Plunket denies Snazzipants advert
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Forum Name: Cloth Nappy Discussion
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Topic: Plunket denies Snazzipants advert
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Subject: Plunket denies Snazzipants advert
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 1:27pm
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This is the press release from Snazzipants
------------------------------------------ Corporate sponsorship restricts freedom of choice Plunket Society blocks advertising by cloth nappy companies because of Huggies sponsorship When young parents visit their local Plunket nurse to talk about baby care, you assume that the information they receive is unbiased, and allows them to make their own choices. However, it has become apparent that Kimberly-Clark, who produce Huggies disposable nappies, have bought silence from all local Plunket Societies on the subject of cloth nappies. An Auckland-based reusable nappy company, Snazzipants, has recently been denied advertising space in the Milford Plunket newsletter – distributed to around 300 families. Snazzipants is a family-run business, locally manufacturing reusable nappies as well as importing products from overseas. It has been running for four years as an online business, and recently opened a retail shop in the Auckland suburb of Milford. After being contacted by the local Plunket Secretary and asked to advertise in the local Plunket newsletter, Snazzipants placed a $55 advert. However, a day later, Susan Rae, of the Milford branch of Plunket, phoned, embarrassed to admit that although she had sought the advertising, Plunket were not able to accept an advert from a cloth nappy company. Director and mother-of-two Pippa Jinks and her business partner Maria were astonished to be told that the head office of the Plunket Society had vetoed the advert as reusable nappies are in competition with Huggies. Kimberly-Clark is the largest sponsor of Plunket. This is all the more surprising given that the cloth nappy market is very small in comparison to the disposable nappy market. Since more than 90% of all nappy changes in New Zealand are still made with disposable nappies, a newsletter distributed to 300 families would seem to be inconsequential. Plunket’s choice to align itself with the disposable giant is a serious form of censorship. Plunket is not the only organisation to forbid cloth nappy advertising in local newsletters. Parents Centre New Zealand has forbidden centres around the country from naming any brands of reusable nappies in their antenatal classes because of a contract with Huggies. Athough volunteers are allowed to discuss reusable nappies in general terms, they may not tell people where to go to buy them. Local Parents Centres are forbidden to enter into any new relationships with cloth nappy companies who wish to advertise in their newsletters. Susan Rae of Milford Plunket said that after three years using disposable nappies, she made the switch to cloth by ordering products from Canada – unaware that three blocks down from her house was the specialist Snazzipants cloth nappy shop! Reusable nappies are a huge cost saving for young families, and the obvious benefits in terms of reduction of hazardous landfill material would make anyone think that organisations who claim to support young families would be happy to provide information on such a beneficial change. Is it even legal for Plunket and Huggies to deny advertising in such a way to a company providing information on an alternative option to disposables, rather than a competing disposable product? Where to next for Snazzipants – a small company with an annual turnover of a couple of hundred thousand dollars –how can they take on a global corporation? “Times are changing in New Zealand and more and more people are realising there are other options to throwing away 7 plastic nappies a day for 3 years, creating a ton or two of biohazard waste that won’t break down!” say the directors. “Unfortunately they have to hunt us down – as we are not allowed to advertise in the most accessible parenting forums.” We wonder whether the mums and dads who put their hands into their own pockets each year when the Plunket collector knocks on their door are aware that they are supporting an organisation which has given up all pretence of offering unbiased advice? |
Replies:
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 1:36pm
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I know it's pretty stink I've tried to brochures up in Plunket rooms but they won't let me some as Parent Center this includes advertising in their Newsletters too pretty stink really.
The lady thats in charge of the advertising Christchurch is bringing up the matter at the National Conference so thats a start. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 2:14pm
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Something to send to Campbell Live if you ask me. Look what it did for Hot Milk. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 2:45pm
| I've tried asking about putting stuff up in palmy as well. No way would they let me! |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 3:14pm
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And finding out about MCN is the hardest part. Maybe the individual manufacturers of MCN can form a business group to promote themselves. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 5:21pm
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It's why I've never even bothered to ask our Plunkets if I can place brochures.
I do know however that it does frustrate a lot of the nurses also. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 7:04pm
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I like my plunket nurse, she is a MCN user so when she does home visits she just mentions it to new mums as part of the nappy changing speal. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 8:07pm
When I talked to Charity (from Honey Child) at the start of the year they said they were trying to get something like this organised. I don't know how far through it they are... might be interesting to follow up. Maybe I email her. |
fleury wrote:Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 31 July 2007 at 9:37pm
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Well as a new plunket nurse I will def be promoting the use of MCN to mums. Even if they are not wanting to use cloth just letting them know they exist cant hurt. I wish I had known about MCN when I was preg. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 8:35am
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I think the opinions of the head nurse for the rooms differs and without naming any rooms (I don't want to get people in trouble) I have advertising in a few local Plunket rooms and have only seen one occassion where the ad was remove.
We'll make the change, one step at a time 
P.S I agree, you should send that to Campbell Live ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 9:33am
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I think it's a great idea for Plunket nurses to mention MCN's to new Mums. If it wasn't for this site, I wouldn't have had a clue they even existed. What a shame that Plunket can't be a little more relaxed about promoting disposables & cloth. -------------    
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Posted By: NikkiB
Date Posted: 01 August 2007 at 5:29pm
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That really sucks!
Thank goodness for the internet and websites like this one!! I also agree, this would be a good topic for Campbell Live. ------------- A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys: RB 3/10/2008 JB 29/12/2009 |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 12:22am
That's ridiculous! I would never have even known about MCN's if I hadn't seen Maddy in one at Sarah Beth's baby shower! I'm sure Kimberley Clark would really notice a drop in revenue with a small snazzipants advert in a local Plunket newsletter!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mama-Me
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 8:57am
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I'm pretty shocked to read this. I have contacted Plunket about getting my flyer in all the Plunket rooms but I guess as I sell MCN's (as well as other products), it would be happening.
I was going to also contact the Parent Centres but maybe not but then maybe I will just to see what they say. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 9:34am
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Thanks for putting this up Nikki. Pippa sent me the press release last week and I couldn't believe it! It's the almighty dollar gone mad. The worst part of it is that most of the local Plunket nurses and parent groups have no issue with MCN advertising but because their PR dept has a blanket policy to only support Huggies they aren't able to allow it. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 02 August 2007 at 9:48am
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i wish i knew about MCN when I ahd HAleigh then I wouldve gone nuts with buying lol, with James I may only have 4 until we can afford some more but I love them and dont know why I had never heard of them before I moved to Wellington.
butno way am i ever turnign back to sposies once haleighs toilet trained thats it. Ive even got my sister into getting mcn for her bubs. Def a good thing for campbell live. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: yalanna
Date Posted: 12 August 2007 at 4:04pm
Our plunket runs the antenatal classes here and they showed us how to fold cloth nappies, I wonder if that was against their policy. We also had a fuzzibunz rep come and talk to us as part of the classes.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 11:47am
haha I'd say so! But good on your CBE for letting it happen 
Just FYI - Apparently they are allowed to show cloth naps and MCN but just not branded ones. (Though it depends on the CBE) |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 13 August 2007 at 2:10pm
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That is so shocking. I would never have known about MCNs if I hadn't come on here. DF and I had discussed using cloth nappies, but I felt they were too much hassle (he old fashioned ones that require folding etc). Now after reading about MCNs and opinions of them, we will most likely be going down this track - for financial as well as environmental reasons (there's not always a rubbish collection in rural areas....).
I guess as much as the "green" image is trying to be pushed through, it doesn't really matter when put up next to the other "green" matter (money). |