B&Q say Fifty Shades of Grey 'run on duct tape' alert – was just PR ruse
|
Version 0 of 1. B&Q admitted on Thursday that a memo warning staff of a likely rush by customers clamouring for rope, cable ties and duct tape in the wake of the release of Fifty Shades of Grey was a ruse set up by its PR office. In a memo to staff reported by multiple media outlets earlier this week, the hardware store said managers would need to “anticipate the need for extra stock” and encouraged staff to “familiarise themselves with the contents” of film ahead of its release this weekend. It said: When the book was released in 2012 DIY and hardware stores in the UK and US reported increased demand of certain products and queries from customers as they tried to recreate their own Fifty Shades experiences. We need to be prepared for the same effect when the film is released this month. The memo – which appeared to be from head office – generated headlines across the when it was picked up by MailOnline, the Mirror, the UK’s Press Association news agency, the Guardian and others. However, it now appears that the email was a ruse by the firm’s PR team. A B&Q spokeswoman told the Guardian: We can confirm that the leaked memo was indeed a bit of fun. Both B&Q, the public and the media have been entertained over the past few days and we are looking forward to a big weekend. We would have confessed to this sooner, but our hands were tied. |