I hold nothing against other religion people!!

If you use other people's religion to make $, is that exploitation?


for example ONLY: some jewish & other people focus sales on Christmas merchandise, without believing in Christ;

I'm sure there are also examples of the other way around, but none come to mind (christians focus on goods revered by people of other religion)

Also, ChurchCo members sell LOTS of books, etc ('testimony glove' comes to mind) to 'the faithful' ... YUCH!
to me, the 'testimony glove' is pure tripe.


Is this 'smart merchandising' or exploitation?

I don’t see it as exploitation any more than any other supply and demand. If people want something, they’ll pay for it. If you can supply it and make a few bucks, why not?

There is big money to be made from religion.
There's a sucker born again every minute.

In SoCal, most of the markets sell Catholic religious candles. All stores have a finite amount of shelf space that they want to fill with items that turn over quick as can be, and in SoCal, Catholic candles fit that bill.

https://www.google.com/search?q=religious+candles+walmart&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS760US760&sxsrf=ACYBGNSMKbl5uiCqQ7DEiq9ZuAwH7aN14A:1572804048152&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0n93Uz87lAhXPIjQIHczDDEIQ_AUIEygC&biw=911&bih=417


If there are scientific principles on which selling to the public might be based, "Give the customers what they want!" has to be one of the most basic.

It's why the sale of illegal drugs is so G.D. profitable. I think religion is a pretty easy sell for the same reason: addiction.

Same in New Mexico. Lots of (nominal) Catholics. We just got over El Dia de Los Muertos. And in the "ethnic" section of the market, you can find Mexican, Asian, and Jewish items.

I have never thought about this before.

In my area of the country (southern California), my experience is the other way around from yours. Every supermarket (especially if it is part of a large chain), plus every Whole Foods [before the handover to Amazon; I don't know about what is going to happen going forward], has a special, seasonal, section for Passover (in particular), and for Hanukkah (to a somewhat lesser extent). Every drug store I know of carries Jewish-oriented greeting cards, both for Jewish holidays, and also those needed throughout the year (condolence cards, for example).

In addition, in most every mainstream supermarket, and regardless of the particular chain involved, Shabbat candles are part of the normal merchandise inventory. (These are also often bought by non-Jews, for future use in case of a bad earthquake, etc. because they each last several hours before burning out).

Although I don't know who the CEO's and members of the Boards of Directors (etc.) of these supermarkets are, I would be very surprised if most of them were Jewish. Carrying the specific supplies your customers need and want is just good product selection, so far as I am aware.

The same goes for Mexican (Central American, etc.) goods. You can get green chile of SOME kind, and ALWAYS tortillas of at least the basic kinds (corn, wheat flour), in any market anywhere in southern California. Frequently the bakery sections of supermarkets will have a selection of "Spanish-speaking" ;) sweets: cakes, cookies, creamy stuff--either for festivities like quincenaneras (15th birthday celebrations for girls), or for just daily eating.

If I owned a grocery store (etc.) in an area where there was a substantial number of customers of Indian subcontinent descent, I would be selling appropriate goods (both around-the-year, and also holiday, types of products), to them.

I don't know what a "Testimony glove" is, but I think this is in an entirely different category of goods: it is not a normal item of "consumption," and it is meant (I think; from the name) to be an elective purchase that is outside of normal consumption patterns. I don't know how to describe what I am feeling, but to me a "Testimony glove" (or any similar type of merchandise) seems to me to be fundamentally different than food items, weekly Shabbat candles, bakery goods, etc.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2019 01:23PM by Tevai.

It doesn't bother me, and as always, consumers have the final say.

Perhaps 'opportunism' is a better expression for what I'm thinking; to me, the 'Testimony Glove' is #1 example, it's 99% contrived generating 'a need'.

GNPE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Perhaps 'opportunism' is a better expression for
> what I'm thinking; to me, the 'Testimony Glove' is
> #1 example, it's 99% contrived generating 'a
> need'.

Okay, I grant this.

My point is: It is not "opportunistic" to provide customers the goods they want--as a store owner/manager (etc.), it is your JOB to do this.

