John Wesley urged his followers not to purchase goods made with slave labor. The United Methodist Church and its predecessors have participated in many boycotts, including boycotts related to farm workers , apartheid in South Africa, and infant formula manufacturers. The 10.5 million members of The United Methodist Church could make a significant difference if they boycotted Kraft. Changes in advertising are a key measure of whether a corporation's image is in trouble. To increase the pressure on Philip Morris, thereby increasing the boycott's effectiveness, a key target is Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, one of its most-advertised and valuable products.
Boycotts affect the earnings of corporations who engage in abusive practices.
A boycott not only causes declining sales, but it undermines a corporation's public image, which is among its most valuable assets. To be successful, a boycott must also be a part of a larger campaign which includes education and advocacy. Boycotts are a positive step that ordinary people can take in their every day lives. Boycotts allow people to vote with their dollars. In the political arena average people's voices can be drowned out by billions of dollars of corporate money.