Minneapolis corporations top LGBT buying guide

Andy Birkey — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:05:03 +0000

Just in time for Black Friday, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group, has released a shopping guide that ranks hundreds of businesses on whether their policies support LGBT employees. Many of Minnesota’s top companies — including Target, Imation and General Mills — made the list this year.

“Congress is currently considering the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a critical piece of workplace legislation that will include our community. Until all LGBT Americans get fair treatment in the workplace, we must support businesses that support us,” Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign said in a statement. “By purchasing products from businesses that support LGBT equality, shoppers send a clear message to businesses that their support, or lack thereof, will directly impact their bottom line.”

The guide ranks LGBT supportive employers next to those who don’t make the grade. For instance, Target bests Wal-Mart with a 100 percent rating compared to Wal-Mart’s 40 percent.

Here’s a full list of Minnesota-based companies — compiled by MinnPost’s Brad Allen — topping the rankings:

Ameriprise Financial, Minneapolis, 100
Best Buy, Richfield, 100
Cargill, Wayzata, 100
Carlson Cos., Minnetonka, 100
General Mills, Minneapolis, 100
RBC Wealth Management, Minneapolis, 100
Supervalu, Eden Prairie, 100
Target, Minneapolis, 100
U.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis, 100
UnitedHealth Group, Minnetonka, 100
PepsiAmericas, Minneapolis, 95
Imation, Oakdale, 88
Regis Corp., Edina, 68
Land O’Lakes, Arden Hills, 53
The Travelers Cos., St. Paul, 50

General Mills recruits ‘mommy bloggers’ to write positive product reviews

Paul Schmelzer — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:17:55 +0000

Golden Valley-based General Mills is recruiting bloggers to sing the praises of their products. The recently launched MyBlogSpark network — “a fun and exciting group of bloggers that have access to review new products and services and participate in exciting giveaways, surveys and events” — has some 800 bloggers, more than 80 percent of whom are moms. One rule from the signup materials: “If you feel you cannot write a positive post regarding the product or service, please contact the MyBlogSpark team before posting any content.”

With printed newspapers struggling to keep afloat, these “mommy bloggers” are a coveted marketing resource. “Some of these bloggers have bigger distribution than newspapers,” said General Mills’ David Witt. Indeed. The company claims the 800 MyBlogSpark bloggers have drawn some eight million visitors so far.

According to a marketing exec who helped General Mills set up the program, that line about writing positive reviews doesn’t mean bloggers can’t write negative posts. “We want to know if someone does not have a good experience with one of our products so we can share [that feedback] with the brand,” Stacy Becker of Coyne Public Relations told Adweek. “They are free to write anything they’d like, though.”

She couldn’t, however, come up with a case where a negative review had been posted.

Minnesota Independent » General Mills

Minneapolis corporations top LGBT buying guide

General Mills recruits ‘mommy bloggers’ to write positive product reviews