8 Times Product Boycotts Worked, and 7 Times They Didn’t

"Over the last few hundred years, boycotts have become an instrument used for many reasons. Whether over human rights, poor product quality, political affiliation, or supporting ideological movements another group opposes, this are more common than ever.

As ordinary people generally feel powerless to affect a company’s bottom line, organizing together to boycott can be a way to effect real change. While the reality is that many boycotts fizzle out before they get started, not all of them are ineffective and, in some cases, can force a company to shift direction.

After featuring a transgender woman, Fae Johnstone, in a promotional campaign for International Women’s Day, conservative groups were outraged. Social media influencers, activists, and other groups came together with a call to boycott Hershey’s products. Hershey’s never indicated that the company saw any financial impact from the boycott, but conservative groups still whispered about not buying any of the brand’s products."