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»  urban75 bulletin board   » urban75 general forum   » Box Fresh Zapatista Rip Off

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Author Topic: Box Fresh Zapatista Rip Off
Space Hijackers
newbie
Member # 1262

posted 18 August 2001 01:51 PM     Profile for Space Hijackers   Author's Homepage   Email Space Hijackers     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
You may have seen the zapatista graf up around central London, what you maybe did'nt know that it is done by Box Fresh a trendy covent garden store. They are attempting to use the zapatistas as a way of pushing more sales, and make themselves look cool. Here is a copy of a letter that I have sent them, please write in phone in and cause as much of a rucus as possible, to make them pull the offensive adverts.

Dear Box Fresh,

I have tried to call but keep getting your answerphone, therefore I have decided to write. The reason that I am contacting you is to express my utter disgust at your current advertising campaign. The Zapatista pictures, text and the Zapatista Kit.

I would like to know how you can justify turning a struggle a serious as the zapatista's into a marketing campaign for your expensive covent garden clothes shop? How can you claim that by putting up zapatista images and text, all covered in Box Fresh logo's and catch phrases, that you are doing anything other than attempting to jump on the bandwaggon of a struggle that has captured the imagination of many people?

Please do not try and say that you are attempting to futher the cause of the zapatista's, as if this were the case then there would be no need for you to slap your logo over everything. The fact is that you think that the undergroung struggle of the zapatista's will make you cool. That you are attempting to link your brand to the zapatista's, in order to sell more clothes and make more money.

You obviously have no respect for the people who have been raped and murdered in the zapatista struggle, else you would not be attempting to turn their cause into something to sell a few more t-shirts. The ideals of these people and their leader Sub Commander Marcos, obviously mean nothing to you, they are simply something that is a bit trendy at the moment. You quote Marcos on your shop windows and on the graffiti that you have sprayed up (all with the box fresh logo), not because of some respect for his words, but beacuse they sound a bit like your "We Are You" adverts. Have you ever heard of the phrase "People before profit", probably not.

I think the most offensive item has to be your Zapatista Kit retailing at £30. The idea that only by parting with their hard earned cash, and wearing a Box Fresh zapatista t-shirt, getting an official Box Fresh zapatista can of spray paint and listening to a Box Fresh CD, can people become a zapatista is disgusting. Have you ever taken a moment to think that perhaps somethings in life can't be bought off the shelf? And while I'm on the point, exactly how much of that £30 is going to help the zapatistas? Because no one in your shop seems to know, there are no signs saying how much, and even your head office secretary had no idea. Could that possibly be because not a penny of it is? That you really couldn't give a monkeys as to these people, however their blood shed can make you a quick profit.

Finally I just want to let you know that I am going to post this letter up at a number of activist and zapatista websites, with your email and your address attached. I am sure that a good number of "evil anti capitalist anarchists" ,as the press keeps branding everyone, would love to know about your dirty campaign.

Thank you very much for reading (I have attached a picture I took of one of your adverts, it seems I am not the only one who finds you offensive).

Please write back soon,

Yours sincerely,

Robin Priestley.

Box Fresh can be found at seven dials in covent garden, the head office is at 144 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6YG. Tel : 020 7612 0000 or email info@boxfresh.co.uk


Posts: 4 | From: London | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
brew
member
Member # 41

posted 18 August 2001 04:35 PM     Profile for brew   Email brew     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
Good stuff space hijackers. trend whores... go go go!
Posts: 793 | From: | Registered: Nov 2000  |  IP: Logged
bezzer
member
Member # 180

posted 18 August 2001 05:45 PM     Profile for bezzer   Author's Homepage   Email bezzer     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
just to put this back at the top

bezxxxxxx


Posts: 438 | From: somewhere in the uk, infront of a vdu wearing a nicotine patch grrrrrrrr | Registered: Jan 2001  |  IP: Logged
Space Hijackers
newbie
Member # 1262

posted 18 August 2001 08:05 PM     Profile for Space Hijackers   Author's Homepage   Email Space Hijackers     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
Cheers bezzer.
Posts: 4 | From: London | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
JWH [jwh]
member
Member # 415

posted 19 August 2001 12:59 PM     Profile for JWH [jwh]   Email JWH [jwh]     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
Nice one, Spacey - what was the picture that you sent of?

Short email sent to them.


Posts: 2063 | From: | Registered: Mar 2001  |  IP: Logged
Robin P
newbie
Member # 1968

posted 19 August 2001 02:13 PM     Profile for Robin P   Email Robin P     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
The picture was of one of their stencil adverts of a zapatista with the obligatory boxfresh logo and catchphrase.

However someone had scrawled next to "We Are You"
"No your not, your an over priced shop, trying to be subversive, Box fresh makes me Ill"

Nice one we thought.

visit http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk

to see it in all its glory.


Posts: 1 | From: | Registered: Aug 2001  |  IP: Logged
stavros
member
Member # 29

posted 19 August 2001 10:59 PM     Profile for stavros   Author's Homepage   Email stavros     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
Had a very brief look at the site Robin. Looks pretty good. The message board needs to be UBB though.
Posts: 810 | From: Hampshire | Registered: Nov 2000  |  IP: Logged
free spirit
member
Member # 1530

posted 20 August 2001 05:22 AM     Profile for free spirit   Email free spirit     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post
Respect due to the space hijackers, particularly liked the tube posters and the party on the tube - have you seen the thread about the tube privatisation and what can be done about it?

This kind of thing really pisses me off, is it gap that have recently covered their windows with anarchist logos etc. bastards.

Another approach to take with this might be to take it up with the company that does the actual leg work (spray painting etc). It is quite likely to be a company called Diabolical Liberties, although there are a few others who it could be. I know the guy who works for them up here, and he is pretty cool and alternatively minded, if they are all like that then you might persuade them not to do stuff like this. It's a slim chance I know, but may be worth a try.


Posts: 64 | From: Newcastle upon Tyne | Registered: Jul 2001  |  IP: Logged

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