With the current partial government shutdown appearing on track to become the longest in U.S. history, some marketers are getting anxious and beginning to voice their concerns.
On Friday, Columbia Sportswear tweeted a missive from Chief Executive Tim Boyle. The Portland, Oregon-based retailer's position on the shutdown, which is now in its 21st day, was clear as it urged politicians to "work together to open our parks."
A message from our CEO Tim Boyle. pic.twitter.com/hW1PdLF2Nv
— Columbia Sportswear (@Columbia1938) January 11, 2019
Columbia also took out full-page ads in some Friday newspapers with the same message. The family-owned outerwear brand tapped McCann Worldgroup as its global agency of record in September following a review.
The longest shutdown in history was a 21-day suspension in 1995 into 1996, according to CNN. The current partial shutdown, which began Dec. 22 as politicians failed to reach a budget deal over border wall funding, looks to be on its way to surpassing that record. While some entities, such as the Department of Defense, remain open, others, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Forest and National Parks Services, and Federal Communications Commission, have closed. The Smithsonian and National Zoo shut down in early January.
Other sportswear companies are also weighing in. On Jan. 4, REI tweeted its own report about the impact of the limited services available at federal public lands.
For nearly two weeks, federal public lands have remained mostly open but with limited services and access. Here's a look at the impact.
— REI (@REI) January 5, 2019
On Wednesday, the retailer said that national parks could use their entrance fees to maintain operations. Several news reports of overflowing toilets and a maintenance shortfall at parks have published since late December.
National parks that collect an entrance fee could use those funds to maintain operations as the shutdown enters its 19th day.
— REI (@REI) January 9, 2019
The North Face also voiced its support of parks by urging consumers to donate to the National Parks Foundation and using a #weareparks hashtag.
We support @goparks and you can too by visiting https://t.co/IswjmS5pMX. Explore responsibly, leave no trace, and pack it out. #weareparks pic.twitter.com/8ap6YN8bhZ
— The North Face (@thenorthface) January 9, 2019
Brands are also supporting furloughed federal employees, who number in the hundreds of thousands and will miss paychecks Friday. Sweetgreen tweeted that those with government ID can get a free salad at its Washington D.C.-area locations.
Today, many Federal government employees will go without a paycheck due to the shutdown. We hope to provide some small relief by taking care of dinner. Visit any DMV location this weekend (1/11 - 1/13) from 6-8pm and receive a free signature salad with your Federal government ID. pic.twitter.com/CiyaV26E8U
— sweetgreen (@sweetgreen) January 11, 2019
The shutdown is also slowing the introduction of new beers because the agency in charge of approving beer labels, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, is not at work. The stoppage will have the biggest impact on craft brewers, which are constantly coming out with new brews. The Brewers Association, which represents craft brewers, warned on its website that even when the government reopens "there could be a backlog. Breweries should plan accordingly."
Craft beer fans are expressing their outrage on Twitter.
The joke is over when the #TrumpShutdown messes with your beer. https://t.co/NHPXxoh60B
— Yvonne Dalschen (@YDalschen) January 11, 2019
Contributing: E.J. Schultz
