A restaurant chain in China came under fire, according to the Qianjiang Evening Post, after locals complained of “vulgar advertising” to their local council. Trendy Shrimp with two locations in the Lake and Binjiang District of Hangzhou city in Eastern China’s Zhejiang province, advertised discounts for women based on their bra size. The company’s ad depicted a line-up of cartoon women in their underwear. According to BBC News the ad slogan read “The whole city is looking for BREASTS”. On the side of the advertisement was a chart telling female customers how much of a discount they could get off their meal depending on their bra size. Women with a G-cup could get 65% off. The advertisements first appeared on August 1, 2017.
Trendy Shrimp general manager Lan Shenggang reassured female customers that visual inspection of bra size during the promotion would be done by female staff rather than males. If women felt uncomfortable, the restaurant chain would take customers at their word.
GM Shenggang defended the sales strategy by pointing out the restaurant chain experienced a 20% increase in business. Of the female customers taking part in the promotion, he said “some of the girls we met were very proud – they had nothing to hide”
But a few days into the promotion Trendy Shrimp removed the ads and discontinued the offer voluntarily after a visit to one of their locations by the Hangzhou Binjiang Market Authority (HBMA). The HBMA asked Trendy Shrimp to remove the ads and stop the offer. The company was informed they could be breaking Article 3 of China’s advertising law that (according to Top News)is advertising that should be “true, legitimate, and healthy. The form of expression of advertising content, in line with the socialist spiritual civilization construction and carry forward the outstanding traditional Chinese culture requirements”.
Shenggang said the company is planning new promotions to be launched in the near future.
Source(s): Qianjiang Evening Post, BBC News official website, Kerry Allen, Top News, China Times, and Zuidd.com.
Photo Source(s): Zuidd.com.
