Hypno Toad

It makes me hang my head in shame to see this type of "marketing" and from companies I like and support with my hard-earn money.
Here is a great blog post from Surly on the issue of how women are treated in this industry (this is clearly not limited to the bike-industry), please read: Our Own Two Wheels

JonnyHK 

What are those?

Sexy socks?

Hypno Toad

Yes, the image is socks in the swag bag at Interbike. Interbike removed socks from swag bags and apologized.

Here's another good post on the subject - reverences back the blog in my first post: WTF Interbike? | Gear Junkie

"About a dozen events at Interbike were focused on how to sell more products to women. With names like “Women: The Majority Minority & Cycling’s Secret Weapon,” these break-out groups ponder how to appeal to the female market.But in the same breath comes a pair of socks, in a goodie bag, with women in bikinis, their rear ends exposed in a blatantly sexual image.
Interbike responded to the issue when confronted by Wendy Engelberg and Girls Gone Riding, apologizing and pulling the socks from bags to be handed out. But for some, the damage was done, even if it was, as stated by Interbike, caused by a third party."

fietsbob

one of the Distributors hired Vegas Show Girls for their Booth , in years past ..


It is A Trade Show to dealers , Shop Owners , not the general public.

JonnyHK 

Dumb.

I get how people make this stuff and sell it - but to give it away as swag is a bit silly.

fietsbob

mail me a few pair, I can use more socks..

this summer I got a pair [left over from march] " I (mustache) you for some more BEER"

Hypno Toad

"Booth-babes" are a thing at all trades shows in all cities but Vegas is always over the top - I've seen the show girls on the show floor. I go to trades shows all over the US - I'll be in Vegas at the end of the month for Pack Expo (industrial packaging show... exciting, I know!). It is tragic how well 'booth-babes' works, and especially with industrial engineers. The "babe" gets their attention, then walks them into the booth, and then somebody (less attractive) talks about the products.

As far as treatment and respect for women goes, my industry makes the bike industry look light-years ahead. *face palm*

fietsbob

3 words: Race Podium Girls .

bruce19

Our impulse is to think that they are objectifying woman. But, although that's true, here's the real message....we think men are so stupid that some T&A will get them to buy stuff. These are not companies I want to do business with.

fietsbob

You thereby eliminate all the Italian Brands ..

Hypno Toad

Yep, not a fan of that either, better words than mine (I'm not real good with wording things): Cycling needs to lose its 'podium girls' | Suze Clemitson | Sport | The Guardian

Leebo

Oh , I was thinking about those other race podium women. Those kickass mountain bike racers who stand on the podium to receive their medals.

chasm54

I agree. One of the things that has surprised and disappointed me is how society's attitude to the objectification of women seems to have gone backwards over the last thirty years or so. And too many young women seem cowed by it, they refuse to embrace "feminism" because men would characterize them as humourless ****s.

It's more than a pity, it's a continuing source of discrimination and, ultimately, violence against women.

fietsbob

FIM Motorcycle races there are people who hold an Umbrella over the Riders is their Leathers at the start , in Hot sunny places

(other than like Bahrain, or Jakarta ) guess what gender do that?and what they wear, while doing it.

GovernorSilver

...who are mostly dirty old (ok, middle-aged, most likely white) men. Small wonder it works on them.

Hypno Toad

No joke, said the middle-aged white man .... oh .... ummm

GovernorSilver

You didn't say whether you were a dirty middle-aged white man

Phil_gretz

Agree with *Suze*. Women's racing needs podium boys to enhance the experience for the winners. Handsome, well dressed and groomed, bearing flowers and stuffed animals. To kiss the cheek, of course...

Phil_gretz

...aaaaannd, the men's circuit should continue to have podium girls. It's a nice tradition.

I did learn something, though. The Guardian concerns itself with sports, too. I hope that they'll be covering major sporting events in the future. Boxing, horse racing, MMA...that'd be great!

Hypno Toad

I figured that was obvious. LOLz

Hypno Toad

"In the 21st century, is the “podium girl” really necessary? Kathryn Brown has worked as a race organiser on the men’s Tour of Britain and is happy to defend the role that podium hostesses – not “girls” – play in the protocol of the podium presentation. She says they play an important part in the seamless running of the protocol, effortlessly manoeuvring riders and dignitaries into position and ensuring there are no on-stage incidents. It’s a role that is a far cry from that of the local beauty queens who would present stage winners with a bouquet back at the dawn of cycling’s history. But it is, as she readily acknowledges, a role that is not gender specific – and she would never ask the women involved to wear anything she wouldn’t be happy to wear herself."

The point is not to get rid of women on the podium, just bikini clad women for 'eye-candy' is hurting the industries image.

Watch awards at a major event like TdF, you know that that the women on the podium are doing a lot more than looking good and kissing checks. But they still clearly select attractive women and those women still kiss checks....

CaptKelly

where can I get a pair of these socks?

StanSeven

These promotions exist because they work and sell. In case people haven't noticed, the same applies in markets which are predominantly for women. Take a look at female magazines.

Companies can avoid these kinds of promotions but then lose out to competitors. Sex sells!

GovernorSilver

Booth babes were a typical practice at the annual winter NAMM show too - as of 1998 anyway when I attended. My buddy and I laughed at them - we were less inclined to take an exhibitor seriously if they used booth babes. Dean Markley in particular was notorious for this practice

Hypno Toad

Because marketing and advertising is still dominated by middle-aged white men, they like 'sex sells' and assume it works for everybody. Talk with some actual women, you might find a different opinion. Read the blog post that started this thread, written by a woman in the industry. If you can't sell your product without sex, then your product sucks and you should lose out to the competition. Surly doesn't use this kinda of marketing, they are not suffering for it.