What the Heck is a BUYCOTT?

Did you just read that as “boycott” the first time? You’re not alone.

Our brains are wired for familiarity. We tend to auto-fill words we recognize, and let’s face it, most of us have heard boycott a hundred times more than we’ve ever heard buycott. You might have even pictured protest signs or someone dramatically declaring, “I’m never shopping there again!”

But nope, you read it right. This article isn’t about a boycott. It’s about a buycott.

In my recent interview on The Brainy Business podcast with Diane Osgood 🌔 , author of Your Shopping Superpower, we explored why buycotts can be a more joyful and sustainable way to create change, and why you don’t have to be perfect (or loud on social media) to make a difference.

So, What Exactly is a Buycott?

A boycott is about withholding. You refuse to buy from a company because you disagree with its practices.

A buycott flips the script. Instead of punishing the “bad” company, you actively support the good one.

It’s a positive, deliberate choice to use your dollars for progress.

• Buying chocolate that avoids child labor.

• Shopping at local or minority-owned businesses.

• Choosing companies that innovate in sustainability or circular design.

Why Not Just Boycott?

Diane explained that boycotts tend to work best when the issue is narrow and specific. For example, she shared an example from early in her career where a team she worked with was able to get just 2% of tuna buyers to speak up. That worldwide boycott pushed the industry to adopt dolphin-safe nets; it worked because a few key companies controlled the supply chain.

But in big, messy markets, broad boycotts can leave people feeling overwhelmed. As we discussed on the show, people sometimes fall into what I called an “ignorance bubble.” Think of this like the mental trap of, “If I care about one thing, I have to care about everything… and that’s just too much (so I’ll do nothing).”

Why Buycotts May Be More Accessible

In my conversation with Diane, I shared something that’s been true for me, and I suspect for many others. Boycotts can feel heavy, confrontational, or even intimidating. Not everyone is comfortable standing up and saying, “This company is bad. Let’s all stop buying from them.”

But telling a friend, “Hey, I switched to this company because they source their materials responsibly, and I just couldn’t keep buying the old product,” feels completely different. It is positive, authentic, and something you can share without shaming or pressuring anyone else.

This is where the power of social proof comes in. When people see others making positive, values-aligned choices, it can quietly inspire them to rethink their own habits. You are not demanding change, but you are modeling it. And often, that is more powerful than we realize.

For many people, buycotts offer a way to engage without the fear of negative social consequences. You are not calling anyone out; you are lifting something up. You are not only changing your own behavior but potentially nudging others to do the same, simply by showing what matters to you.

In a world where the choice feels like boycott or nothing, buycotts create a third option; a path where you can have influence and feel good about it.

Brainy Bite of the Week

It may feel like one person’s choices don’t matter, but as Diane shared, consumer spending makes up about 70 percent of the U.S. economy. That means every purchase, every brand we support, and every product we swap can ripple outward, sending signals to companies about what matters to us.

In the world of social media, when you can share what you are doing and why, it becomes even more likely to influence both brands and other buyers. And let’s be honest, many of us are more comfortable sharing that in a positive tone (highlighting a buycott), rather than a negative one (like a boycott). Both approaches are necessary at times, but any action you take can help create change.

Feeling inspired to try your first buycott? Here are some simple tactics you can try this week:

✅ Research one brand you buy to see where they align (or don’t) with your values. ✅ Swap a product for one that aligns with your values. ✅ Shout out a business you believe in on social media. ✅ Send a thank-you note to a company that is innovating for good and explain what you like about their practices. ✅ Tell one friend or family member why you buy one brand over another.

What is one brand or product you have consciously chosen because it reflects what matters to you? Drop it in the comments so we can build a buycott inspiration list together!

And if you want to go deeper, check out episode 521 of The Brainy Business podcast. Diane and I of course discuss buycotts and boycotts, along with so many other insights for you to unlock Your Shopping Superpower.

Thanks for reading. Until next time, BE thoughtful.

Melina Palmer