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Lush and Nandos do some fragrant PR, but David Cameron’s PR woes continue

Good PR of the week
 

Lush tests a human
 

The last few weeks seems to be all about the hard-hitting campaigns. First of all, there was a campaign that highlighted human trafficking and the journey into prostitution and now, cosmetics company Lush has highlighted testing on animals in a particularly brutal way.

Well, OK – that’s two – but facts aside, I think you’ll want to read on if you haven’t seen this already.

To demonstrate its anti-animal testing policy in a very public way, Lush – you know, the high-street bathbomb/smellies firm that endangers the nostrils of those daring enough to walk within 100m of a store – has teamed up with Humane Society International to launch a campaign intended to put laboratory testing on animals under the spotlight.

Dressed in nothing but a flesh-coloured bodysuit, Lush placed a woman in the shop window of their Regent Street branch and subjected her to tests typically inflicted on animals in labs all over the world.

The images are intentionally disconcerting and Lush has done an incredible job of getting people talking, but it has to be noted that the testing of cosmetic products on animals was banned in Britain in 1998 and throughout Europe in September 2004, with Dr Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumeries Association (CTPA) saying;

“It is a pity that Lush chose to run this campaign in a country where the testing of cosmetic products on animals is banned and which has the strictest animal welfare provisions regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes anywhere in the EU."

“It is a pity the campaign is directed at an industry that has done more than any other to develop and promote the use of alternatives.”

Nandos spoofs ad
 

In a campaign that proves that blackmail can be both altruistic AND fun, Nandos has, by the time this post is likely to go live, played its part in a PR blinder.

It all started when South African firm Santam ran this TV ad: 

The ad is simple, as some of the best ideas are, and as such, Nandos decided to spoof it:

In response to Nandos’ “indiscretion”, Santam then delivered them this ultimatum, stating that the whole thing will be overlooked if the fast-food chain deliver lunch to The Johannesburg Children’s Home by 4pm on the 26th: 

Come on Nandos, do the right thing: post a video of the food being delivered.

Bad PR of the week
 

Dave dives
 

Bad PR is brought to you this week by Head Yeti Andy Barr. We couldn’t really go without mentioning the many political gaffes of the last week, and Andy is far more politically knowledgeable than I am.

Over to you, Andy:

Poor old Dave Cameron, he has had a torrid few months. Victim of budget bashing, internet snooping policy criticism (leading to the comedy hashtag #TellDaveEverything) and the debacle over the half a tank, quarter of a tank, bring in the tanks petrol crisis. So, as you would expect from any developed-world cutting-edge prime minister, he wanted to relaunch himself and his policies this week, and get back to being the decisive guy that, erm, everyone voted for.

It all started so well, he strode purposefully into Radio 4, looked directly into John Humphries eyes and delivered a polished line about it being all about the "Big Picture". BANG. Thank you very much, Home Run Bitches.

He strode out of the building and straight into a shouty, shouty media pack asking about; Qatada, the re-emerging petrol crisis, Osborne shouting at charities (never going to look good) and bumbling Boris being well, a bit bumbling. Oh, and let’s not forget what’s happened with Mr Hunt, since.

Operation relaunch was in tatters after a few hours, back to the drawing board and sorry, what's that now, did the geeky kid at the back just shout "Big Society"? Let's not kick a man when he is down. 

Have you seen any good or bad PR?
 

Contact PR Rich Leigh with it by Tweeting him @GoodandBadPR or by emailing rich@10yetis.co.uk throughout the week and we’ll happily credit you for your trouble.

Good and Bad PR is a feature on the blog of 10 Yetis PR Agency. Rich also writes about PR stunts at PRexamples.com.

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