Every area has its own demographics, and if store management is professionally effective, the product line will be chosen with these demos in mind.

I wish more local locations sold 'Nude & Natural' magazine, my subscription ran out...

GNPE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wish more local locations sold 'Nude & Natural'
> magazine, my subscription ran out...

:D

Like God, they may not believe in "the Invisible Hand" of the market, but there's a Reality at work, whether they like it or not, understand it or not, believe it or not.

I say religion is a confidence game from the get go. Merchandising is a natural outcome. There are many things besides salvation to sell.

I'm glad that some food manufacturers have pandered to the gluten-free fad. I happen to have celiac disease, and I really NEED to eat gluten-free. The g-free craze is dwindling, now, and I miss some of the great foods that have been discontinued, such as gluten-free Rice Krispies.

I don't mind Mormon "art" or symbols or icons, or whatever, being sold at Deseret Books. Someone not-Mormon might think those Joseph and Hyrum bookends are handsome. But the testimony glove is bogus, because some of the Mormon primaries have conspired to make these a necessity. I don't like to see children being exploited, at all--yet Disney has been doing this for years.

It's all just gimmics.

I guess my boundary is when Mormon hawkers try to sell children lies. Santa Claus seems pretty harmless, but the ghosts and goblins of Halloween can be scary, like Satan. Maybe it's the price that irks me. Ten percent of parents' salaries for life seems a bit over-the-top.

Mormonism carries exploitation to an extreme. It breeds fear and hatred. It promotes helplessness and subjugation. It's a big business that uses members for slave labor to maintain and run its investments.

It's like the manufacturers who were caught using child labor, only with Mormonism, it's still a well-kept secret, or members are too stupid to know what's going on. Children are forced to clean the church buildings with their parents on Saturdays! Everyone thinks that's OK! Really? In addition, the Mormon cult steals money from children. Little LDS darlings have to pay 10% of their allowances and babysitting money--to a big corporation, for more acquisitions and luxuries for those at the top. They "donate" their used clothes and toys to the Corporation's Deseret Industries, which sells those clothes for money--and Mommy and Daddy tell the kids they are giving their clothes and toys to "the poor."

I love business, and marketing. A good product pays the salaries of everyone involved. Even a Mickey Mouse hat is a product that someone might want. LDS, Inc. has no product at all! Nada! I can't connect an illegitimate scam with a legitimate business--it's an insult to the American Way.

Some people know the difference between commerce and religion and some people don't.

Some people know that Christmas isn't really a religious holiday. Just ask Santa and the Elves and why Toy Stores and Jewelry stores all outsell Deseret Book. And ask my Jewish neighbor who always puts up a Christmas tree--cuz they are fun when he has his Christmas parties.

Some people know not a selling a cake is just a loss of income and not a pathway to Heaven ruled by their bigoted god.

Does hiring Mormon salespeople count?

Their sales training & two years of rejection prepares them well. Free training—

They did me well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2019 04:06PM by jay.

This is no different with nonbelievers selling religious Xmas junk or supporting things they don't believe. It's really hard to find a job where you feel everything you have to do is aligned with your values.

I'm not sure if there is anything wrong with it, but it reveals what they really value over what they say they value. Forget what they say about what they believe. Watch what they DO. Making a buck is usually a notch above religion when it comes to what people actually do.

Mormons who work in casinos rationalize it by claiming others have free agency to gamble. There are similar rationalizations, I'm sure, for any religion, religious person or non-religious person making a buck off anything.

I was in Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey in 1969 and had the opportunity to tour the official last earthly residence of the Virgin Mary, on top of a nearby mountain. The Turks had it set up as a low-key tourist attraction with signs in five different languages, a chapel, a spring that cures arthritis (IIRC), etc. Obviously they don't believe the story themselves, but they are willing to make a few bucks off it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Virgin_Mary

Give me a list of things you buy, and likely I could show you that most of them are a scam or unnecessary. Same with most things I have.

Most of us could live in a cabin with dirt floor, and pack water. The rest is just to make us feel better, kind of like religion does for many.