The term boycott or refusing to purchase certain products or do business with specific companies comes from Charles Boycott. He was an Irish landowner in 1880 who refused to lower the rents he charged in compliance with a new land reform law. He was boycotted and soon found himself isolated, unable to keep his servants or even buy food.

Now as it did then, it doesn’t make sense to do business with people or companies whose actions and conduct offend you. When someone refuses to buy a product or service on conscientious ground, a personal boycott is created. To understand the use of personal boycotts it’s important to understand a little about organized boycotts.

Many organized boycotts have failed but some have been successful. Successful boycotts share certain key attributes.

Boycott -- Cool Word of the Day

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Captain Charles Boycott and
 the Irish Land Question
History -- The 19th Century
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What is It?

As Part of the Purchasing Process

The Importance of Boycotts

Keys to Successful Boycotts

Creating a Personal Boycott

The Payoff!

The Vocal Consumer

What's Governments Role?

Why it Won't Work

The Goal of this Web Site

Be a Conscientious Consumer

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