..to think a Body Shop stall at a baby group is exploitative?

[PurdeyBirdie]

I'm a new member at a baby and toddler group and on their fb page yesterday a mum posted to say she would be setting up her Body Shop stall for 'all the mummies to take advantage of the massive 30% sale which finishes Saturday. I can also tell you more about how easy it is to earn a bit of extra money yourself (on average about £250 a month), and all the benefit of hosting your own Body Shop party.'

I commented that I thought it was inappropriate to flog yet more stuff at new mums who assemble at baby groups to engage with their babies and make friends. I was told that the group is happy to support new businesses for mums and I should basically shut my gob (that was from one young mum). I asked if there was a line to be drawn: would hairdressers be able to set up a chair? A spray tan booth? Nail bar? The answer was: 'Barring health and safety issues I don't see why not. We are all about supporting new mums with any ventures to better the lives of themselves and their kids'.

Another mum popped on to say that her bread company took off massively after she began selling it to this group and she would be forever grateful, blah, blah..she went on to say 'After seven years on the baby circuit I find it can all get a bit 'yawn'. Bring on the Body Shop stall, I say!' I said there was a difference between selling home made wares (perhaps for charity or to raise funds for the group) and flogging beauty products from a massive organisation like Body Shop.

In response to this another mum came on to say: 'The body shop although a massive organisation has excellent ethics and stays true to those ethics and original beliefs. The company also does a lot for charity and environmental issues around the world, help one mum.... Help the world!'

Am I being an unsisterly turd? Do I have a point at all? I'm just uncomfortable with the notion that anyone can set up business at a baby group and target assembled women who simply want to make friends and play with their babies.

Annoying maybe, but I wouldn't call it exploitative.

My apology - I misread that sentence...

All women who have a baby feel unlovely? Maybe it's because I had twins bit I thought my body, though a bit wobblier, was bloody amazing after bringing two babies into the world. .. three years on I'm not happy with my body but it doesn't make me feel vulnerable or make me rush out to body shop (not sure body butter is going to help the fact I eat too much cake). Why are all new mums vulnerable? Maybe that's how you feel but not at all my experience.

I can see your point but can also see the other side.

As a new Mum I remember finding heading into town with DS as a baby quite daunting, I also remember feeling that I looked crap ( photo evidence reveals that this was evidence based ). So I would have quite liked the opportunity to buy some nice products without having to face the shops.
It's a bit like the school fair, there's a lady there that sells Captain Tortue, DS hates it as he has to wait whilst I manage to buy my season's wardrobe in half an hour just because it's there and it's no effort.

To me it's fine as long as they don't do the half hour yawn fest about how the Body shop was founded before they sold out to the-corporate empire--.

Joking aside, I think baby groups should be the last bastion of safe havens where mums can just go and relax without being flogged stuff.

I so agree with this. And it's always pressured selling..because you're there being friendly. It's not like a shop where you can walk past.

Yabu, she's making extra income for herself and family. just don't buy
anything. Why stomp on her opportunity.

Those of you who can't get to the shops...um internet?

You know if you're desperate .

www.thebodyshop.co.uk

I think you slightly have a point - but my goodness you went about it the wrong way! Jumping in after only attending for a few weeks to tell them how to run their group, and projecting your feelings onto the other mums (none of whom, from what I hear, have posted to strongly agree with you?) - yikes!
A quiet word with the leaders/some of the other mums, to ask what the guidelines are around selling/express your opinion might create you fewer enemies next time!

Personally, I would slightly agree with you, I was never a big fan of those stalls, but am entirely able to ignore sales stalls if need be, and if others enjoy, & it doesn't impact on the group (which of course, you don't know, as you've never seen it in action).

But, the hairdresser who came to the toddler group I went to was an absolute godsend. Most of the kids had their haircuts - so no dragging a toddler into a salon - and they could watch each other, so the haircut fear was lessened. It was a total win-win. And she gave the leader a cut of the takings.

I'm actually a bit confused why there are so many of these kinds of business about when people can just buy directly? Does anyone actually make any money?

Wow Purdie, how to make friends and influence people lol! Chalk this one up blame it on hormones but, note for future, if you don't like something they are doing, don't do it - silently! (or just politely decline). Similarly if you don't like someone selling something to you, don't buy it (again just walk away politely with your dignity). You're new to the group, aim to blend in before you bulldoze over their ideas and get pushy about how pushy rubbish something they are doing is! If it's really annoying find a group where they do things which are more socially acceptable to you!

I guess I'm saying you are nbu to not want to do something, you are however bu to push this view onto them and expect they change their group activities to accommodate your views!

Apols for strike throughs not sure where they came from!

I wasn't rude; I didn't order them to change their ways or suggest they were idiots and I have no intention of being on any committee I just don't like the idea of baby groups being turned into markets.

We have the local Usbourne rep and a local mum who sells cards at our local NCT morning every few months but the difference there is that they are selling a product which is beneficial to families as a whole. I wouldn't put Body Shop products on my DD but I would buy her an Usbourne book. Just try out all the free samples and don't buy anything.

A franchise isn't really the stallholder's "business", though, is it? For the franchisee, there's a limit to how s/he can run the "business", while the parent company gets trojan-horse access to otherwise closed spaces and networks.

It would be a bit different if it were a real/ cottage industry stall, featuring goods or services by the stallholder him/herself (or stallholder plus associates, a bit like a co-operative): supporting that would be in line with the stated aim of "supporting women's/ mothers' businesses.

However, not a franchise; supporting that is supporting... well... big business (or at least bigger businesses). Those definitely have their place in our economy, but it is really nice to have closed, non-commercial spaces, too!

I would be at a loss as to how to explain this in the FB group, though. I'm afraid I often come across as a "pompous knob," too!

Yeah, you can buy on the internet, but it's not the same as trying something first before you buy is it?

On that note, I'm always puzzled my the mega expensive perfume ad campaigns - you can't smell through your tv so what's the point?

Anyway back to the Body Shop - surely this is going to go like Woolworth s etc - nowhere near the same experience as it was in its heydey.

I think I meant hay day.

But, the hairdresser who came to the toddler group I went to was an absolute godsend. Most of the kids had their haircuts - so no dragging a toddler into a salon - and they could watch each other, so the haircut fear was lessened. It was a total win-win. And she gave the leader a cut of the takings.

Actually, that does sound like a great idea.

On that note, I'm always puzzled my the mega expensive perfume ad campaigns - you can't smell through your tv so what's the point?

Those are clearly all made up by insane people. I haven't seen one that made any sense and didn't make me want to smash up my TV

Hairdresser? Omg, why didn't anyone think of this when I went to toddler groups.

I bet they can't wait to have you back.

OP, you say you weren't rude but if you used something like your opening post, I think you most likely did come across as rude.

Also, if you are to not prepared to be on the committee, you really have no right to make judgemental comments on how those who are on the committee choose to run the group.

PluCaChange, that's what I was trying to articulate about a Body Shop stall compared to, say, someone selling their bread or biscuits.

I also don't buy this attitude that, unless I'm prepared to be on the committee - or have been a member there since 1987 - that I ought to shut my trap. If I don't think something is appropriate I say so. I am not rude. I am not trying to change the world. I am not trying to bring down an otherwise jolly and welcoming baby group. I'm a nice person. I'm just sick of having stuff flogged to me.

The hairdresser thing would have put mine off the playgroup. If they hated going to the hairdresser; how would the hairdresser infiltrating the playgroup make it any better??
They'd have refused to go again for fear there'd be someone force-feeding them broccoli next time, or making them clean their teeth.

Besides, I know how to apply my own make-up beautifully, thanks...