Hails & Fails – June 25th 2021
It is the week of Euro 2020 and Father’s Day, with the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament just a few days away. As a result, there have been some seriously sporty and dad-fuelled PR campaigns to marvel at this week. M&S gave us beer whips for dads, Paddy Power has had a pop at two England footballing stars, and AVA Berries has reminded us how to eat strawberries properly. It was an odd week for Coca Cola though, as a host of star international footballers put them on the media agenda by…err…taking them off their agenda.
HAILS
Bumble gives staff a week off
Bumble, the dating app, has closed all of its offices this week to combat workplace stress. Its 700 staff worldwide have been told to switch off and focus on themselves -a free and unexpected week off!
All Bumble employees will have a paid, fully offline one-week holiday this week – a few customer support staff will be working in case any of the app’s users experience issues. But these employees will then be given time off to make sure they take that free whole week of leave. Fantastic! And global coverage to boot.
Aldi launches Britain’s cheapest-ever school uniform
Costing just £4.50, the package deal includes a sweatshirt for just £1, a two-pack of polo shirts for only £1.75 and trousers or a skirt for £1.75.
The range is available to pre-order online from July 18 and in-store at Aldi from July 22. The uniforms are for primary schoolkids, with PE kits and shoes also available.
A great example of price leadership which has won both coverage and customers.
Victoria’s Secret clips its angels wings
Victoria’s Secret’s new ambassador, Megan Rapinoe, isn’t the only one to welcome the brand’s change of image this week, after it opted to ditch its controversial ‘angels’ and opt instead for a more modern VS Collective.
The Collective includes Olympic soccer champion Megan Rapinoe and actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, alongside other big names like model and body positivity advocate Paloma Elsesser, Chinese American freestyle skier Eileen Gu, and media star, Amanda de Cadenet.
Rapinoe said: : “I am humbled to join this group of incredible women to drive change within the Victoria’s Secret brand and beyond.
And the change in direction has won plaudits everywhere…
FAILS
UEFA blocks LGBTQ+ rainbow stadium protest in Munich
Munich’s mayor attacked the “shameful” decision by UEFA to quash his city’s plans to illuminate its Allianz Arena in rainbow colours in support of LGBTQ+ rights for Germany’s Euro 2020 match against Hungary this week.
European football’s governing body said the rainbow lights would contravene its rules about political and religious neutrality.
Munich city council and LGBTQ+ activists had requested the move in protest at legislation passed by Hungary’s parliament banning gay people from featuring in school educational materials or TV shows for under-18s.
As you’d expect, UEFA has been heavily criticised for the ban…
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