So, this morning I was feeling a little discouraged about my little campaign to get Publix to remove the Sport’s Illustrated display. I have had lots of encouraging support, but as with anything, I also had some people tell me I was wasting my time.
I prayed about what I should do, and decided to write a couple of letters and see what would happen.
The first letter I wrote was to Publix’s corporate headquarters. I now wish I kept a copy of the letter, but I didn’t Oh well. I sent it via email with a link to the Facebook page, “Publix, please protect our children’s innocence.”
Next, I wrote a letter to the store manager. Here’s what I wrote:
My name is The Frazzled Mama. My four children and I frequent your store many times a week. Your employees know us and we have created a nice rapport with many of the employees from the bakery department, to checkout and even management.
I am very concerned with a display in this store. It is the Sport’s Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. My issue is not that you are selling this magazine, but that the display is only about 2 and a half feet tall. I feel like you are allowing SI to market to young children, which goes against your “family friendly” image you have worked so hard to create. If SI was to create a swimsuit edition for kids and posed their models in the same way, I am sure charges would be filed for the exploitation of children. With that in mind, I don’t feel that it is appropriate to have these displays at a child’s eye level. When I first saw the display, the plastic covers weren’t even in place, to keep little eyes from seeing the VERY seductive pose on the cover. I got one of the customer service managers and showed it to her. She was very kind and apologized that the covers of the magazine were uncovered. I expressed my concern about the height and location of the display, and she assured me that she would speak to the manager right then, expressing my concern. I am now asking that you remove this display. If a customer wants to buy that magazine, I’m sure they will find it in the magazine section.
Publix is my favorite place to shop BECAUSE you are a family-friendly store. You will find that I am not the only person who feels this way, if you check out the Facebook page Publix, please protect our children’s innocence.
My children are very important to myself, and my husband. We have worked very hard to protect them from images that would rob them of their innocence. It is my desire to continue shopping at Publix, but as long as that display is in your store, I will not return. I have already done some shopping at your local competitor this week.
Sincerely,
I really didn’t use the name “The Frazzled Mama”, just thought that was fun :)
So, I needed to run Mr. OverKill his lunch, before I dropped this letter off and spoke with the manager. It ended up being a couple of hours between sending the email to corporate, and speaking with the manager. Can I just say I LOVE God’s timing?!?!? The only manager available was the head honcho, THE store manager. I was very nice to her as I expressed my concern, in less than a minute she said, “Ok, I’ll take it down. I have five kids myself, and I know where you are coming from.” I handed her the letter and we said good-bye. She walked straight over to the display and started taking the magazines off!
That was way too easy, I thought. So this evening, I asked Mr. OverKill to drop by and check things out. Sure enough the display is gone!!!! Praise the Lord!
So, maybe one Frazzled Mama can make a difference. Thank you all for your support!!!!
And a BIG thank you to Publix!!!