Marks and Spencer support new Hooters in Bristol, #2

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I went to post on the first thread but it was full so here is a new one.

I'm reposting Jessinavalon's OP from 10th September since it explains what is going on, for anyone who is new to the issue:

'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.'

ElephantsAndMiasmas Sun 26-Sep-10 02:05:24
"But we are part of "the market", and if we can use our part of "the market" to put pressure on M&S, surely that's our prerogative?"

DavidStHubbins Sun 26-Sep-10 02:43:34
"Absolutely, I've never said otherwise."

Was there another question that I missed?

Another question...

I'm not just a garden-variety communist. I'M a muslim fundamentalist communist.

So...how can I align your comment of

"I care that you are trying to prevent a legitimate business from opening. The market will decide whether the people of Bristol, or anywhere else for that matter, want to visit Hooters. Its not Hooters that I care about, it's your opposition to it."

with my beliefs?

Try my post of 11:33 David. But it's good to know that you're not actually reading other people's posts before opining:

"I sometimes wonder if you guys actually read my posts. You seem so blinded by rage and conditioned by dogma that you simply cannot comprehend an alternative view."

Do you just write with a mirror stuck to your computer or what?

David, you are really quite predictable! Somehow, I think no matter what evidence or stats are provided you will find a way to rubbish it.

I have given you some titles to read. Can I suggest you start there.

@Elephants-love your idea of going into M&S and burning their bras!

Jess - did you see NotAnOtter's post on the pg3 thread the other day. Reposting (hope she doesn't mind) because it made me smile:

"watch .....

Remember?????"

Hi I didn't see that thread but I will try to find it. I think I'll like it!

It sometimes feels as if we haven't made much progress at all.

Marks and Spencer, if you reading this, is there any chance of the statement we discussed when I spoke to you on the phone on Thursday? I know you said you couldn't comment at all but I did suggest that it might be a good idea. You did say that you Marks and Spencer weren't brushing this under the carpet but it does very much feel like that.

Can you also explain the relevance of the A3 planning permission? No one cares about the planning permission, you may have noticed! We do care about your commitment to the Let Girls Be Campaign. As I told you on the phone, your commitment to both your Plan A policy and the LGBG campaign does seem rather hollow now. They're not really worth the paper they're written on, are they? I wanted to know if your Plan A team felt undermined by the corporate side negotiating this deal but, surprise, surprise, you wouldn't let them speak to me.

As I told you on the phone, your (former) customers have lost a lot of trust in the M&S brand. Does that bother you? It seems not!

I also told you that the fact that you'd negotiated this deal in the first place was extremely disappointing but your dismissive emails since (please don't tell us again about the A3 planning permission) have made matters worse.

What are you going to do to repair the damage?

No don't Jess, it'll do your head in!

Any word from MNHQ Jess? Want me to start a thread somewhere?

Yeh don't find that pg 3 thread Jess, it absolutely did my head in. Found it too late to contribute, but was stunned to see what people were saying

Ok - thanks for the warning. Don't want to be annoyed!

Elephants - that'd be great if you could start that MNHQ would see. They did say a while back that they had been in touch with their contact at M&S and were waiting to hear back. When I talked to the corporate spokesman on Thursday, they said that they knew that it looked like they were just trying to brush this under the carpet but that they weren't. Can't see any evidence to the contrary though.

A3 planning permission anyone?!

DH keeps referring to this as the 'Bristols against Hooters' thread. I started off being annoyed at this but now it is starting to make me laugh.
AIBU?

YABU SSM :o

I've just been catching up with these posts, and it's fascinating reading.

Yesterday I had the memorable experience of heading down to @Bristol (a family-orientated science museum on Bristol's lovely Harbourside), during BrisFest (a fun weekend festival for people of all ages to enjoy dance workshops, music, food, drinks etc), to apply for a job at Hooters.

nohootersinbristol.blogspot.com/

I won't repeat myself here, but if you're interested you can read about it on the blog. I know some of you have already seen it, so sorry to re-post.

Suffice to say, I think my interviewer concluded (after I chatted to him for 30 minutes, with me doing all the question-asking, and him happily giving information away - not how I'd imagined a professional job interview to go) that I was too old (in my early 30s). He even asked my age - which might possibly be against equal opportunities' law. Will check that out.

Anyone who thinks Hooters is a good thing, clearly didn't see the handful of orange dolly girls in hooker heels, micro minis, and barely there tops, tottering around looking for a job. Classy.

And I'm sure all the unknowing parents who had taken their kids for a fun day at @Bristol, were thrilled their youngsters had to see this bunch of tarts patrolling the place looking like prostitutes. I'm quite sure I wouldn't want my daughter to see that and think that was how she ought to dress.

Wow MumofRachel, great that you did that and reported back.

Not so keen on the "bunch of tarts" talk though thanks.

PS - Please sign up to this Facebook group that someone has just started, boycotting sexist M&S. We need to show them there is a huge wealth of anger at them.

www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=156976027654098&ref=ts

Sorry, Elephants, maybe "bunch of tarts" was a bit harsh, but the whole thing had me fuming!

That said, maybe they had dyed their skin orange to blend in to Hooters' corporate colouring?

?Thank you for completing an application form today for the position of Host, our records show that you left without speaking to a member of management re this opportunity.?

hmm, could this be to support them in case they want to deny it all and claim you made it all up?
hope you pointed out immediately that their records were wrong....

well done yesterday!

I was thinking, SSM, that it is their way of getting out of having to explain why she didn't get a job (getting around age/sex/weight discrimination issues).

Well, a friend of mine was also applying for a job (as were some other friends, who were the women who walked out shouting "Sexist") and they all witnessed me being interviewed. So it's a pretty weak argument on Hooters' part of you're right. I will email them back tomorrow. Anyone got any ideas what I should say??? (That question is not extended to DavidStHubbins BTW. I have a feeling his answers won't be helpful).

No, your quite right - my answers won't be helpful. Probably because I have no experience of applying for jobs simply to dig up dirt on the employer. I'm sure its great fun though.

Alex doesn't sound like he's the sharpest tool in the box, but it seems he still clocked you - but then you're hardly the next Donal MacIntyre either.

Great tactic btw, ignore the posts where you clearly show yourself to be an ass.

I got sidetracked getting fitted out for my new hijab, but I just remembered steth's post:

sethstarkaddersmum Sun 26-Sep-10 11:48:33
I'm going to talk to you about A3 business use again, just to wind you up

I just looked up what it meant.
'Class A3. Food and drink
Use for the sale of food or drink for consumption on the premises or of hot food for consumption off the premises.'

it doesn't seem to cover entertainment. I don't understand. I thought Hooters girls were entertainers since that's what Hooters is arguing in their American sex discrimination case where they told the waitresses to lose weight.

funny old game this licensing and planning permission stuff, innit?"

This is a massive loophole. If it doesn'T cover entertainment (which was the reason they got the licence in the firstplace) then they can't discriminate by age/weight/looks or even sex.

They can'T do an about turn can they? Get the licence because its NOT entertainment and then justify discrimination because it IS entertainment. Who do we make aware of this?

*MumofRachel" this was brilliant:

" Although when I asked exactly what sort of activities the girls did to raise money he was rather vague, and said something about comedy night. ?Do the girls tell jokes?? I asked. He looked at me like I was stupid, ?No?. Oh."

I doubt he clocked you, MumofRachel if he carried on talking to you for 30-40 minutes and apologised to you for you having to hear the shouts of 'sexist!' and gave you that delightful piece of marketing material that told you you could be 'optical' !

Great stuff, and, as I'm sure you are anyway, ignore the voice of dissent from our resident lurker.