Gilt Groupe Under Fire For Partnering With Target After Anti-Gay Donation

Discount shopping website Gilt Groupe has come under fire for partnering with Target, pre-selling the big box store's designer collaborations. Last month, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel donated $150,000 to an anti-gay politician, and after outcry by the LGBT community, Target promised it would create a "review process" for political donations. But that response hasn't stopped some customers from being angry that Gilt would work with Target just several weeks after the controversy.

The sale, featuring John Derian, Mulberry and Tucker, started at noon on Friday and was met with harsh comments on Gilt's Facebook wall, like:

• I am a huge fan of Gilt, but I have to say that it is a big dissapointment to see that you are doing a collaboration with Target in light of the boycott over their recent political donations. Very poorly timed, Gilt......
• Gilt - I will miss you but just cannot be a part of your support of Target and their funding of hate based anti gay politics. I can't be a part of that GILT by Association.
• I'm very disappointed in the Gilt collaboration with Target. And not appeased by the statement released by Gilt supporting Target. I will not only not buy any Target merchandise through Gilt, but I will not buy any Gilt Groupe merchandise. I can't have my money go towards politicians who not only advocate for stripping... LGBTQ people of their rights, but who advocate for harm/death to be brought to LGBTQ people.

CEO Susan Lyne responded to the crowd, writing:

"Some of you have noted that Gilt benefits from the efforts and talent of the LGBT community -- and you are absolutely right. We consider ourselves lucky to work in an industry that flourishes precisely because it embraces diversity and change. As a company and a community we are better, more creative, more successful because of the contributions of our LGBT colleagues. The sale we are doing with Target today is the result of many months of work on the part of Gilt employees and Target team members far removed from decisions about corporate political contributions. I am grateful to both groups for the care and effort they put into bringing something special to our respective customers. Whether you visit the sale today or not, please know that we will continue to celebrate the contributions of our LGBT employees and vendor partners and to support their events wherever we can. As always, thank you for engaging with us, today and every day."

But as Elle notes:

As this post went live, 32 comments followed, including: "BS - your excuses are as feeble as Target's...business plans change daily at every company and you could have revistied your partnership. how stupid do you think we are???" "Shopping the Groupe today is not shopping "Gilt" free. Social action and change stems from the idea that none of us are too far removed to stop injustice." "So basically it's monetary gain before ethics since you've already put time into the sale with Target. Shame on you. Your words are meaningless If your actions don't reflect them. You were better to keep your mouth shut and just keep using the gay community to your benefit than shine such a garish light on your hypocrisy."

What do you think?

Comments

[Chopper Noble]

02:09 AM on 10/01/2010

Yes, I absolutely love shopping on member-only sites for saving money online. I have been finding the best deals at Rue La La and Gilt as of late. However, you have to get to the sale fairly early when it opens because these deals are selling out so fast. I’ve hesitated on buying an item I wanted and then a few hours later it was already sold out. Such is life.

Just so you know... Here are a few choice invitation codes to Members-Only shopping websites so you can check them out for yourself. Happy Shopping and Saving.

Gilt Groupe Invite Code:
http://www.giltgroupe.com/invite/savemoneynow

RueLaLa Invite Code:
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/u2nqvqzi

Ideeli Invite Code:
www.ideeli.com/invite/savemoneynow

HauteLook Invite Code:
http://www.hautelook.com/invite/savemoneynow

[Nichole Boultas]

07:45 AM on 08/24/2010

I like Target because of the great deals one gets when shopping for items like clothes and whatever. But reading that the company is anti-gay is just as someone else here said it, irreprehensable. And it is. How dare a company like that support anti-gay crap I can't think of the word I'm so pissed.....

[valley boy]

03:53 PM on 08/23/2010

No excuses. If people can sit in meetings for months and disect details endlessly, they have NO excuse for funding politicians who would marginalize workers or suggest extreme consequences for customers who don't fit their criteria. I called corporate headquarters to inform them, I will never shop at Target again. Do some research and learn about these politicians for yourself. Really, Minnesota, this is below you.

[Nichole Boultas]

07:46 AM on 08/24/2010

I wholeheartedly agree!!

[Blues02]

10:00 PM on 08/22/2010

Gilt has been going downhill for quite a while. Doesn't surprise me at all.

[muscleboundH]

06:13 PM on 08/22/2010

I am putting my interaction with GILT on hold indefinitely until I see a different, better and more honest response from GILT. A good response was, 'we made a mistake partnering with Target.'

[NameUnknown]

06:06 PM on 08/22/2010

Any company that calls itself GUILT must have something to hide.

