Gambling warning for major stores as 'Wild West web' takes over online shopping - This is Money
By Richard Dyson And Neil Craven
|
Major stores risk unwittingly encouraging customers on to gambling or other inappropriate websites, experts have warned, as they highlight the growth of an ungoverned 'Wild West' world of online shopping.
The warnings follow the Mail on Sunday's revelations last week that dozens of high-street brands, including Boots, Marks & Spencer and Comet, advertised products on the controversial shopping-and-gambling website Yipiii.
Licensed by Maltese gaming authorities, Yipiii urges shoppers to gamble to win their shopping for nothing - rather than pay for it.
Shopping-and-gambling: Yipiii is indirectly affiliated with some major High St names
Following enquiries by the Mail on Sunday, many retailers, including those mentioned above, severed links with the site, saying they had never heard of Yipiii.
But marketing experts say The MoS has exposed the 'tip of the iceberg' and that household names might be unknowingly linked with other disturbing sites.
London firm Affiliate Window, part of a German-owned media group, is Britain's biggest affiliate agency and was the means through which Marks & Spencer and other brands became associated with Yipiii.
Spokesman Edwin MacFarlane said that while his firm could exclude sites operating illegally, it was the stores' responsibility to identify affiliates whose activities were legal but 'inappropriate'.
He said: 'Retailers should always be cautious when engaging in the affiliate space. They are agreeing to work with a concept, as opposed to a specific proposition.'
Bryan Roberts, of London retail consultancy Kantar, said: 'The internet is a Wild West. Technology and marketing are moving so fast that retailers risk associating with something that turns out to be less than palatable.
'It's uncharted water.'
Holiday shopping debate heats up - Toronto Sun
Toronto retailers are getting ready to talk shop with the city as Toronto councillors prepare to determine which merchants can do business on holidays.
The economic development department is looking at revamping its current holiday shopping bylaw through a series of public consultations scheduled for this week at civic centres. Previous meetings since last November saw a divide between retailers whether to open or close on public holidays.
“We need a set of rules that are fair and equitable,” said Councillor Mary Fragedakis, who heads the city’s Holiday Shopping Subcommittee. “We have heard from people out there who feel it’s not fair.”
Under the current municipal code, stores must close on nine public or retail holidays, which include Christmas, Easter Sunday, Canada Day and Thanksgiving.
Toronto’s municipal code, however, allows stores in designated toursim areas to remain open.
As it stands now, only five business districts in Toronto are designated as tourist zones: Queens Quay W., Toronto Eaton Centre and Hudson’s Bay Company, downtown Yonge St., Bloor-Yorkville and the Distillery District.
Some businesses outside of those zones said they should get the same opportunity to cash in on sales.
“I’d like to open on holidays,” said Jangchup Dorjee, the owner of Potala Gift Shop on Queen St. E. in the Beach.
“If we can’t open, we can’t pay the rent. On holidays, people shop and we can’t open. On weekdays, it’s empty and we’re open. It doesn’t make sense.”
Thousands head to the Beach for the annual Easter parade and many shopkeepers have defied the holiday shopping law in the past, risking a fine by opening their registers.
On the flipside, other retailers in the tourist districts said it might be nice to have a day off on a holiday.
“It’d be nice to spend some time with family,” said one man at a Yonge St. clothing store.
A restaurateur in the downtown Yonge St. zone said holiday shopping on helps his business, which is legally allowed to stay open 365 days a years.
“If the Eaton Centre is open on holidays where most other retailers are not, they’ll flock here and for us, it can only help,” said Khoa Dao, manager of Asian Bowl on Yonge St.
The Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, which represents 32,000 Toronto businesses and property owners, has been trying to designate all BIAs as “holiday-shopping exempt” for years. The association said this same issue has been heard at city council twice in the past three years without progress.
“This issue is a bit of a political hot potato,” said TABIA executive director John Kiru.
“Other regions have moved forward. Square One and Pacific Mall are tourist attractions. Pacific Mall is not much more of a tourist site as Yorkdale Mall, and yet, Yorkdale has to stay closed.”
Kiru noted he has received mixed feedback from his members on holiday shopping, but it’s about “ability to choose.”
A report on this week’s consultations will go to the economic development committee in the fall. City council will have the final say.
“I’m not sure if (an amendment) will be ready for the holiday season this year,” Fragedakis said. “It’s possible it could be.”
To find out when and where the consultations are taking place, go to: toronto.ca/holidayshopping.
No comments:
Post a Comment