'Old Bags' are doin' it for Themselves
Good to see that Aylsham's first Plastic Bag Free Day passed without any of the unpleasantness generated by Sainsburys' "Take an Old Bag Shopping" campaign last month. The company blandly denied intending to cause offence after mild protests from Age Concern. Hah. What these smart young suits need is a visit from GUERRILLA GRRANZ!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is this: Meet at a smallish branch of Sainsburys at 4.30 on the Friday before a Bank Holiday. Those with 4-wheel shoppers, bring them, all others choose a big deep trolley, preferably with one wonky wheel. Fan out across the shop floor and target all shelf fillers with requests to reach things down or locate an obscure item the other side of the store. Follow slowly and leave trolley in situ. At the deli, buy two ounces of everything. When it is your turn at the fish counter, engage person immediately behind in prolonged reminiscences about Snoek. In the cafe, ask the assistant to carry your tray; if no help available, allow pot of tea to slide to floor. Leave dentures wrapped in a paper napkin on the table when you go. At the checkout: join the 'Baskets Only' queue and feign deafness if anyone points out error. Ensure you have at least one item without a bar code from the furthest section of the store so someone has to be called to find the price. Either (a) refuse offers of help with packing and sort things slowly into six different colour-coded bags, or (b) accept help, but make sure all the breakable/squashable stuff is first off the belt, so you can stop at Customer Service Desk to complain about damaged goods, When bag/trolley is full, tip it out again because your purse is at the bottom. Those confident with technology can use the self-service tills and try to pay with a Co-op divvy card. Try to go out the emergency exit. As a final flourish, push two trolleys out together and block the 'Do not take trolleys past this point' gate.
That should concentrate their minds wonderfully next time they wish to find a catchy way of reminding customers to re-use carriers.....