[sample sale]

08:42 AM on 08/22/2010

I think Gilt knew exactly what they were doing but maybe didn't think there would be *quite* this much backlash. A donation to a gay rights charity might go a long way with their customers towards repairing the damage done. http://www.samplesalesites.com/2010/08/customers-enraged-with-gilt-groupe-over-its-target-collaborative-sale/

[Alpha11]

12:59 PM on 08/22/2010

I agree completely they are really alienating their customers.

[Trench Coat]

07:55 PM on 08/21/2010

Honestly, I think people are making a bit of a big deal over it, but that's possibly a good thing. Yes, Target's support of anti-gay politicians is quite reprehensible, but I think it's a bit much to expect Gilt to drop all association with Target. Both target and Gilt are still providing valuable services. However, all the hullaballoo will hopefully make both companies be more careful about which politicians they support, which is a definite positive.

Regardless, considering all the pro-gay designers and companies that Gilt does provide services for, Gilt Groupe is probably a positive force. I know I'll continue buying from them.

http://www.gilt.com/invite/trenchlife
If anyone still wants to sign up after all this negative media, feel free to use my sign up link.

[tcnsrq]

09:29 AM on 08/22/2010

oh yeah real valuable....ask yourself...how much of the product that Gilt sells from these designers is product that can't or didn't sell through regular retail channels? But if it's Dior at 50% off it must be fabulous right?

[LMPE]

03:39 PM on 08/21/2010

never heard of Gilt Groupe

[ncconcernedcitizen]

06:57 PM on 08/21/2010

Advertisement disguised as news.

[Lmourad]

04:11 AM on 08/22/2010

Indeed! I just visited their site and signed up! This news piece didn't stop me because if you really think about it, our money would eventually go to some "corrupt" cause somehow through the 6 degrees of separation! I mean think about it, Gilt -> Target -> anti-gay politician -> Big question mark

[judow]

03:22 PM on 08/21/2010

Let's see, Target gave $ to an anti gay politician and Wal Mart promotes the Chinese economy over the USA economy. I'll keep shopping Target

[bignames]

08:55 PM on 08/21/2010

I guess you reall do not know what this is about do you. See the attached link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXnZorTLGiY
taget gets its shit from china too? where do you think it comes from elves @ the northpole?
Besides if you like them buying elections feel free to support them, but do not complain that companies control the goverment because this just opened the door to it.

[the964kid]

03:10 PM on 08/21/2010

You have to feel bad for Gilt Groupe, because these deals don't just come together in a day. They probably had this deal in the works for months or longer. By the time the news story broke of the $150k donation to that anti-gay candidate, Gilt's products were manufactured already shipping. They're just caught in a bad situation, Target is the company that deserve the heat, not the companies who had deals with Target prior to their CEO's ignorant decision.

[tompoe]

04:24 PM on 08/21/2010

Deals are made to be broken. Target is a bad faith dealer. Gilt is dead in my book.

[bignames]

09:08 PM on 08/21/2010

Fell bad? At one point does whoring your ideals come into play? Or perhaps they were never there to begin with. Integrity is not cheap and some have it and others do not, gilt showed that they do not. Unless they agree, but you cannot play both sides.

[mphalen]

02:38 PM on 08/21/2010

It only really matters how Target treats its LGBT employees. So they gave money to an anti-gay candidate. The only people who should be mad are the stockholders because it is money they won't get back in dividends. And let's be honest, do you really think that this guy has a chance? Instead of boycotting Target, why don't we raised money for the other candidate? Put the money MoveOn is spending on the boycott and give it to the opposing candidate. Boycotts just hurt the little people anyway. Less customers means employees will lose their jobs. Target is just playing by the rules we allow our elected officials to make. And unless this guy is going to pay everyone who votes for him, the money will be spent on useless campaign ads that his opponent should be able to counteract with facts.

[bignames]

09:00 PM on 08/21/2010

BOO HOO for the poor employees. Sweetie the power is in the purse. If you get poor service do you continue to go back somewhere?? What about those employees? Talk is cheap, and supporting a company that gives money to a person that advocates the killing of Gay people is money NOT well spent IF they want to keep their customer base See the link:
This is also about buying elections as well, but most forget that as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXnZorTLGiY

[love8rockets]

02:34 PM on 08/21/2010

Well I've already boycotted--any reason Not to shop like a consumer!

[raven119]

02:07 PM on 08/21/2010

Target should dump its CEO and hire Tony Heyward. He already has an oily reputation and understands rejection, something Target will have to live with for some time to come.

[shuffleoff]

10:38 AM on 08/21/2010

If Target is smart, they'll dump their CEO. Hopefully this won't just blow over.