January 6, 2012
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A Warning to a Retail Store
Dear Manager of Store Operations & Logistics.Recently, you have put up an ad for the Angel perfume at your fragrance counter near the entrance to the…mall. The ad depicts a beautiful woman in a sensuous, sexual pose with a form fitting dress, and, worst of all, a massive amount of cleavage and her breasts pushed up into view heavily.
As a “typical” man, I am drawn to the feminine body and have a great appreciation for the curves God gave to women. There is magnificent beauty and deeper mystery than the simple fact that the feminine form is pleasing and desirable to a man’s eyes and body.
However, let’s be clear. While I will grant you the understanding that you did not design the ad or the product, you do promote it through your business. I am not married, yet, and I am preparing to deepen my relationship with my girlfriend. I want my mind, my heart, and everything I have to give her saved only for her. I do NOT want images of other women plastered in my mind more than can be helped. I do not appreciate having my attention taxed all for the sake of a bottle full of some random “smell” and the dollar you can earn off of it.
The notion that sex sells has perverted everything good about the natural design of the human body and the gift of our sexuality. I do not want to have some business telling me that beauty rests in half-naked women, or that you have the best claim on what makes a woman sexy. You can’t sell that in a bottle. I’ll be open and momentarily blunt with you: I get more satisfaction from my girlfriend’s kiss on my cheek or neck – a SIMPLE kiss, mind you – than I do from those ads you choose to display or the products you sell. So kindly STOP trying.
Stop continuing to promote false sexuality. Stop selling the idea that beauty rests in the clothes you sell. Stop trying to convince us (especially the women) that sexuality can be bought in a few ounces of liquid in a bottle. I ain’t buying it – literally and figuratively.
I am disgusted – furious doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings on the matter – with the pathetic business plans you have employed.
Selling perfume and clothes are not bad. That people want to look attractive and smell nice is far from anything sinful. But pushing it the way you do is equal to shoving someone into a ravine of vanity and self-centeredness. It does not promote anything resembling of quality character.
I recognize you are a business, and there are trends that sell better than others. But let’s make this painfully to the point. I WILL NOT support your business in any form or fashion, as well will I pass word to others as it may arise in conversation to avoid your company, if you continue to promote unhealthy and DISRESPECTFUL ads that show an absolute lack of consideration for the human mind and heart, as well as utter callous regard for what makes a woman TRULY beautiful (here’s a hint: beauty has much, MUCH less to do with the body and EVERYTHING to do with the heart).
I warn you to heed my words here. For I’m sure you understand that even just one bad word from a single customer can have dire affects on your profits. Change your ways and conduct of business (namely the ads you promote) or suffer the consequences.
Sincerely,
Michael MillerPS: As I typed this message, the ads were switched to previously displayed ads of Justin Bieber and an attractive teen girl behind him in a suggestive pose. Perhaps you would like me to continue my lecture regarding the effects that such ads have on the far more impressionable teens and younger children who have not yet developed the SLIGHTEST understanding of the impact of their budding sexuality……
Comments (7)
The cynic in me says, “They won’t listen.” The warrior-poet says, “Good job.”
@P_Obrien - The cynic in
me
is inclined to agree, and the warrior in me gratefully thanks you.
You won’t support their business anymore? Aren’t you already shopping at the mall? You wont’ buy perfume? You won’t buy underwear for your girlfriend or wife?
Answer me this: How should a lingerie store market their underwear if not with models wearing it?
@NightCometh - *chuckles* Amy, for one, I never said I actually shopped at their store. (But they don’t know that.) Their merchandise is way too expensive for me anyway as it is. I do shop at the mall occasionally – heck, I work there – but I don’t go into every store.
I also said I’d never buy perfume or special items for my Lady. All I threatened was that I would never support THEIR business. There are plenty of other options.
A lingerie store can display things discretely…like, mannequins and display pictures are not in the display windows for all to see. In order for someone to see the goods, they would have to go inside. A place like Victoria Secret, for example, is already well known for what they sell. There’s no need for blatant pictures in their windows like that. And to be clear, I’m not against lingerie or VS at all.
What we don’t need is the excessive display of false sexuality for just ANYone (kids, teens, etc) to see. It’s like a giant spark in a room full of spilled oil drums.
The business can sell perfume and lingerie all they want. I say go for it. But they don’t need to exploit women or put their ads in such public view. That’s pretty much all I was saying.
(On a playful side note, in light of your recent FB post about apostrophes, *grins* you misplaced one in “won’t”.)
@Rhindon - 1. Giving someone a modeling job is not “exploiting her”. It may go too far, but it’s not wrong to show some skin.
2. I’m not going to buy underwear if I don’t see it on someone.
3. I was typing on my phone, while getting my hair dyed. It’s hard to be perfect on a phone.
@NightCometh - By exploiting, I mean ads that are far too suggestive and put in areas that are far too public where certain eyes just ought not to see her. Especially when it’s virtually completely unrelated to the product being sold. In the ad I referenced in my OP, there was completely too much skin, though. I’m certainly not against models in general, of course.
I can understand not wanting to buy something without first knowing what it’s going to look like. But we have mannequins that can still do the job just fine, too. As a man, the only images I want to see regarding lingerie would be of my wife. And if she or I (or both of us) decide that it doesn’t look as good as we hoped, then we can just return it. Not an ideal situation, but not the end of the world.
*chuckles* It’s okay that you were typing on your phone. I was just teasing ya, my friend. All in good fun. I’ve lost track of the number of typos I’ve made on my phone…and quite the doozies, too.
Since you’re on your phone, I’m guessing Xanga has their mobile site upgraded now?
Provided blogs and articles looking very supportive for us.
Smartshopfittings.co.uk