Clicks shares shrug off furore over hair advert

JOHANNESBURG – Clicks shrugged off the furore surrounding the healthcare retailer, with the stock remaining largely unchanged despite the forced closure of some of its operations in parts of the country and a failed bid to interdict protesters calling for the boycott of its products yesterday.

Clicks shares closed 0.04 percent lower on the JSE after chief executive Vikesh Ramsunder penned an open letter apologising for the marketing campaign depicting a racial stereotype in the aftermath of a public outcry over the advert.

Ramsunder said he was deeply disappointed that the group had allowed insensitive and offensive images to be published on its website.

“I apologise unreservedly for the hurt and anger these images have caused,” said Ramsunder.

Clicks published a TRESemmé South Africa advert on its website in which images of black hair were labelled as dry and damaged. Ramsunder said the negligent employees had been suspended, and the group had engaged with the supplier, which had also issued an apology.