Marks and Spencer support new 'Hooters' in Bristol

[JessinAvalon]

Dear all
This is my first post on here so I hope I am doing this right!

I live in Bristol and, last week, 'Hooters' was granted a licence to open in the city centre. The site is virtually opposite 3 apartment blocks, the lower floors of which are social housing and children are living in them.

What's most disappointing is that Marks and Spencer are leasing the site to 'Hooters'. They have been e-mailed by many concerned people to ask if they will reconsider leasing the building but they have just replied saying it is a "commercial decision" (as if that makes it ok!). In Sheffield, a 'Hooters' didn't even make it to application stage because the developer (Ask Pizza) realised that it would be better not to be associated with a company like 'Hooters'.

Marks and Spencer don't seem that concerned, however. Although they have signed up to the "Let Girls Be Girls" Mumsnet campaign they are not concerned about a company which sells merchandise including babygros which say "Future Hooters Girl" and "Does my butt look big in this?"

I have written to Marks and Spencer telling them that I won't be shopping in their stores again. If you feel strongly about this, please e-mail:

[email protected].

'Hooters' tries to sell itself as a family friendly restaurant but it is anything but. The Hooters in Nottingham attracts mainly stag parties and football fans. Hooters Girls take part in bikini contests and iced wet t-shirt competitions (the t-shirts are put in the freezers before the girls wear them). 'Hooters' has links to Playboy magazine....I could go on.....

I think Marks and Spencer should be shamed for facilitating this company's expansion into Bristol. They are selling women and girls down the river by leasing to this company and all just to make a "quick buck".

Thanks everyone.

I may be off my face, but I can still remember making that post.

I wasn't trying to get a cheep laugh out of the fact that babies die from drinking contaminated formula - I was simply pointing out that boycotters had failed to prevent it. I did use the kind of language that the boycotters like to use though. 'my bad?

As for the last paragraph, I'd bet my shirt that I'm right. They are fitting out the store(I've seen the photos) - is a (very) done deal. Sorry, sisters.

They were fitting out the store months ago. Before the licence was even granted.

Make of that what you will. I have my own theories about what's going on here.

It doesn't have to be a done deal.

Direct action can be effective in disrupting done deals.

"I did use the kind of language that the boycotters like to use though. 'my bad?"

Projection?
I agree that boycotts are not effective, in fact they're the least effective way of effecting change. We need women M.Ps, over 50% in parliament, female CEOS, women in real power to stop the mess they're making at the top.

Hi All,

No not a marketing blurb, just a real woman that enjoys going to Hooters! Just was hoping you would be a bit more openminded.

Scottishmummy the 'hooters' in Edinbourough is a lap dance club that ripped off the name and is nothing to do with Hooters Restaurant Chain that will be opening in Bristol.

why do you enjoy going to Hooters, Hooty? What is it about it that attracts you as a woman?

Hooty, if you're a customer why did you write
""I am aware that our outfits are small"

Typo?

rofl Sakura!
If they are encouraging their staff to go around being completely dishonest about themselves on internet chat fora that doesn't give a very good impression of the company, does it?

LOL! Hooty is so blatantly someone from Hooters marketing. Even if it weren't for clangers like:

we do not do 'extras' sit on customers laps etc.

it would still be obvious.

Try harder please!

Or better, poke it up your arse. All of it. If Hooty is even a woman I'll eat my hat.

I did used to be somewhat inclined to shop at M&S with their apparently right on ethics. This has put me right off. The veneer is paper thin. Many thanks to Jess for bringing it to our attention, I'll do my Christmas shopping elsewhere.

ANd you'd think they'd put more effort into the username, wouldn't you?

Hooty -"It would be so nice if you could keep an openmind and perhaps visit and decide for yourself."

Er, I don't particularly want to add to your their profits.

Hooty, you are an embarrassment to marketing.

LOL

poppymouse "If Hooty is even a woman I'll eat my hat."

I was thinking exactly the same thing. I'm picturing some hapless bloke in the PR department working overtime on a Saturday. I feel quite sorry for Hooty. He/she is obviously never going to make it in PR/marketing.

Hooty - to answer your question re Virgin, if their air stewardesses were called Virgin Girls and wore the same uniforms as Hooters Girls I would definitely boycott them then. Does that help?

Re. the Virgin point too. I did think that Virgin ad with all the air hostesses swishing through the airport while all the men stared, slack jawed was a bit . Not sure saying "look, we're just like other large employers who have dubious practices WRT women's uniforms etc" really helps your cause.

yes I hated that advert too Rosa. It would put me off them.
there's branding that makes you like the company and want to shop there, branding that puts you off, and branding that makes you want to get active and help with a full-scale boycott.
M&S's involvement with Hooters has unfortunately flipped them from the first category to the third for a lot of people....

If anyone wants to go and check out their employment practices, they are having an open recruitment day in @Bristol this afternoon between 1pm and 4pm. They have been told by the venue hiring manager no posters and no scantily clad girls!

Of course there will be posters as they only announced this open day on Thursday and it's Brisfest today so no doubt they'll be aiming to attract girls who are in the city for the festival.

As for Hooty saying, there are no extras like lap dances, etc...no one said there were! I don't recall one single poster suggesting that there was anything like lap dancing going on. However, the Nottingham Hooters website has enough in its photo gallery to make me want to bring my lunch up.

Ah well if your their swimsuit contests are only like Miss World them I'm convinced and will go straight to Hooters for my lunch. Cos people who object to the objectification of women just lurve Miss World, don't they . Oh no hang on, wasn't there some protest about that once, some vague recollection of a big moment in feminist history there First rule of marketing surely Hooters, know your audience...

Jess, are you going to report back from the recruitment day? I'd go myself, but don't think I'm fit to drive yet.

Hooty wrote - "However it is a wholesome cheerleader image rather than a sleazy one."

Are we talking "Debbie does Dallas" or President George W. Bush here?

Hi All,
Hooty here. Real name Rosie.

Sakura..LOL for my typo! Def not from Hooters marketing lol.

Octopusinabox, the reason I like going to Hooters is that I like the atmosphere, I get great service and it reminds me of the states.

I know you all have your own opinions, I was just meerly trying to defend Hooters a bit about the misconceptions so that you can perhaps form a more balanced view.

JessinAvalon I mentioned that they don't do lap dances/wet t shirts in hooters as I believe I saw it mentioned somewhere on the blog.

Hooty - you are hilarious.

We, however, are not stupid.

Hooty made me snort with contempt said;

"However it is a wholesome cheerleader image rather than a sleazy one."

Hooty, the wholesome cheerleader image is very popular in the porn industry. Why do you think this is? You appear concerned that intelligent woman might confuse the wholesome cheerleading image at Hooters with sleazy porn images - if middle aged women do this, what chance do you think there is for the average man in our pornified culture?

If Hooters is aiming for wholesome do you really think hotpants and tight tops are a logical choice of uniform?

Are the people who decide on the uniform as confused as the marketing folks?

Genuine questions for your genuine presence here. Thanks!