Posted on 10/29/2007 9:31:37 AM PDT by dr.zaeus
They were part of a distinctive window display designed to attract shoppers through the doors of chic high street chain All Saints.
But instead, the eight headless black dummies, which are suspended from silver chains, have caused a storm of protest from race campaigners.
Equality groups claim the mannequins resemble the Ku Klux Klan lynchings which terrorised America's Deep South.
And they were so incensed that they complained to police - who launched a probe and sent officers round to the shop to investigate.
The hanging mannequins are used at the all the chain's 40 stores around Britain but have been picked out by race campaigners after appearing in the window of their newest shop in Princesshay, Exeter.
The Devon-based Rural Racism Project has contacted the shop to ask them to review the display.
John McKenzie, from the Project's monitoring group, said: "I have received a number of calls from people who are offended by the window display.
"Some of them feel it brings to mind the lynching of black people. A number of those who have complained are white.
"The fact that this year marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade has heightened awareness of the subject. "My hope is that the shop may be able to change the display in the light of this level of offence."
The Samaritans have also raised concerns about the hanging figures after a complaint from a shopper who had lost a close relative to suicide by hanging.
All Saints assistant manager Tiff Phillips said: "A lot of people have come in to congratulate us on the display.
"There are no heads so there are no grimaces and the mannequins are just hanging there. "The police have been to see us and say we are not breaking any laws and it is the same display as we use in all out stores."
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said they have investigated and do not believe at this time that any law has been broken.
They are obviously going for the market composed of people who want to wear the clothes of dead black people.
The hands are not bound. There is no narrative to the window display. It’s like saying that there are severed heads on display at the optometrist when they have a mannequin head with a pair of glasses on it.
Why not protest the “severed heads” at a muslim owned optometrist?
Should have hung a White Dude..
In both of those cases, the ACLU defended the use of public taxpayer money to fund insults AGAINST the Christian faith.
A separation of Church and State does not permit that any more than they could use the money to fund devotional images.
No, just creepy looking. heh :)
Huh? Are you kidding? Oh that’s right, years and years of window displays have shown that people are NOT influenced to enter a store if they see clothes on display that they like. What in the hell were all those losers like Macy and Gimbels thinking?
Lynchings? Well thats a stretch ;-)
If you are wondering how to grab the attention of a busy person and lure them into your store to make a purchase, we've got some great tips for you.As a retailer, there are so many things you can spend your time on. Don't forget to allocate time to your retail window displays because they can truly be a huge contributor to growing revenues and an expanding customer base.
- Grab their attention. First and foremost, a retail window display must be eye catching. It takes only a few seconds to walk past a store window. If you don't grab their attention, you've lost the sale. Priority one is to divert the focus of the shopper to your store. At a minimum, your store windows need to be more edgy and engaging than the competition next door to you and across the street.
- Work with your vendors. Many retailers neglect to contact their vendors for help on retail window displays. That's a mistake. Vendors will be happy to provide you with posters, banners and retail POP displays that you can put in your store windows. If you are on a tight budget, this can be a way to get a decent retail window display with minimal cost and minimal effort. It also directly promotes something that you sell. The downside is that you have little creative control over these materials.
- Work with artists. Sure you could hire a Madison Avenue advertising agency to design your retail window displays, but you may find better cheaper talent simply by engaging the local art community. For example, an office supply store might contract a local artist to create large paintings of old-fashioned quill pens to promote a sale on pens. Alternatively, art galleries often will lend interesting pieces to you around which you can build a compelling retail window display.
- It's not just about you. Consider making your windows available to local nonprofit organizations that are promoting a good cause. Window displays used for community projects often create good will for the retailer.
- Show your holiday spirit. If Valentines Day is coming up, tie your window display into the holiday in some way. For every holiday, even obscure holidays, there is probably a clever way to promote your store with marketing messaging that ties into the holiday.
- Think outside the window box. Instead of just putting up a Christmas display in your store window, why not wrap your entire store in holiday lights? Don't constrain yourself just to your windows like your competitors do. Think about ways to use the outside of the building in addition to or in conjunction with the window displays.
- Be a quick change artist. Stale window displays will quickly be tuned out by passersby. It's a good idea to change your windows at least every month. Smart retailers put in place a window display plan for the year and then execute the plan. In that way, you know when you will be changing out your windows and can prepare accordingly.
- Don't forget lighting.Retail window displays should be well-lit day and night. Even after the store is closed, it's a good idea to light up your window displays so that your marketing continues even while you and your workers are not at the store. Good daytime lighting is also important as it helps to avoid shadows that can limit the effectiveness of your window display.
- Keep those windows clean. Nothing ruins a retail window display faster than a filthy window. Keep your windows clean to maximize the effectiveness of your window dispays.
- Buy a digital camera. Remember that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. As you walk around the world, you'll no doubt see other retailer's window displays. Use these ideas to fuel your own creativity. By buying a digital camera and keeping it with you at all times, you can take pictures of window displays you like and then review them later. Without a camera, there's a good chance you'll forget what you saw.
Advice for Retailers: Retail Window Displays
“Oh that’s right, years and years of window displays have shown that people are NOT influenced to enter a store if they see clothes on display that they like.”
When was the last time Macy’s had clothes on mannequins that depicted being hanged?
lol
I AM OFFENDED THAT THEY ARE OFFENDED!!! Now what?
“I AM OFFENDED THAT THEY ARE OFFENDED!!! Now what?”
How intolerant you are to be offended at their offense. Its hate crime jail for YOU!!
So THIS is where the DUmmies hang out!
This is such Bull$***.
Unless an immediate stop is put to this shameless, spineless, gutless pandering to rcaialist hucksters by the non-blacks in society, this crap will continue to escalate past all conception of rationality.
Next on the hit list, phrases like “dark thoughts”!!!
Institutionalized racism and blatant individual racism is DEAD in America. These racialist hucksters like Al Sharpeton and “Reverend” Jackson have NOTHING left to support themselves on. Tawana Brawley and the Sports Team “scandal” in Carolina have unmasked them as the frauds they are. We have to stop providing them with an income by treating their isiotic comments as legitimate.
Let them get regualr jobs to support themselves. Jackson and Sharpeton would make GREAT used car salesmen.
Ok if the REPUBs were unethical like Harry Reid they would be on the Senate floor censuring Senator Bobby Byrd (D-KKK).
No silver mannequins would look too much like some of those beings Dr. Who had to fight..was it the Dalaks or another major alien nemesis?
My daughter, who works in a department store, told me that they hung the mannequins because it makes them easier to dress and that they have a motor which makes them rotate showing all sides of the clothing. She thinks that the rotating hanger would be a much simpler device than are the rotating platforms.
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