The latest marketing campaign from Sorbet Group, which describes itself as being “at the forefront of professional grooming, for women and men” since 2005, is a bit of a head scratcher.
The campaign revolves around Nancy, a woman Sorbet describes as “unassuming and ungroomedâ€, “a consumer that needs a little push in the right direction” – towards their salons, to have her body waxed, buffed and shined, at a price of course, lest she find herself “unloved”.
No, seriously.
According to a Sorbet press release, the campaign’s goal is to “educate the aspirant female grooming generation on the importance of being well-kempt in business, home and lifestyle.”
Because of course, women need to be educated about how unlovable their bodies are when left in their natural state.
Marketing manager Jade Kirkel says: “At Sorbet we believe in regular manicures and pedicures, waxes, facials and massages – not only because it looks good, but because it promotes the ‘feel-good’ factor we’re all after.”
Also, supposedly, a steady revenue stream for Sorbet.
The beauty salon group must have been surprised to find that South Africans weren’t buying it.
Look. Look at this bullshit. What are you playing at?! @SorbetGroup cc @thedailyvox pic.twitter.com/Z3d63fPjQP
— Ms Zwelinzima Pillay (@PearlPillay) November 25, 2014
@Paulachowles @SorbetGroup I take issue with this new campaign too. It smacks of sexism.
— Jeanine Cameron (@J9Thinks) November 25, 2014
@Paulachowles the entire thing has unreal levels of sexism. read the marketing bumf in the second link.
— T. O. (@TOMolefe) November 25, 2014
Also, who can afford REGULAR manicures, pedicures, waxes, facials AND massages? Lol. @TOMolefe @PearlPillay @SorbetGroup @thedailyvox
— Hanna Barry (@hanna_barry) November 25, 2014
Sorbet Group quickly issued an apology on Twitter, albeit a rather lame one.
@Sapartridge @MargieOrford @TOMolefe @PearlPillay @thedailyvox Sincere apologies if this caused offense. It was never our intention.
— Sorbet Salons (@SorbetGroup) November 25, 2014
But if Sorbet thought it could brush this off so easily it had another thing coming.
No, I'd like to chat here. In public. That awful billboard was totally public @SorbetGroup @Sapartridge @TOMolefe @PearlPillay @thedailyvox
— Margie Orford (@MargieOrford) November 25, 2014
It’s surprising that a business that makes its money almost entirely from the patronage of women could be so tone deaf to issues of body image and body politics but whatever, #sexistSA. This Nancy is quite happy the way she is.