Industrie’s confusing Anzac Day ad … New chief executive for Ardent Leisure … Staff spend hours shopping at work

By Emma Koehn and Dominic Powell

In years past brands have learned the lesson that linking promotional activities to Anzac Day is a fraught exercise, but as Mumbrella points out this week, Aussie retailers are still giving it a go.

Mumbrella reports menswear brand Industrie took to social media on the day before the public holiday to offer a $75 voucher promotion, using the hashtag #lestweforget in the initial post.

The ad also included the hashtag #75thanniversary, which confused shoppers because it was not the 75th anniversary of either the Galipolli landings, or the brand itself.

Customers have told Industrie via social media they found the ad offensive and confusing, and Mumbrella reports the initial post has since been edited to remove references of the Anzacs, with an apology for causing offence.

Ardent Leisure appoints new chief executive

The head of troubled theme park operator Ardent Leisure has replaced herself with a new chief executive.

Deborah Thomas has handed the reigns to former Nine Network executive Simon Kelly, the company told the Australian Securities Exchange this morning.

In October 2016, Ardent-operated theme park Dreamworld was the site of four fatalities on the ‘Thunder Rapids’ ride. The business also faced a weaker than expected performance from its US operations.

Kelly will become chief executive of the company from July 1, 2017, with Thomas staying on as chief customer officer and chief operating officer for Ardent’s Australian operations.

Are your staff using work time to window shop?

A survey from financial insights website finder.com has revealed some Australian employees are spending up to two hours a week doing online shopping at work.

Out of 2010 employees surveyed across Australia, 36% confessed to using online shopping as a way to procrastinate while working. Half of those said they would shop for two hours or more each week, while 8% said they would shop for five hours or more.

Victorian employees were the most likely to get out the credit card at work, with 62% of guilty shoppers hailing from the state. However, Tasmanian employees are less likely to shop at work, with only 48% doing so.

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