Where to Shop During Boycotts of Amazon and Target

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Why are People Boycotting Amazon and Target?

I’m sure it’s not a shock that a vegan concerned with sustainable living is also very aware of the current political climate and advocacy work. So when Target announced they were choosing to end their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) policy? That was an instant decision, I wasn’t even sad about it. I vote with my dollars and I have voted to spend my money in businesses that believe in and uphold a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all people. With that, I have also joined the boycott from Amazon as well for everything except for one medicine my son takes that only sells through Amazon’s platform. You might notice that my Amazon affiliate links are disappearing from the blog as well, as I do not want to be making money from a company that covers up poor labor conditions for their employees and sends their CEO to space instead of paying a fair wage to the people who keep the business running.

So where does someone shop during the boycotts? Well it turns out there are many options, depending on what you are looking for! I am very lucky to live in a populated area with a bunch of options, and I have even found that I am able to maintain my monthly shopping routine without shopping at Whole Foods or Target. I realize that this is not the case for many people living in food deserts or more rural areas – the town in Iowa where I used to live only has a couple of grocery stores and a Walmart, so in-town shopping options are very limited. If that is similar to your situation as well, just do your best to limit impulse purchases and overall decrease consumption of non-essentials.

First Rule of Boycotts is Shop Local First!

First rule: support your local businesses first! If there is an independent coffee shop in town, choose to patronize that over Starbucks. We need to focus on building community, and one way to do that is to make sure our entrepreneurs survive. Same rules apply when you go out to eat – local establishments first!

In talking with other people participating in the boycott, they have noticed a significant decrease in impulse shopping, which they say has been great for their budget – an unexpected benefit!

When Shopping Small Business isn’t an Option:

Now, what about the day-to-day purchases that might be harder to find? I’ve compiled a list for anyone looking for better ways to spend your money!

Household/Cleaning Products:

Grove Collaborative is a certified B corp, which maintains a strict standard for business practices to be better for their employees and the environment. I love that I can get most of my usual products I used to buy at Target, as well as my favorite brand of shampoo bars, HiBar, which I used to only be able to find from a now-defunct subscription box.

Speaking of subscriptions, I love that I can set a subscription for varying things (bamboo toothbrushes every 6 months, shampoo bars every 3 months, dishwasher detergent every month, etc). I never have to think about “oh I am almost out of XYZ, I need to run to the store,” and that saves me money from impulse purchases, time at the stores, and even a huge relief of the mental load of running a home.

Makeup/Skincare:

e.l.f. cosmetics is the brand that I use for all my makeup and skincare already since I used to purchase it at Target. This brand is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and when the boycotts started I went to the brand’s website to order a year’s supply of makeup and skincare (to limit the need for trips to the store). I was so excited to learn they offer an essential workers discount, a massive 25% off! It was easy for me to submit proof that I am an essential worker.

I also was able to use my Rakuten account to get some cash back!

Food:

Costco – I’ve loved Costco for years and it’s a huge part of my monthly grocery shopping. Their business boomed when word got out that they stood firm on their DEI policy. I love that I can save money on gas as well as buying the foods we love in bulk. I know there are some people who are not sure if they should or could shop at a bulk store as a single person or living in a small space, and personally I think it’s absolutely doable.

Sprouts/Fresh Thyme – The Sprouts/Fresh Thyme group is committed to their DEI policy, so I have found them a perfect alternative to Whole Foods. This has been where I have switched to for my vegan meat and cheese alternatives.

Farmers Markets/CSA – Part of building community means knowing where your food comes from, and where better than local farmers markets? I love the historic Soulard Market in St. Louis, but it’s pretty far from me and it takes a lot of effort to get down there consistently. I have found a few other local stands in our area where I can buy fresh food, including a CSA that delivers to my door.

Find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) near you here.

Books:

Bookshop.org – I read once that Amazon loses money on their books with the intent to make more money on the rest of their products. This directly harms local and independent bookstores. Bookshop.org is a Certified B corp, and they send over 80% of their profit margins to independent bookstores.

You can even choose the bookstore you would like to support with your purchase, which helps your local community.

Of course, if your local community already has an independent bookstore, shop there first! Every bookstore owner I have met is always happy to order specific books for customers if they do not carry it in the store.

Clothes:

Thrift stores – I have always loved shopping thrift stores first. I love the thrill of finding the perfect item, often much higher quality than I could find new in big box stores anyway.

Other options for used clothes would be clothing swaps, Facebook marketplace, or resale options like Poshmark or ThredUp.

Kohls – For things you wouldn’t want to purchase used, like socks and underwear, places like Kohls are a good option.

Pet food/care:

Chewy.com – I switched over to ordering pet supplies from Chewy when I went into Petco to help limit impulse purchases, and I love it! The subscription option is so helpful for my busy life, I don’t ever have to think about when I will run out of bird food for my parrots.

Did you find any new ideas? What would you add to the list?