Miann Fort Street: NZ Patisserie’s brutal note to influencers
A New Zealand patisserie has a blunt message for influencers trying to score free food during the coronavirus pandemic – just don’t do it.
It’s safe to say that the worldwide coronavirus pandemic has left small businesses doing it pretty tough.
In New Zealand a hard lockdown meant food outlets across the country couldn’t trade for four weeks until restrictions were eased late last month.
But according to one Auckland patisserie, the pandemic hasn’t stopped influencers from asking for handouts, prompting it to issue a public plea to cut it out.
In an Instagram post, Miann Fort Street said they had gotten “up to six requests today for ‘collabs’” and had had enough.
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“PLEASE STOP FOR A SECOND, AND THINK, think about the restaurateurs, food producers that have had ZERO income for a month, the possibility of 50 per cent drop in revenue for the next few months,” the post read.
“Think about the PEOPLE whom you are asking for stuff for free from, to boost your own profile.”
The patisserie called on people to “bring VALUE to your LOCAL BUSINESSES” by buying their products and then post about it online.
In the caption Miann Fort Street said it would “name and shame” any more requests it got to “collab” telling influencers to “jog the f**k on”.
Miann Fort Street’s post was shared by scores of others, with the patisserie’s message to influencers praised.
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“I am glad you spoke up. My mum and aunt’s restaurant also receives the same requests every now and then which is frustrating,” one person commented.
“They requested things like a free meal for a measly IG post (and they don’t even have a big following), to even feeding a crew of 50 people just for a small feature on their website.”
“Good on you! So sick of these so-called influencers asking for free stuff all the time,” another wrote, while one commenter added: “Well if an influencer can’t afford to pay for coffee and food, maybe it’s time to get a job.”
It’s not the first time influencers have come under fire for their treatment of a hospitality business during the coronavirus pandemic.
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In March, influencer Karylle Banez uploaded a post about her visit to Adelaide’s Leigh Street Wine Room with the caption: “If I had the coronavirus I know exactly who I be sneezing on (@ the rude waitress here ).”
In the comments section, which has since been deleted, Ms Banez added: “I came in so happy and cheerful, then she came over with such an attitude. She legit rolled her eyes when I asked her for the drinks list. Absolutely no need to treat people like that I feel.”
However, not everyone was happy with Ms Banez’s caption, with since-deleted comments slamming her for joking about the deadly virus.
Leigh Street Wine Room owner Sali Sasi also hit back at the post, saying Ms Banez had refused to take it down despite her asking her to.
Ms Sasi has since heard the waitress’s side of the story, with the female employee claiming Ms Banez had come in and announced who she was.
While Ms Banez was not given any free drinks – as it is not Leigh Street Wine Room’s policy to do so – she was reportedly offered four to five tastes of different wines from the menu.
However, Ms Banez left shortly after doing a photo shoot at the venue, Ms Sasi said.
Ms Sasi said that while the venue was standing by the waitress, the woman understandably “feels terrible” about the situation.