uber drivers asked if it was a set up. I told him that the Secret Service probably gave prior notice she wanted to come, to set up security for the event, but the customers, I don’t know.

Ms Harris is a cook and she enjoys it. Penzey’s has fabulous spices, and that I was a customer myself. One reason I was one was not only the quality but because of your philosophy and that you put it out there for all to know. I don’t go anywhere else for spices and who could argue with a man that reminds us in every purchase to ‘Be Kind’ and to not forget to vote.

‘I like this man’ my driver said.

So do I.

Kiitos!

A Customer

Thanks for the kindness. That this came just as the right wing world was at the peak of sending me all their anger made it all the better. All I would add is that they didn’t call to say she was coming. They called to ask if it was all right with us if she did. And those sure looked like our customers to me. That it all ended up with people around the world liking America a chunk more really is something. Life is good.

But nonetheless Trump, Fox, and the right wing world are trying to drive us out of business. They want to make an example out of us. This really could cost us ten-twenty-thirty percent of our sales and muffle us at the very time I believe our voice to be most valuable.

Or all of you could open up your wallets to buy a bunch of $50 Gift Cards for $35 and share them with friends. If your wallet isn’t that deep, sharing even a couple half-priced Orange Spices helps. I picked the Seasoned Salt, Bold Taco, and Revolution for the ad because each is universally loved and makes a great gift.

Donald Trump has lied about the quality of the spices we sell. Think of all the times he lied and you couldn’t do anything about it. This time you can.

TLDR: Donald Trump is trying to drive us out of business because we welcomed Kamala Harris into our Pittsburgh store where she hugged one of our customers. Please send us your money

I hate to have to ask, but if we are not to be hobbled by this I kind of need to.

Thanks for saving us.
And don’t forget to vote!

Bill
[e-mail]

[Croney]

1. Yep, we're on it, TSF can stick a Penzeys cinnamon stick in his

ear...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219460188

[Mousetoescamper]

3. Thanks. I hadn't seen that before posting. If this is considered a duplicate I'll take it down.

[niyad]

11. It isn't a duplicate, that was from Bill's email this morning. And, anyway, this is GD,

dupes are allowed.

[Mousetoescamper]

14. Thanks, niyad. That's useful to know. I don't often post in GD.

[niyad]

20. You are most welcome. LBN is the only forum here dupes are not allowed.

And I want to thank you for sharing some of your wonferful photographs with us. Such a joy.

[Mousetoescamper]

27. Thanks! It's one of my greatest pleasures to share the photos.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Make it ginger. I've read things to suggest ginger has an, um, effect on the stickee ... nt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figging

[erronis]

15. The things we can learn on DU!

I have to admit I didn't know about butt plugs in general, but I just finished watching Everything Everywhere And All At Once.

[niyad]

18. How silly of them to waste good ginger like that!!! Eating any of the warming

spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppers, etc) helps the blood flow, and therefore. . .

[usedtobedemgurl]

34. If they are doing what i habe done with ginger, it iscalled

Figging. It can be pleasureable.

[SheltieLover]

2. Kicking

[onetexan]

4. They have my money. I'm ordering gifts for my conservative neighbors as well

From Penzey's 🌞🇺🇸🌊

[FakeNoose]

12. That's a great idea!

It's also a nice gift for our liberal friends as well!

[SamKnause]

6. K&R.

[Butterflylady]

7. Now I know where to buy a gift for my son who loves to cook.

[Arthur_Frain]

8. I have been waiting for an excuse to support them

Apparently the time has come. I’ll restock my spice rack today with a big order. Maybe experiment on some of their signature stuff.

[niyad]

13. And don't forget about the $50 gift cards for $35. They make great gifts,

or for yourself for future orders. No expiration date!

[Arthur_Frain]

21. Somehow that sounds like a Red Lobster business model.

I love the concept though (going to use that word a lot for this week, watch red hatters clench their jaw).

I just bought a couple of gift boxes to send off to a friends two kids who’ve left for college this year and last. Win for everyone involved. Gotta support these true blue businesses.

