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Maple Creek Gunsmithing is calling for a Staple boycott. Owners Bill Jackson and Travis Vonseggern attempted to registers for Staples PUSH It Forward contest for small businesses, but were denied entry because they sell guns. The office supply company appears to consider guns as immoral as drugs and alcohol, according to the details in their contest entry blurb.
Staples is surely entitled to design their promotional contest with any legal restrictions that they want, a point Maple Creek Gunsmithing does not dispute. But, Americans who support the Second Amendment are equally entitled to spend their money elsewhere. The Staples PUSH It Forward Contest offered one lucky small business a $50,000 marketing campaign prize. Multitudes of small businesses across the country were eager to compete for such a potential sales infusing offer from the office supply company.
The Staples small business contest notification reads:
“We’re big fans of our small business customers because they’re vital to our communities. Like us and help a small business push it forward by entering or voting in the Staples Push It Forward contest. Small businesses can enter for the chance to win one of three digital marketing grand prize packages. All you have to do is tell us what a $50,000 digital marketing push from Staples would mean for your business.”
The office supply big box store neglected to put a “No Guns Allowed” disclaimer in big bold letters beneath the contest announcement.
Maple Creek Gunsmithing was more than a little bit shocked when they received this email from Staples:
“We’re sorry, but your small business entry into the Staples PUSH It Forward Contest has been rejected for the following reason(s): Entry contains content that promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing); promotes any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; promotes any particular political agenda or message; is obscene or offensive; or endorses any form of hate or hate group.”
During an interview with Fox News, Maple Creek Gunsmithing co-owner Bill Jackson noted his utter shock and disgust that Staples so easily paired criminals and drug dealers with gun stores. The office supply store added a tagline at the bottom of the official contest details notification stating that the company reserved the right to reject any PUSH It Forward entry which they deem not in accordance with the rules.
Apparently, Staples feels completely justified denying Maple Creek Gunsmithing the chance to win the grand prize because they sell a legal product. The Push It Forward contest name perhaps indicates the same liberal viewpoint linked to MSNBC’s Lean Forward slogan and President Barack Obama’s Forward campaign signs. If the assumed philosophy link is accurate, the anti-gun mindset boasted by Staples’ Maple Creek Gunsmithing denial is not surprising.
Jackson went on to state:
“I was blown away. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. They lumped us in with criminals.”
Both Nebraska gun store owners are Army veterans. Travis Vonseggern was awarded the Purple Heart for his valor and unselfish efforts on the battlefield. The decorated veteran had this to say about the Staples PUSH It Forward contest ousting:
“The company policy clearly states they are not all the way pro-gun. They’ve got a little lefty in them. Everything in our store is patriotic.”
The Maple Creek Gunsmithing gun store owners decided to share the Staples PUSH It Forward experience with their customers via a Facebook post. Both the post and the story quickly went viral online. A quick glance at the Staples Facebook page very clearly illustrates how many customers the office supply chain just lost because of the anti-gun sentiments. Although Staples is not censoring or deleting the angry Facebook comments from Second Amendment supporters, there has been no official response to the growing scandal. The Blaze contacted Staples to discuss the Nebraska gun store’s entry denial and to give them a chance to explain their policy, but did not get a response from store executives.
A Staples boycott evolved both organically and with such a rapid speed that Superman would be jealous. My husband’s small business spends a significant amount of money with Staples each month – or did. It was convenient, they delivered next day, and sometimes the same day if he tapped on the Easy Button early enough in the morning. The Staples Easy Button is now at the bottom of the trash can with some coffee grounds and junk mail.
The small Nebraska gun store has now become quite popular nationwide. The ridiculous Staples PUSH It Forward denial spawned far more publicity than the $50,000 worth of online marketing tips, hints, and services ever could have. Multiple Staples Facebook posters noted that they had contacted their sales representative and told them they were terminating their relationship with the office supply company and boldly explained the reasoning behind the decision. The anti-gun stance apparently present at Staples unwittingly helped and not hindered weapons and ammo sales.
In response to all the attention and the company has been getting, Maple Creek Gunsmithing posted this on the store’s Facebook page:
“Due to the HIGH volume of traffic between our phone, email, and Facebook page we may not get back to everyone’s messages RIGHT AWAY but we are trying to get everyone taken care of. We do ship anything we have in store to wherever it is legal. We appreciate all the phone calls, e-mails, FB messages, likes, and comments! Stand for what you believe in! This went viral without us e-mailing FOX NEWS or anyone! We just want everyone to know where your hard earned dollar is going. And we will not be spending ours at a store that does not support us.”
One former customer posted a great idea for all Second Amendment supporters to follow; post a photo of a receipt of office supplies purchased elsewhere on the company’s Facebook page. Telling the company you will be shopping elsewhere, or simply quietly doing so is wonderful, but the black and white total at the bottom of a piece of cash register tape will likely make an even more substantial impact.
