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Boxfresh Zapatista Victory!

The Space Hijackers | 21.08.2001 19:28

After a campaign consisting of internet activity, graffiti and eventually dressing up and leafleting, the Space Hijackers have managed to get Boxfresh to change their ways.

Boxfresh Zapatista Victory!
Boxfresh Zapatista Victory!


The Space Hijackers managed to get Boxfresh to change their ways.


You may have seen the Zapatista graf up around central London, what you maybe didn't know was that it was a dirty ad campaign by Boxfresh a trendy Covent Garden clothes store. In an attempt to flog some more merchandise Boxfresh decided to try and fuse their brand logo with the Zapatista struggle. We think they are a bunch of nasties.

So we launched a campaign against them and their ad's, through the Internet, by graffiti and finally by dressing up in true Zapatista style and flyering customers to their store. Eventually Boxfresh decided enough was enough and the Head of Marketing, the Advert Designer and the Owner of the Company came down for a meeting. They tried to tell us they weren't a bunch of nasties and then agreed to the following:

1 - They would from this moment on donate every penny of profit from there Zapatista merchandise to the Zapatistas themselves.

2 - They would install a computer in the shop with a range of Zapatista sites on it.

3 - They would no longer put their logo on the adverts with Sub Comandante Marcos's words on them.

4 - They would have a leaflet in the store explaining the history of the Zapatista's and in all further marketing attempt to spread information about the Zapatista cause and their ethics as opposed to simply using them in soundbites and as an aesthetic.

In the words of the owner of Boxfresh himself "You caught us with our pants down, and we realise we were wrong". We realise that this is not an ideal solution and would obviously prefer the complete withdrawl of all of the Zapatista stuff, however we were at the same time bloody suprised to even get this far.

Please everyone keep a check on them and make sure they keep to their word. Also continue to graf over any remaining Spray paint adverts with their logo on them.


Click Below For Pics
 http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk

Cheers!
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The Space Hijackers
- e-mail: mail@spacehijackers.co.uk
- Homepage: www.spacehijackers.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 9 comments

kickass!

22.08.2001 11:53

great work guys! i personally have no problem whatsoever with them donating all the profits to the zapatistas, since they're basically funding their own demise...

some twat came up with the idea to start making money. now, if they stick to their word, they'll make nothing. imagine getting esso or mcdonalds or nike to do the same and sell their goods at cost (probably at a loss if you consider the extra leaflets etc).

townie
mail e-mail: cant_cope@hotmail.com


Rather odd

22.08.2001 13:04

I find this all rather strange. Who are they donating this money to and how do we know that ALL profits are going to the EZLN? Moreover, is this not a breach of the new terrorism act which bans the funding of armed groups abroad, or does the EZLN not fall into the government's definition of 'terrorist'? Is their grafitti sprayed over central London also against the law? Lastly, I wonder whether they'll use their funding of the Zapatistas as the extension of their marketing ploy.

Dan Brett
mail e-mail: dan@danielbrett.co.uk


Rather Not

22.08.2001 13:22

Their not breaking the law as the Zapitistas aren’t on the government’s list of terrorist groups its illegal to support (yet!).

You’re right in saying that a close eye will have to be kept on Box-Fresh though and I think its more likely they’ll drop the campaign rather than give there profits away. Still, Marcos could do with a new Balaclava!

Moonkat
mail e-mail: lavalake@hotmail.com


Not yet!

22.08.2001 13:23

Their not breaking the law as the Zapitistas aren’t on the government’s list of terrorist groups its illegal to support (yet!).

You’re right in saying that a close eye will have to be kept on Box-Fresh though and I think its more likely they’ll drop the campaign rather than give there profits away. Still, Marcos could do with a new Balaclava!

Moonkat
mail e-mail: lavalake@hotmail.com


Not yet!

22.08.2001 13:24

Their not breaking the law as the Zapitistas aren’t on the government’s list of terrorist groups its illegal to support (yet!) otherwise you'd probably get nicked for wearing one of box-fresh's t-shirts!

You’re right in saying that a close eye will have to be kept on Box-Fresh though and I think its more likely they’ll drop the campaign rather than give there profits away. Still, Marcos could do with a new Balaclava!

Moonkat
mail e-mail: lavalake@hotmail.com


Not yet!

22.08.2001 13:24

Their not breaking the law as the Zapitistas aren’t on the government’s list of terrorist groups its illegal to support (yet!) otherwise you'd probably get nicked for wearing one of box-fresh's t-shirts!

You’re right in saying that a close eye will have to be kept on Box-Fresh though and I think its more likely they’ll drop the campaign rather than give there profits away. Still, Marcos could do with a new Balaclava!

Moonkat
mail e-mail: lavalake@hotmail.com


reformist or not

23.08.2001 15:14

Yes this does initially seem very odd, and perhaps a little bit reformist but in terms of a result, this is better than BF stopping altogether IMHO. I guess Box Fresh has a number of advisors with the aim of combatting anti-corporate activists, and this is their latest response - not to ignore it (the worst thing they can do) but a compromise - they still make money, but their image is saved.

The reason this compromise works is because the Zapatista cause can be aired to a new audience. I guess the proof is in the pudding so to speak - lets see how prominent the computer is, and how much and where they donate the money to.

ZeroZero


PROTEST TOO SEXY FOR CONSUMERISM

05.09.2001 14:33

It is awful that the most sincere aspects of genuine dissent for the greater good and protection of human beings is being abused by the powers of capitalism.

But this action itself heralded a Zapatista style coup where fancy dress and strong words may have infact reached someone with a heart and a conscience. Capitalism continues to infiltrate every part of our lives and basically most people want to extricate themselves from the process but until this wonderful day - well done all of you and I hope you continue the good work, no great work, no wonderful work! well I guess your blushing now, but really, really!!!

B52


you bastards

10.09.2001 23:02

you bastards. we were ready to start this campaign ourselves. just far, far too slow.

you might be interested to know that as of 10.09.01 the boxfresh zapatista stencils were still visible on buildings in edinburgh. i wondered if you had managed to get them to agree to clean up the damage?

you're all discussing the legal implications of funding the zapatistas but what of the legal implications of the defacement of public and private property? boxfresh should be taken to task on this. i really object to paying for the cost of their advertising.

littleboy
mail e-mail: littleboy@nu-produKt.net
- Homepage: http://nu-produKt.net