Questionable Taste: Harvey Nichols Sale Promotions Spark Social Outrage

Pictured: TMI, Model wetting herself over the Harvey Nichols’ Sale (via the DailyMail.)

When a luxury retailer runs an ad campaign that my 11 year old niece thinks is disgusting, something is really wrong.  Check out the photo above from Harvey Nichol’s (London, Knightsbridge.)  Every Anglo shopper knows that you want to get in on the savings when Harvey Nics has a good sale, because normally things are very pricey at that store. However, that doesn’t mean we want to see a group of ads showing models “wetting” themselves because they are SO excited about the sale.  I’m not talking about one ad either, this is a complete ad campaign which is falling flat with shoppers.  Public sentiment against the campaign is running high with multiple Tweeps declaring they are ” pissed off.” In the era of social media, consumers are not shy about voicing their opinions.  I love this Tweet-  “I sense a partnership with Depends for this clothing company‘, notes Twitter ID ‏@notlikenormal.  Clearly associations with products for adult incontinence would be fab for Harvey Nichols, but perhaps not the type of partnerships they were seeking. 🙂

Pictured: Twitter messages about the Harvey Nichols ad campaign.

It’s amazing that with all the monetary resources available to a brand like Harvey Nics that they had to stoop to this level of sensationalism to bring shoppers into the store.  This is the worst thing I’ve seen since the Betsey Johnson “ride me” jewelery at New York Fashion Week a few seasons ago.  What do you think readers? Does this campaign draw you in to shop, or offend you and put you off. I’m in the offend camp.  Next time I’m in London, I’ll be looking for sales other than those at Harvey Nichols.