Lush, what is the point?!

[Gloriia]

Lush closing stores for 24hr 'in solidarity of Gaza'.

What a ridiculous empty gesture.

Surely a better idea would be to stay open for 24 hrs and donate all extra income to a Gazan charity, or close but all staff to attend an intifada with flasks and placards <'free palestine' naturally, do not mentions the hostages!>

I quite liked Lush I'll ensure to shop elsewhere going forward.

To be honest, anything that gains headlines is worth it if it’s raising publicity and putting more pressure on the government to intervene re the situation in Gaza. I’m stunned that so many people have so many problems about everything, when the main issue is that Israel is committing a genocide. Maybe opening for 24 hours and donating all profits to Palestine would have been better, but then they could have been accused of using the situation to increase footfall into their stores. I’m happy to see any big brand come out in support of Gaza. We are watching the slaughter of innocent citizens on our phone and TV screens every day and it has to stop.

(before anyone comes at me, I condemn Hamas wholeheartedly and also believe Hamas should release the hostages)

You are presuming that a company who give millions to charity every year won't pay their staff? A quick Google would have course have told you that staff were paid, it is mentioned in many articles.

So you think a few cents of tax to the UK government is going to help the situation in Gaza? Would it not be better to donate the cost of the soap directly to Gaza relief?

The Co founder of Lush was clear on this “It would be nice to be able to pay for food to go into Gaza, rather than just sacrificing [profits].” It's almost as if some people here haven't seen the news at all over the past few montha and aren't aware that the problem isn't lack of money, it's Israel intentionally starving civilians. It goes to show that much more awareness is still needed on this topic.

it’s about everyone using their voices in anyway they can to highlight what’s going on. “Do nothing” isn’t an option and Lush (whose product I don’t personally purchase) are being creative (some might say, controversial!) to prompt people to talk about it. I don’t think they’ve done a bad job.

Lush staff work shifts.

so it’s not really “a day off”. It will be taken into account in their shift pattern.

Also, you keep saying “stay open for 24 hours” and donate the profits. But they would have to pay staff and utility costs for these opening hours and, realistically, how many sales do you think they’ll be making at midnight? 2am? 4am?

Well they are making that choice. They shut the shop for Gaza.

I’d be a pretty rubbish rep - the shop smell gives me a headache!

I don’t understand why people waste energy getting so annoyed with this situation though, especially without reading the actual information. Their watermelon soap raised money for a Gazan children’s mental health charity and they’re making it again but to raise money for children in Gaza who need prosthetic limbs. Hopefully we can at the very least agree that that’s two very worthy causes. So they have ticked off fundraising already and I’d invite everyone to buy some watermelon soap.

Closing for a day is a different form of support for the innocent people of Gaza - a small gesture but not empty. They are a relatively well known UK business making a point and it’s got decent media coverage. It’s raises awareness of their fundraising at the very least. If you think it’s pointless, fine, but Lush isn’t forcing you to do anything. It’s offering anyone who cares to buy soap and donate to good causes.

Exactly. Which is their right

Chest binders. Jeez. One day folks will look back at that barbarism and shake the heads as to how people could’ve celebrated it as a good thing. Poor girls. People supporting that - and Lush - should be ashamed.

Who is going to go into the shop through the night??

expecting staff to go hold signs is unreasonable

Hey OP - you are talking about how a fundraiser would be more helpful. Lush ARE fundraising through sales of one of their watermelon soaps. Are you planning on buying, or have you already bought, one in order to support their fundraising, or are you just here with the faux wide eyed naivety about duvet days, when other PP have already explained the logic behind closing for the day?

'Do nothing' is exactly what they've done. Shut up shop and had a day off. Well done Lush staff!

I'm not a massive fan of placard wavers but at least they are trying to be productive.

Interesting that the OP just didn’t reply to my post asking if they’d purchased the soap lush are fund raising with, but continues to reply to other people about how a fund raiser would be better.

almost like this post was not posted in good faith, eh?

Ah I went to buy one yesterday but they were shut.

Also I'm not sure what you mean by 'in good faith'? In my opinion closing shops isn't a very good method of demonstrating 'solidarity'. Yes we are discussing it here on a very short thread and 24hr news mentioned it in passing but it isn't attention grabbing is it.

Just get back to work and do something constructive to show your support for those suffering in gaza. They could maybe try a 'fuck hamas' bath bomb?

Just so your thread is not a complete and utter waste of internet, here is the link to purchase the fundraising soap for any other posters who may want to buy it:

www.lush.com/uk/en/p/watermelon-slice-soap?queryId=5462953bef47e26c1480960ce9d579ae

I would never go in Lush anyway, just the smell puts me off, but I agree that this is pointless virtue signalling. If they feel so strongly, why can't they just donate to a relevant charity? And preferably two - one to support Palestinians and one to support Israelis, as there are - of course - two sides in this conflict.

Unfortunately sending money has limited value in a country where children and adults are literally starving to death because there is nowhere near enough food available, and people are shot at when they approach the aid stations.
Closing shops and losing revenue means that the UK government receives less in taxes, which hopefully they will take note of and consider what we can do as a country to help stop the genocide.
A lot of companies are joining in this initiative, it's not just Lush.

Support Israelis how?

Feed them ?.
Give them clean drinking water?
Access to basic medical care?
Shelter equipment?
Sanitary towels, nappies, tampons etc?

Which one of these do they need.

At least they are doing something which they should be applauded for. People generally feel helpless but Lush are raising awareness, which is certainly something.

Lush - there is no point.

Bizarre that my post about the foot traffic on Oxford St was deleted. Am genuinely baffled. So I post again:
Google tells me that 500,000 people walk down Oxford st per day. How much more attention grabbing do you want it to be?

Totally agree.

Have they made any free the hostages soap, end the conflict shower gel? Perhaps there's a new range they were planning on their day off.

https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/

Lush obviously have decided to deal with Palestinians being starved
and of course the hostages being starved in Gaza too