[niyad]

22. I wouldn't know about Red Lobster's business model. I was quite unimpressed

when a friend wanted to go there for lunch one day. But I have been buying from Penzey's for many years, and I do know his quality, and his principles.

[Arthur_Frain]

36. I assume too much.

Just so you understand my reference:

Red Lobster came up with an “All You Can Eat” shrimp promotion, any style, 7 days a week. Someone in their financial department must have been a trump U graduate, because it was obvious what the ceiling on a business prop like that was going to be. Like the “victim of their own success”, (and tfg once did ironically enough) they are now going through bankruptcy proceedings and it’s looking grim.

For my part, I avoided them because of their inattention to bycatch policies. Not too much an inconvenience, since there are no RL in AK, but I would occasionally decline an invitation to RL while traveling on principle. Wouldn’t make a stink about it, but wouldn’t patronize them even back in the day.

I truly appreciate Penzeys stance. We need to vote with our pocketbook both ways, support progressive business, and decline to support those proud establishments that made sure “Let’s Go Brandon” was on their electric sign rotation.

[AmBlue]

9. All the orange spices are on sale!!

You know... because of the orange POS. I'm definitely needing some curry right about now.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. A big, fat K&R!

[niyad]

16. Thank you for posting this. My first email this morning was from Bill,

with the orange creature's ignorant, hateful comment about Penzey's being "a terrible, overpriced product", like he has ever been in a kitchen, let alone cooked!

Time to add to my holiday gift stash.

[Mousetoescamper]

24. You are most welcome!

I love Penzeys! The spices are fresher than anything I can get at a supermarket and the prices are lower than some of the top-shelf spices in stores. Plus, there are perks with Penzeys. Often my shipments include free samples and there are special pins, refrigerator magnets and coffee mugs that come with some of the sale items and package offers.

Bill Penzey is doing what I consider "right livelihood" and I want to support his company during this current threat. This isn't the first time that fascist clowns have tried to destroy Bill's business.

[PatrickforB]

17. Go on their website and read 'About Republicans.' It's right on the top ribbon of their site.

https://www.penzeys.com/shop/about-republicans/

I think I'm going to be buying all my spices here from now on. Not just because of that, but because I am willing to do everything I can to oppose this MAGAt hate-boycott.

[Mousetoescamper]

25. He lost some business following his "Republicans Are Racists" promotional email in 2022

Last edited Sat Sep 14, 2024, 11:55 AM - Edit history (1)

but since then he's also gained many new and loyal customers.

[malaise]

19. The real story is that these so called free market capitalists would try to destroy

a business for welcoming a presidential candidate not from the party they support. These are fascists. Fuck them.

[Mousetoescamper]

32. This isn't the first time the fascist clowns have attacked Bill's company

He lost some business following his "Republicans Are Racists" promotional email in 2022, but since then he's also gained many new and loyal customers.

[malaise]

33. I know

Eff the fascists

[MerryBlooms]

23. Been a Penzeys customer for years. Placed an order this morning! 🥰🥰🥰

[Ocelot II]

26. Penzeys is a great company that deserves our support - but they won't be the last.

Any business that is seen to be supporting Harris, or even that fails to support Trump, will be in the RW's crosshairs. So much for free-market capitalism; this is hard-core fascism, where the government and favored business support each other; economic interventionism is a key element of fascism. Your business will be crushed if you don't toe the party line.

[barbtries]

28. i''m sold.

Spices for my loved ones on the shopping list.

[StarryNite]

29. It's a wonderful company.

Their spices are amazing!

[ismnotwasm]

30. K&R

[Mossfern]

31. It's time I refreshed all my spices - really.

I didn't know about Penzy's, but will give them my business from now on. If available, I'll buy some gift items - especially a large gift for my son's Trumper in-laws. Somehow I don't think they'll get the message, but no matter, I'll know.

[Wiz Imp]

35. So Trump & the MAGAs wabt to "cancel" this business

simply because they provided customer service to a customer. Sounds pretty Anti-Capitalist to me