Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Shoe Boycott Brings Unintended Benefits.

Watching an interview with Yves Archambault, the owner of the LE MARCHEUR shoe boutique (the store subject to an anti-Israeli boycott,) had me playing the devil's advocate in my head, as the owner told Mario Dumont how terribly debilitating the boycott was.

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not in favour of the boycott, but my 'Doubting Thomas' nature had me watching the interview with a pronounced measure of skepticism.

I've added subtitles (they are not comprehensive, so no complaining) so that you yourself can watch and make your own determination



My journalistic radar was triggered by Mr Archambault's tale of woe. Certainly it isn't as bad as all that?
Now as an old retailer myself, I understand that this type of publicity is priceless. The store has seen its sales skyrocket, notwithstanding what the owner tells us.

There are stories telling of people making large purchases including one of a woman buying $3,000 worth of shoes in one shot! Link

Each week people who never heard of the LE MARCHEUR before, cross the city to descend on the store to do their part to show solidarity and to participate in a 'buycott"
It's become a bit of a tourist attraction, always a good thing for business!

I remain sympathetic, but pleeese, Mr. Archambault, you're laying it on a bit thick!

As for PAJU, the group organizing the boycott, even in spectacular failure, they have accomplished what they never have been able to do before before- get exposure.

This rag-tag group of communists, socialists, Israel-bashers are finally getting their fifteen minutes of fame, so I don't imagine they're going to give it up!

Although they temporarily called off the boycott because of the threat of a fascist group attending the demonstration, they'll be back, count on it.
These people have spent a lifetime being ignored, yet they persevere. Do you honestly think they'd give up the limelight over a little detail like success or failure?

And so they'll return, much to the secret appreciation of Mr. Archambault and the press which is having a field day covering the story.
Everybody's a winner.

Everybody, except for one lonely politician.....

10 comments:

  1. I don't think Mr. Archambault like this situation. He seemed to be a down to earth person. He's sharing the difficulty of being a small business owner. This is not fun for him. Not at all. On top of that, Saturday isn't suppose to be the busiest day of the week for them? Its just add to the difficulty of being a business owner kind of. I never went to his store on a Saturday, but why the police do not react? Could they just arrest the people standing stupidly in front of the commerce? This cannot be 100% legal. Quebec Solidaire are a dumb crazy bunch. I am not a Quebecoise and didn't vote at the last provincial election and see what's happening now, just because I didn't vote... wow... lol... Nice post again!

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  2. This is another sad day in the history of "bilingual" Quebec -- something else is not said here, there is more to that ... !
    Enjoy!

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  3. If you can stomach just a little more sophistry, Khadir will be on Tout Le Monde en Parle Sunday @ 8 PM, Rad-Can.

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  4. Frank,

    You got to be kidding us. This Sunday at 20:00? That is smack in the middle of the Super Bowl. Wonder if anyone at all will watch SRC.

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  5. "This Sunday at 20:00? That is smack in the middle of the Super Bowl."

    Les anglouilles vont encore se bourrer l'estomac avec des chips,pizzas,chicken wings,popcorn et pepsi (2L)...En salivant sur les pubs de Victoria secrets.Sacré gros anglouilles!

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  6. @Troy,
    Oh come on man, surely you can fire up the PVR :)

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  7. "Les anglouilles vont encore se bourrer l'estomac avec des chips,pizzas,chicken wings,popcorn et pepsi (2L)...En salivant sur les pubs de Victoria secrets.Sacré gros anglouilles!"

    Do you not know that in a year, the Super Bowl is the highest rating single event at RDS? Who do you think watch the Super Bowl at RDS? Anglophones?

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  8. To Dog killer from West,

    Several years ago there were a number of sled dogs found shot near Saint-Michel-des-Saints in Quebec. More recently, some Labrador retreivers were discovered near Lac Brome that had been killed with a nail gun. Animal cruelty exists everywhere, but Quebec has the weakest animal protection laws of any Canadian province or U.S. state.

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  9. "Quebec has the weakest animal protection laws of any Canadian province or U.S. state."

    Quebec is also the puppy mill capital of North America.

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  10. Dogs are better treatd than a lot of places. Quebec is below zero for a long time in the winter. Anglophones are treated with less interests than the dogs. remember that.

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