Consumers’ Research is a charitable educational organization that intends to increase consumer knowledge and understanding related to corporate policies, products, issues, and services, to support consumer freedom. ¹

Consumers’ Research was established in 1929 to test and rate consumer products. The organization was rocked by a violent employee strike in 1935 that led to a split. ² In 1981, conservative activist M. Stanton Evans took control of the organization and focused it on regulatory policy work. ³

In 2021, the organization launched campaigns against major corporations’ left-of-center positions on social issues. ⁴

History

Founding

Frederick J. Schlink worked at the National Bureau of Standards and at the American Standards Association.  Stuart Chase was a researcher and writer. Schlink and Chase teamed up in 1927 to write Your Money’s Worth, which warned about manipulative sales tactics used by some advertisers. ⁵

The popularity of the book led them in 1927 to establish the Consumer Club of White Plains, New York. In 1929, they transformed it into Consumers’ Research Inc., with headquarters in New York, meant to have a national reach. ⁶

Early Years

Between 1930 and 1935, Consumers’ Research published three separate publications that featured research on products such as cars, alarm clocks, underwear, and vacuum cleaners. The Handbook of Buying appeared either annually or semiannually during those years. The bimonthly Confidential Bulletin Service came out from 1930 through 1932 and featured the results of tests conducted by Consumers Research staff. The General Bulletin, a bimonthly published from 1931 to 1935, provided information on consumer and political issues. ⁷

Schlink and Arthur Kallet, the executive secretary of the board of directors for Consumers’ Research, wrote the book 100,000,000 Guinea Pigs: Dangers in Everyday Foods, Drugs & Cosmetics in 1933. The book was about ingredients in popular products. It called for laws to require companies to disclose ingredients and additives in food products. The book influenced Congress to pass amendments in 1937 to the Food and Drug Act of 1906. ⁸

Employee Strike

In September 1935, Consumers’ Research employees formed a union, and more than 40 employees went on strike. A riot erupted and physical violence ensued. The organization blamed this on efforts by “certain outside interests to capture the management and control of Consumers Research, Inc., for the dissemination of political propaganda,” the New York Times reported. ⁹

The New Deal-era National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of the union. Consumers Research ignored the NLRB ruling and did not rehire the striking workers. The strike ended in January 1936. ¹⁰

Kallet and board member Dewey Palmer, who were sympathetic to the union, left Consumers Research and started the rival Consumers Union, which would go on to publish Consumer Reports. Consumers Research maintained a smaller staff after that and concentrated more on testing and rating products and less on political activities. ¹¹

Frederick J. Schlink continued to lead Consumers’ Research for decades. ¹²  

The organization published the Consumers Research Bulletin from 1935 to 1957, the Consumers Bulletin Annual from 1936 to 1973, the Consumers Digest from 1937 to 1942, and the Consumers Bulletin from 1957 through 1973. In 1973, it changed the name of its main publication to Consumers Research Magazine. ¹³

Conservative Shift

Conservative journalism icon M. Stanton Evans took control of the organization in 1981 and moved it to Washington, D.C. ¹⁴ Evans helped guide the organization in a transition from a product-focused organization to also focusing on the impact of laws, regulations, and government policies on consumers. ¹⁵ Its testing laboratories in New Jersey closed in 1983 as membership was declining. ¹⁶

Activities

Consumers’ Research examines the effects that government programs, laws, and regulations have on consumers. ¹⁷ Consumers’ Research educates consumers through its research publications, which include op-eds, public comments on policy and regulation, policy briefs, surveys, and educational campaigns. Consumers’ Research claims that the quality of goods and services available to American consumers will be improved through consumer knowledge and freedom. ¹⁸

Criticism of ESG

In October 2021, Consumers Research launched a digital and TV ad campaign critical of BlackRock, and the money management firm’s CEO, Larry Fink, for its close business ties with China. ¹⁹  

In 2022, Consumers’ Research sponsored a campaign claiming that BlackRock used investor money to push a left-wing climate-change agenda through its holdings in American energy companies, ultimately increasing energy costs for U.S. consumers. Consumers’ Research further claims that while BlackRock continues to push U.S. energy companies to adopt its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach, BlackRock invests in foreign oil companies without applying the same ESG standards. ²⁰

Opposition to Corporate Wokeness Campaigns

Consumers’ Research has claimed that companies like State Farm, Levi’s, and American Express push left-wing policies both within their companies and through their advertising. ²¹

In May 2021, Consumers’ Research launched the first phase of an ad campaign critical of Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey for obesity in America; critical of Nike CEO John Donohoe over allegations of forced labor in China; and critical of American Airlines CEO Doug Parker for high pay when his employees were being laid off and taxpayers were bailing out the airline industry. The ads were launched after the companies opposed several Republican-backed state election-integrity laws. ²²

