Johannesburg - Woolworths continues to take flack from disgruntled shoppers on Tuesday over its use of ropes draped over apparently black mannequins in a store display.
This is despite the retailer’s apology on Facebook, in which it says the mannequins are not meant to portray a certain race but are naturally grey because they are made out of recycled material.
Outraged shoppers took to Twitter to bemoan the display, referring to it as ‘slavery’. This is the second time in as many weeks that a retailer has come under fire from the public.
@RediTlhabi @WOOLWORTHS_SA how insensetive of woolies to use slavery of blacks for fashion pic.twitter.com/xESHvSzVPO
— Mpho Kelepetsweng (@mpho1063) November 16, 2015
The storm on social media has not affected the company’s share price, which by early afternoon was up 2.03 percent at R100. The JSE’s all share index was up 1.16 percent by comparison.
Woolworths has also come under fire on Facebook, where it posted an apology longer than the one-liner it was initially sending out via Twitter.
In its post, the retailer said: “We apologise for the distress caused by an incorrectly assembled RE: in-store installation.
“At the start of any campaign, our stores are taken through the creative direction for installations via a ‘model store’ set up. This festive season's installation is supposed to hold Christmas baubles suspended off ropes, being supported by the mannequins. One store implemented the installation incorrectly, using the rope without the Christmas baubles.
“The mannequins used in RE: displays are made from recycled materials which is why they are naturally grey in colour; they don’t represent a particular race.
“As soon as we became aware of the error yesterday afternoon we contacted the relevant team to make sure the mistake was corrected as soon as possible. The offending display is now fixed.”
Last week, Bloomingdales caused outrage over its new catalogue.
The catalogue features a picture of a woman laughing, head tossed back, focused on something over her right shoulder. A man stares at her, unsmiling. The caption reads: "Spike your best friend's eggnog when they're not looking."
Bloomingdales was slammed on Twitter for seemingly encouraging a rape culture at work.
In response to the uproar, Bloomingdales issued a prompt apology: "In reflection of recent feedback, the copy we used in our recent catalogue was inappropriate and in poor taste." A spokesman wouldn't say how the spiking directive was approved.
Now the South African Twitterati are up in arms over Woolies’ latest display, with a #WoolworthsMustFall hashtag - reminiscent of #FeesMustFall - being created.
The uproar began late on Monday.
The Django display at #woolworths portraying slavery must fall. Black people have bin thru alot #Woolies must not rub it in. #angry consumer
— siso naile (@SisoNaile) November 17, 2015
Twitter user Melissa Kububa tweeted: "Why do these manikins have ropes tied to them exactly?can @WOOLWORTHS_SA please explain why these manikins are roped [sic]."
Another Twitter user - LeFa -was more direct: "@WOOLWORTHS_SA The portrayal of #woolworths #Slavery display is cruel and unforgettable!! Apology is not good enough #WoolworthsMustFall".
Woolworths responded to many similar tweets with a standard response: "We're so sorry. The ropes are supposed to be used to support Christmas baubles; we're removing them."
Koketso Sachane, host of the early breakfast show on CapeTalk and 702, also stepped in to the fray, asking: "Dear @WOOLWORTHS_SA, your repeated one line doesn't make sense. Where were the baubles & since when do u tie them to mannequins? [sic]"
To which Woolworths replied: "@KoketsoSachane our store installation team have confirmed the ropes are supposed to support the baubles & have been used incorrectly here."
It is still unclear which Woolworths store was involved.
IOL