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business Thursday 14 January 2021
Trump business backlash part of ‘cancel culture,’ son says

By BERNARD CONDON Eric Trump said. “He cre-
Associated Press ated the greatest political
NEW YORK (AP) — The PGA movement in American his-
canceled its tournament tory and his opportunities
at his golf course. Banks are endless.”
say they won’t lend to him That upbeat assessment
anymore. New York City is notwithstanding, the lim-
looking to end his contract ited data available for his
to operate the Central Park private company suggest
skating rink. the Trump Organization’s
Hits to President Donald golf properties, as well as
Trump’s business empire other parts of his business-
since the deadly riots at es, may be struggling.
the U.S. Capitol are part of Its two Scottish golf courses
a liberal “cancel culture,” have been losing money
his son, Eric, told The Associ- for years, it had to furlough
ated Press on Tuesday, say- more than 1,000 workers
ing his father will leave the last year due to the coro-
presidency with a powerful navirus, prices of condos in
brand backed by millions Trump residential buildings
of voters who will follow him have fallen sharply and the
“to the ends of the Earth.” company has been unsuc-
“We live in the age of can- In this Tuesday, March 15, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cessful in its plans to sell
cel culture, but this isn’t speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. one of its most celebrated
Associated Press
something that started this properties, the Trump Inter-
week. It is something that election victory. ed States government, a said one bank that cut ties, national Hotel in Washing-
they have been doing to us Amid accusations Trump clearly unconstitutional New York’s Signature Bank, ton D.C. One person who
and others for years,” said incited the mob, the PGA act,” Democratic Mayor Bill once so close to Trump it does business with mem-
Trump, who along with his of America voted to strip its de Blasio said. “That’s un- put his daughter Ivanka on bers at Trump’s golf club
brother, Donald Jr., have namesake championship forgivable. And potentially its board. in Bedminster said several
been running the family from Trump’s Bedminister, most troubling of all, several Eric Trump seemed unruf- members are thinking of
company since their father New Jersey, golf course banks, including one of his fled but combative as he freezing their membership
took office four years ago. next year, a British golf or- biggest lenders, Deutsche spoke by phone from his after the Capitol riots, and
“If you disagree with them, ganization said the British Bank, have reportedly said office in Trump Tower. He that getting new members
if they don’t like you, they Open will not be played they would no longer lend dismissed the hits as no big to join will be difficult.
try and cancel you.” at a Trump property in the to Trump’s company, rais- threat to a company that “They don’t want to be
The remarks in an extend- “foreseeable future,” the ing the prospect that the has minimal debt –$400 publicly shamed for be-
ed interview to the AP e-commerce company president may have to dig million against billions in as- ing a member of his golf
come amid an extraordi- Shopify stopped help- into his own pockets to pay sets – and can always tap club,” said the person, who
nary backlash against the ing run the online Trump off his loans if he can’t re- its vast real estate holdings requested anonymity be-
Trump Organization after Store, and New York City finance. “We witnessed for cash, not to mention the cause he doesn’t want to
thousands of the presi- announced it was looking the president of the United allegiance of those sticking lose his clients’ business.
dent’s supporters stormed to cancel contracts with States encouraging the riot- by the president. “Do you think a guy who
the Capitol last week in a Trump for skating rinks and ers and refraining from call- “You have a man who works for a financial firm or
violent riot seeking to keep a golf course in the Bronx. ing in the National Guard would get followed to the a drug company wants to
lawmakers from confirm- “The president incited a to protect the Congress in ends of the Earth by a hun- see his picture in the pa-
ing Joe Biden’s presidential rebellion against the Unit- its performance of duty,” dred million Americans,” per?” q

Sephora to fight against racial bias with an action plan

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The issue of racial bias has shoppers across all stores
AP Retail Writer taken on more importance to ensure a more consistent
NEW YORK (AP) — Beauty for companies in the wake experience.
retailer Sephora plans to of nationwide protests over Among other changes:
increase the diversity in police brutality last summer Sephora will also reduce
its product offerings and after the death of George the presence of third-party
offer more inclusive mar- Floyd in Minneapolis. security officers at its 500
keting as part of a wide- As part of the plan, Sepho- U.S. stores and use more in-
reaching plan to combat ra, a division of LVMH Moët house specialists, with the
racially biased experiences Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, goal of minimizing shop-
and unfair treatment for its plans to double the as- pers’ concerns about po-
customers. The plan, an- sortment of Black-owned licing.
nounced Wednesday, fol- In this Wednesday, May 16, 2018, file photo, pedestrians walk brands to 16 by the end “We know we are in a
lows the results of a study past a Sephora and Footlocker store in New York. of 2021. It will also promi- strong position to influence
Associated Press
commissioned by Sephora nently feature and adver- positive changes in the re-
that took an in-depth look academic research, be- on the basis of their race or tise Black-owned brands tail industry and society at
at racial bias in the U.S. re- gan in the fall of 2019 and skin tone. It also found that through a dedicated tab large and it’s our responsi-
tail shopping experience. ended in late 2020. It found Black shoppers are more on the Sephora website, bility to step up,” said Jean-
The study, based on a that 2 in 5 U.S. retail shop- likely than white shoppers which is already in prog- Andre Rougeot, president
combination of employee pers have personally expe- to receive unfair treatment ress. It also plans to roll out and CEO of Sephora Amer-
and shopper surveys and rienced unfair treatment based on their skin color. a new greeting system for icas, in a statement.q