Wig firm criticised for ads at cancer run
- By Jeremy Harkin
- Published 29th July, 2008
- Hair News
- Unrated
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy has enjoyed a varied career in advertising and media. He is now a freelance editorial consultant working with mainstream men's mags and their associated websites.
A wig company is facing criticism for promoting its products at a Race For Life cancer charity run in Bolton.
One critic describes the handing out of My New Style’s business cards at the event as “deeply upsetting”.
My New Style provides wigs to customers with hair loss, so it’s likely some of the company’s customers are cancer sufferers, however the move was blasted by the race organiser Jayne Leggat who told local website This is Lancashire:
“We were not approached by the organisation concerned and were not aware that it was publicising its business this way.
“They took it upon themselves to promote their business directly to our participants without prior permission from the organisers.”
The firm’s boss, Warren Riley, insisted that permission had been granted: “We asked if we could give the cards out and they said yes. As far as we were aware, we had permission. We would not have done it otherwise.
“We have had only one complaint, which we responded to straight away, and we have had around 30 inquiries. It was never our intention to upset anyone. We know how sensitive the issue of hair loss is.”
One critic describes the handing out of My New Style’s business cards at the event as “deeply upsetting”.
My New Style provides wigs to customers with hair loss, so it’s likely some of the company’s customers are cancer sufferers, however the move was blasted by the race organiser Jayne Leggat who told local website This is Lancashire:
“We were not approached by the organisation concerned and were not aware that it was publicising its business this way.
“They took it upon themselves to promote their business directly to our participants without prior permission from the organisers.”
The firm’s boss, Warren Riley, insisted that permission had been granted: “We asked if we could give the cards out and they said yes. As far as we were aware, we had permission. We would not have done it otherwise.
“We have had only one complaint, which we responded to straight away, and we have had around 30 inquiries. It was never our intention to upset anyone. We know how sensitive the issue of hair loss is.”