The second phase of the ad campaign began in July 2021, with 30-second spots that targeted Major League Baseball and Ticketmaster. The ads said, “it’s time to start serving your customers and stop serving woke politicians.” ²³

 Consumers’ Research drew attention to an email from State Farm to its Florida agents asking them to support the donation of LGBT-themed books to children as young as five. ²⁴ Consumers’ Research is encouraging current and former American Express employees to come forward about supposed racial preferences instituted by the company. ²⁵ Consumers’ Research claims that Levi’s opposes the Second Amendment, advocates against voter ID laws, and has been the leading company in advancing left-of-center policies. ²⁶

Funding

Consumers’ Research is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While Consumers’ Research does not disclose other donors, tax filings confirm donations from Donors Trust ($475,000 in 2019), ²⁷ Donors Capital Fund ($250,000 in 2013), ²⁸ and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation ($250,000 in 2013). ²⁹

Leadership

Will Hild is the executive director of Consumers’ Research. Previously he was the director of external affairs for the Culture of Freedom Initiative at the Philanthropy Roundtable. He was a co-founder of the public interest law firm Cause of Action. ³⁰

Beau Brunson is the director of policy and regulatory affairs at Consumers’ Research. Brunson is a former deputy chief of staff and legislative director in the U.S. Congress. ³¹

Christian Whittle is an associate editor at Consumers’ Research, managing, and editing daily content. Previously he was a staff writer for the Santa Barbara News-Press. ³²

Tom Miller, Jr. is a senior research fellow at Consumers’ Research. He is a professor of finance and inaugural holder of the Jack R. Lee Chair in Financial Institutions and Consumer Finance at Mississippi State University. ³³

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2. “Consumers’ Research Sees Plot in Strike; ‘Outside Interests’ Seek Control to Disseminate Political Propaganda, Counsel Says.” New York Times. December 5, 1935. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/12/05/archives/consumers-research-sees-plot-in-strike-outside-interests-seek.html
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4. Javers, Eamon. “Conservative group launches ad campaign against ‘woke capitalism,’ targeting CEOs by name.” CNBC. May 18, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/conservative-group-launches-ad-campaign-targeting-nike-coca-cola-american-airlines-ceos.html
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9. “Consumers’ Research Sees Plot in Strike; ‘Outside Interests’ Seek Control to Disseminate Political Propaganda, Counsel Says.” The New York Times. December 5, 1935. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/12/05/archives/consumers-research-sees-plot-in-strike-outside-interests-seek.html
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11. “Consumers’ Research.” Ad Age. September 15, 2003. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://adage.com/article/adage-encyclopedia/consumers-research/98411
12. “History.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/history/
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14. “Consumers’ Research.” Ad Age. September 15, 2003. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://adage.com/article/adage-encyclopedia/consumers-research/98411
15. “History.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/history/
16. “Consumers’ Research.” Ad Age. September 15, 2003. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://adage.com/article/adage-encyclopedia/consumers-research/98411
17. “History.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/history/.
18. “Mission.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/mission/.
19. “4 Things to Know About Politically Connected, Activist BlackRock and Its China Investments.” The Daily Signal. November 5, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2022. https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/11/05/4-things-to-know-about-politically-connected-activist-blackrock-and-its-china-investments/
20. “Consumer Warning. BlackRock: Crushing America From Within.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/consumerwarning_blackrock_crushing_america/.
21. “Consumer News.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/consumer-news-2/.
22. ^[1] Javers, Eamon. “Conservative group launches ad campaign against ‘woke capitalism,’ targeting CEOs by name.” CNBC. May 18, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/conservative-group-launches-ad-campaign-targeting-nike-coca-cola-american-airlines-ceos.html
23. “Ahead of MLB All-Stars Game, Consumers’ Research Targets MLB, Ticketmaster in Ongoing Campaign Warning Companies to Serve Customers and Not Woke Politicians.” Consumers’ Research. July 8, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/ahead-of-mlb-all-star-game/
24. “State Farm is targeting your 5-year-old.” Like a Creepy Neighbor, 2022. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://www.likeacreepyneighbor.com/.
25. “Fight Divisive Woke Policies.” Unamerican Express, 2022. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://unamericanexpress.com/.
26. “Levi’s Greatest Hits.” Woke Washed Levis, 2022. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://wokewashedlevis.com/#.
27. Donors Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
28. Donors Capital Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2013, Schedule I, Part II
29. Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2013, Part XV, Line 3.
30. “Staff.”Consumers’ Research. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/staff/
31. “Staff.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/staff/
32. “Staff.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/staff/
33. “Staff.” Consumers’ Research. Accessed March 26, 2022. https://consumersresearch.org/staff/