A Company’s Stand for Gay Marriage, and Its Cost

[WillParkinson]

A Company’s Stand for Gay Marriage, and Its Cost

But one company did: Replacements Limited, which sells silver, china and glassware, and is based in Greensboro. Its founder and chairman, Bob Page, is gay. The company lobbied legislators, contributed money to causes supporting gay marriage, rented a billboard along the interstate near its headquarters, and sold T-shirts at its showroom. Its experience may explain why no other for-profit company followed its example.

Hostile letters and e-mails poured into the company from customers canceling their business and demanding to be removed from its e-mail list. “I understand that your company donated $250,000 or so to the effort to ban the marriage amendment,” read one. “I am very concerned that with an increased visibility and acceptance of the gay and lesbian lifestyle, one of my children, who would have grown up and been happily married to a husband, could be tempted to the lesbian lifestyle.”

Another read: “I was excited to see your wares and expected a pleasant shopping experience. Instead I was accosted by your political views, which I do not share. It was very uncomfortable and unpleasant browsing with all those signs and T-shirts against amendment one, to the point where I had to leave.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/business/replacements-limiteds-stand-for-gay-marriage-draws-repercussions.html?_r=1&ref=business

[southernyankeebelle]

1. I would tell him to move to a state that will appreciate your business and people

will buy your products. Move to Maryland friend.

[msongs]

2. wow packing up millions of pieces of china etc would be the move from hell nt

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Well you go where the business is. Companies do it all the time. He needs to wage

his options. Sooner or later if business keeps falling then he'll be out of business. I think moving is a better option. Maryland is open to the gay life style and just in the Wash, Va and Maryland areas would be good business.

[Jane Austin]

6. I think most of their business is mail order and web sales.

They advertise in national publications like the New Yorker, so their business is in no way limited to North Carolina.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. I wish them the best of luck.

[DURHAM D]

9. Just google crystal replacement.

Then you won't worry about them.

BTW - Bob and Dale support all sorts of LGBT causes and have for years. They are really great guys.

[southernyankeebelle]

11. I sure wish them the best. I already have handed down plates, crystal and silver ware. If

I needed some I sure would look them up just to give them the business.

[obamanut2012]

4. They also allow people to bring pets to work

I know that is a bit OT, but I think that also speaks to company morale.

A friend worked for them for a long time.

[Jane Austin]

5. Replacements, Ltd. is the only thing like it anywhere.

Good luck to those who close their accounts - where else will they go to fill in broken pieces of their China and Crystal? Or sell their silver tea service to supplement their Social Security.

I've even been to their place in NC. It's huge and wonderful.

[DURHAM D]

8. Exactly - no one else does what they do.

They will be just fine.

I had a friend visiting from Germany who wanted to go there to get a replacement stem. He knew they had it from looking online. Here is the funny part - it was German crystal.

I love that place.

[DURHAM D]

10. Thanks for posting.

I am always stunned at the number of people who know about (and order from) Replacements Ltd. and this story will probably bring all sorts of new customers that don't know they do what they do.

If you inherited something from your grandmother (silver, crystal, china, etc.) and are missing a piece they will likely have it.

http://www.replacements.com/

[William769]

12. I read this story the other day.

It breaks my heart to hear this. Unfortunately this id going to happen and I hope he can weather the storm.