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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7853360.stm
Directors of a tour company which sparked controversy with an e-mail offering 'chav-free' vacations, have defended their marketing strategy.
Activities Abroad ran names it believed to be associated with 'chavs' through its database, claiming that none had been on one of its activity holidays.
An e-mail advertising the company's holidays on this basis was sent to 24,000 people, causing offence to some.
Director Alistair McLean said: "It was a tongue-in-cheek e-mail."
'Nuff said'
Activities Abroad made use of research suggesting certain names are often associated with particular demographic segments of the UK population.
They googled names associated with the word 'chav', ran them through their database of past customers and discovered that no Britneys, Dazzas, Biancas, Chardonnays or Candices had ever been on one of their trips.
They found that among common names of people who had were John, Sarah, James, Charlotte and Lucy.
The e-mail added a spin to these findings, claiming the company therefore offered 'chav-free activity holidays'.
....
Typecast
In response to the blog referred to by Mr Mclean, one 'Candice' wrote: "How dare you define and typecast people by their name.
"I own my own business, have a post graduate degree, an undergraduate degree, 4 A-Levels, an advanced diploma in Life Skills, a diploma in Performance Coaching, GCSEs, speak French and Italian and drive a Merc. Happy slap that".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7853360.stm
Directors of a tour company which sparked controversy with an e-mail offering 'chav-free' vacations, have defended their marketing strategy.
Activities Abroad ran names it believed to be associated with 'chavs' through its database, claiming that none had been on one of its activity holidays.
An e-mail advertising the company's holidays on this basis was sent to 24,000 people, causing offence to some.
Director Alistair McLean said: "It was a tongue-in-cheek e-mail."
'Nuff said'
Activities Abroad made use of research suggesting certain names are often associated with particular demographic segments of the UK population.
They googled names associated with the word 'chav', ran them through their database of past customers and discovered that no Britneys, Dazzas, Biancas, Chardonnays or Candices had ever been on one of their trips.
They found that among common names of people who had were John, Sarah, James, Charlotte and Lucy.
The e-mail added a spin to these findings, claiming the company therefore offered 'chav-free activity holidays'.
....
Typecast
In response to the blog referred to by Mr Mclean, one 'Candice' wrote: "How dare you define and typecast people by their name.
"I own my own business, have a post graduate degree, an undergraduate degree, 4 A-Levels, an advanced diploma in Life Skills, a diploma in Performance Coaching, GCSEs, speak French and Italian and drive a Merc. Happy slap that".
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