Who needs to pay for advertising when you can get it for free?

Abercrombie & Fitch has proved again the adage that all publicity is good publicity, a Los Angeles Times editorial noted. After a group of teenagers from Pittsburgh, Pa., launched a “girl-cott” protest, the clothing retailer pulled from its shelves a line of girls T-shirts featuring the slogan “Who needs brains when you have these?” printed across the chest. But the company’s October revenue was up 41 percent compared with October 2004. “So though the girls who protested A&F won the battle, A&F is winning the war,” the Times wrote.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

8 Comments

  1. Ryan
    Posted November 28, 2005 at 5:34 am | Permalink

    When will people learn that boycotts, especially highly publicized boycotts, accomplish nothing?

  2. Damoon
    Posted November 28, 2005 at 8:14 am | Permalink

    What about the boycott that started the civil rights movement? That was sucessful in changing the whole culture.I applaud the girls for standing up and trying to do what was right.

  3. TRACY
    Posted November 28, 2005 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    How about speedos for men with the same caption?Equally bigoted, but equal.

  4. Ray Thomas
    Posted November 29, 2005 at 7:11 am | Permalink

    Tracy-

    If a guy is dumb enough to buy/wear something like that, he should. Who am I (or anyone else) to censor someone’s choice in clothing?

    Correct me if I am wrong, but regardless of how many people found those shirts offensive, I believe they were selling, yes?

  5. TRACY
    Posted November 29, 2005 at 7:18 am | Permalink

    Ray you are right.Sexual inuendo, shocking and or offensive sells.People will naturally find some way to show a rebellious attitude.Ultra conservatives certainly believe in their rebellion against the shirts in question.Culture wars are a historical fact, not something new.

  6. Damoon
    Posted November 29, 2005 at 8:51 am | Permalink

    The point is the retailer pulled the shirts from the shelves, so the boycott did acomplish that goal. What’s wrong with women demanding that they be given some respect? That’s not nessesarily a conservative way of thought. I say it’s about time!

  7. TRACY
    Posted November 29, 2005 at 9:13 am | Permalink

    Just the fact that this offends some people will send others out to buy.Ryan was right in the first comment.Another retailer will pick up the item and benefit by the publicity.

  8. Damoon
    Posted November 29, 2005 at 6:48 pm | Permalink

    God, we’re all such sheep!!!At least there are a few women left in the world willing to take a stand against disrespect.