A&F in the news

By: Chris Johnson

For those of you who have followed our ministry for a number of years, you are aware of our campaign against the pornographic advertising schemes of Abercrombie & Fitch in the early 2000s.  With your help, we made an impact on Abercrombie & Fitch and A&F stopped the production of their quarterly so-called “catalog” which featured dozens of photos of fully nude youth erotically posed, including the implications of group sex.

A&F has never completely rid themselves of provocative advertisements and so we continue to monitor the company and make it known when they start going down that path again.  In our last newsletter we made readers aware of a topless, sexually explicit wall display within A&F stores.

We are not naïve.   A&F is driven by profits.  Their change in advertising did not come due to a sudden concern for our youth, but only by a loss of profits resulting from the growing boycott we promoted.

In the light of the article below regarding A&F’s profits, one wonders if their recent display mentioned above is a desperate attempt to draw customers by reverting to their pornographic ways.  This is a company we will continue to watch.

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“When Sex Doesn’t Sell: Abercrombie Can’t Rescue Teen Retailing

Posted Aug 13, 2009 03:40pm EDT by Tech Ticker

“One of the few brights spots in today’s July retail sales? Specialty retailers.

The group eeked out a 0.6% sales gain last month, while broader retail sales dipped 0.1%. Economists were expecting a modest gain.

As consumer spending accounts for two-third of the American economy — at least the U.S. teen is still spending, right? Not necessarily, says our guest Kristin Bentz, author of the fashion investing blog The Talented Blonde and a former retail/consumer analyst for Lehman Brothers, Northeast Securities and Ladenburg Thalmann.

Take Abercrombie & Fitch. Bentz estimates one in three teens no longer are shopping at Abercrombie, a former darling among retail analysts. The retailer has been struggling with stagnant inventory and higher prices, Bentz says. (Abercrombie reports Q2 results on Friday, with analysts forecasting a loss of 6 cents a share vs. profits of 87 cents a year ago).

Bentz, who has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in the accompanying video, says Abercrombie’s stock is vulnerable after its recent run, even a potential short. The company remains wedded to the sexy, black-and-white advertisements, she says. Once considered edgy, the campaign has less impact with teens, who’ve now migrated to other retailers such as American Apparel and The Buckle. As for the Nebraska-based, The Buckle, it may be time for some profit-taking after an incredible run, Bentz says.”

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And then there is this news, as well, from one of our readers regarding a victory over A&F.  Abercrombie & Fitch has often been accused by employees of discriminating based on appearance or race – only good-looking teens who fit their image on the floor as sales-reps.

“I enjoy reading your letters.  I want to say another battle has been won today.  A&F lost their discrimination case that a disabled woman from United Kingdom (England) who is a law student who was forced to work in the back stockroom sued them.  This is total discrimination.  I am Deaf myself and I have been discriminated quite often and I am suing against a company for discrimination.

God is working!!  God is the answer and we can really proved that A&F is losing their battles and the main war between us and them.

Keep up praying and we will eliminate sexuality in workplaces!!

God bless!”

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Match Grant Challenge —

$8,814.55 have been raised as of yesterday.  $6,185.45 yet needed to reach the goal!

This is a difficult challenge. Read the details below and see why.  I hope you’ll help us reach it if you can.

Here are the details of this important challenge.

1. it must be new money–from someone who hasn’t given in 2008 or 2009.   Or, any amount given in 2009 which was more than what someone gave in 2008.  E.g. donor gives $400 in 2008 but cumulatively gives $1000 in 2009 by the end of the match period, we will match $600
2. we will match up to $15,000
3. the funds must be received between June 15 and September 30.

Click Here To Donate Online

American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050
https://americandecency.org
http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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