Today is St George’s Day.
Then consider this .....
A Suffolk company is manufacturing doormats made as a Union Flag, for people to wipe their feet on.
A Devon company is actively promoting sales.
The retailers are Home Hardware of Barnstaple, Devon, who have branches all over the UK. The CEO is Martin Elliott. The manufacturers are William Armes of Sudbury, Suffolk. The CEO is believed to be a Mrs Janet Bosman.
This insult to our national flag, and to the memories of the millions of men and women who have given their lives to defend this country over the last century or so has caused uproar in my part of Hampshire, and rightly so.
Over the last couple of days I have had the following exchange of emails with Martin Elliott :
Your Union Flag Doormats
You may already be aware of the outrage felt by many residents of the Alton area following the promotion of your doormats featuring a Union Flag. Inviting people to wipe their boots on our national flag is monstrous.
I fully understand that many young people today have no knowledge of the British constitution, our sovereignty and freedoms. Nor have they been brought up to value our way of life.
Nonetheless, your crass insult to the millions of men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect our hard-won liberty is grotesque.
May I suggest you withdraw the range immediately, apologise, and donate all the profits to date to the Royal British Legion, to whom I have sent a copy of this message.
Ashley Mote
Martin Elliott’s reply :
Dear Mr Mote
Thank you for your email regarding the sale of the Union Flag Doormats at Alton Home Hardware. I would like to reiterate that we sincerely apologise and personally assure you that the inclusion of the door mat was never intended to offend, to the contrary it was only intended to promote patriotism. Like many retailers across the country we are selling a range of distinctly British themed merchandise to celebrate both the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. It was very unfortunate that we didn’t realise that the inclusion of the Union Jack mat could cause offense. The Home Hardware stores are independently owned but I will certainly pass on your comments to Alton Home Hardware, who I am sure will also want to contact you. I can confirm that immediately they realized there was an issue with the mat they removed it from sale.
Thank you for your feedback and let me once again assure you that the selection and sale of this Union Jack doormat was entirely in good faith, unfortunately not realizing that it could or would cause any offense for which we sincerely apologise.
Kind regards
Martin Elliott
Chief Executive
I replied :
Thank you for your reply – but I fear you still do not fully understand what you have done – nor the restitution required.
For the record you should know that, in the United States, any action to deface or otherwise insult the Stars and Strips is a CRIMINAL offence. Had your firm’s actions taken place there you would now be facing trial!
The very least you should do is pass all profits to the British Legion...a commitment I note is missing from your reply.
In the absence of any such PUBLIC commitment I propose to pass on all this correspondence. Please understand that is not a threat – it is a promise.
I urge you to take this matter a great deal more seriously – and fast.
Ashley Mote
No reply has been received, so I have sent both companies the following email today:
To the CEOs Home Hardware and William Armes :
Further to my complaint about your Union Flag doormat, please answer these simple questions....
Are you planning to produce a doormat inviting people to wipe their feet on the Israeli flag? Or any of the Islamic countries – like Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan?
Assuming the answer is No, and ignoring the commercial issue for a moment, please tell me why not. And how long to you imagine your business would survive after the launch of such items?
Ashley Mote
Making contact:
William Armes Ltd is at Churchfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk. CO10 2YA.
Their website is http://www.william-armes.co.uk/ The Union Flag doormat is on their front page. The only email address I have is for sales@william-armes.co.uk
Home Hardware Ltd is at Southwest House, Upcott Avenue, Pottington Business Park, Barnstaple. Devon EX31 1NZ. Phone 01271 337438. Fax: 01271 337482
email selliott@homehardware.co.uk ; website www.homehardware.co.uk
Monday, 23 April 2012
Posts
