Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Harris Tweed jacket (photo: LindaClifford.com)
American anger over Scotland’s release of the Lockerbie bomber has forced one company to “de-Scottishify” its marketing in order to minimize a potential loss in sales. Harris Tweed Hebrides, maker of tweed clothing, intends to remove references to Scotland and Scottish imagery from its promotional materials, according to Brian Wilson, the company’s chairman and a former British government minister. Wilson disagreed with the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who is terminally ill with prostate cancer, so he could return to Libya and die with his family.
Mark Hogarth, the company’s creative director, said the release of Meghrahi wasn’t viewed as a British decision by the U.S., but a Scottish one. “We have been getting a lot of feedback and we have had to de-Scottishify the image of the brand,” said Hogarth. “If he had not been released we would not have altered anything.”
Harris Tweed Hebrides isn’t the only Scottish company feeling a backlash from Americans. Officials with Walkers Shortbread say they have received complaints from U.S. customers saying they will no longer be buying its products. William Glen & Son, seller of whisky, kilts and and other goods, has had customers asking for an explanation of Megrahi’s release by Scottish authorities.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Harris Tweed Maker Drops 'Scottish' Marketing over Lockerbie Release (by Auslan Cramb, Telegraph)
Comments