" ... January 11, 2008,
'The Limited' was monitoring our webpage frequently as VS personnel were on
our web page hundreds of times in early January and beyond. We had Victoria’s
Secret’s attention. ..."
January 20, 2009
Personal note:
In 2008, in the early months, "The Limited" was checking out our
webpage very frequently. Within a few days, Victoria's Secret made the announcement
that they were going to be toning down their ads.
We have seen evidences of some toning down. However, the jury is still out
and the battle continues.
Activism highlights from 2008
Through continued pressure upon Victoria’s Secret via urging people
to divest from their stock through “The Limited (Victoria’s Secret)
and from putting pressure on mall managers and mall development corporations
(General Growth Properties and CBL Properties) and promoting a boycott of
Victoria’s Secret, ADA began to read news accounts of financial faltering
at Victoria’s Secret. See various details below.
January 11, 2008, “The Limited” was monitoring
our webpage frequently as VS personnel were on our web page hundreds of times
in early January and beyond. We had Victoria’s Secret’s attention.
January 30, Bill Johnson sent an email to Mr. John
Bucksbaum, CEO of General Growth Properties (Chicago, Illinois) expressing
serious concern regarding the Victoria’s Secret Valentine displays featured
at their property - Rivertown Crossings Mall in Grandville, Michigan. He also
attached specific examples of concerning images.
Victoria’s Secret Amie Preston, VP-investor relations reporter said
Victoria’s Secret was challenged by slow traffic during the holiday
season.
February 11, we mailed all 83 stores in the Lakes
Mall (a CBL Property) letting them know that despite our efforts to get the
mall manager and VS to tone down their displays, that there had been no sense
of cooperation or receptivity. ADA urged the store managers to bring pressure
upon VS and the mall themselves since the local mall management paid no concern
to their local shoppers. We made it known to the 83 various store managers
that if there was no remedy we would call for a boycott of the entire mall
during the upcoming Christmas shopping season.
February 15, a law firm for Lakes Mall attempted
to chill our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech by saying in a letter
that we were no longer to communicate our concerns with the mall management
but only with Victoria’s Secret or the mall’s attorneys.
February 28, 2008 Sharen Turney, Chief Executive
of the VS lingerie chain stated publicly that the brand had become “too
sexy.” She stated that VS had gotten off “our heritage”
and that changes were in the works.
Standard & Poors Ratings warned it may cut the credit rating of Limited
Brand to junk status because of growing concerns regarding the company’s
debt.[Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2008]
February 28. CNN called Bill Johnson seeking a response
to the news regarding VS’s Sharon Turney saying VS was “too sexy.”
Lakes Mall, Muskegon. The Victoria’s Secret store displayed a series
of erotic, black and white window displays. ADA had urged the mall manager
and CBL Properties to replace those displays with images more suitable for
a general shopping public. Lakes Mall ignored our requests.
April (approximately): The concerning erotic black
and white displays were taken down (this after featuring these displays for
more than a year). Victoria’s Secret nor the Lakes Mall ever
indicated that actions taken were as a result of expressions of concern. However,
it is obvious that the continued pressure resulted in the positive change
we sought.
Our February newsletter will feature a summary of ADA’s year-in-review.
As we have stated many times, we aren’t called to be successful but
to be faithful. Sometimes our faithfulness doesn’t lead to the success
that we would like, yet we aren’t likely to attain the success we seek
if we’re not faithful. With God’s help and yours, we begin another
year.
Thank you friend in Christ for making our efforts possible!
=================
To donate online:
http://americandecency.org/folder.php?f=donate
American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050
http://www.americandecency.org
