Fatty Power 2 —
I’m going to begin using “Fat Power” to encourage us to join our collective knowledge. So with this second installment of “Fat Power” I want to ask you all for the names of companies who have explicit anti-fat policies, that we may avoid patronizing them, as Statistical Freak recommends in her recent post on Fat Activism for the Shy (or Lazy). Or, in the future, we can use this list to call for an outright boycott.
On the flip side, I’d also like you to shout out any fat friendly organizations or corporations that we should be patronizing to support their policies.
Elizebeth kicked it off by mentioning her personal boycott of Whole Foods for their asinine policy of rewarding thin employees with deeper discounts than their fat counterparts. She also encourages people to support NAAFA for their outstanding lobbying efforts.
So, what say you? Are you aware of any companies that deserve our financial support or withdrawal? Let us know below!
For what it’s worth, I own a cafe. I run it, too. It’s literally just me. All 300+/- lbs. of myself, serving everyone who enters with a smile and a bit of humor or empathy. I make a killer latte and everything’s organic for the most part. I specialize in gluten-free goodies, but am always willing to work with people or their allergies.
CarrotsCoffeeAndTea.com: right by SFO! So fat friendly, it’s fattastic! <3
Do you mail order products? If so, everybody order some Carrots Coffee and Tea!
Which reminds me of your polar opposite, that Crumb Bakery that went on a fat-hating bender a while back. Do NOT support Crumb in New York.
Welcome to Fierce, Freethinking Fatties!
Peace,
Shannon
Yes, too bad about that bakery. But I have a feeling they won’t be around long anyway with the attitude they have.
Sadly, I do not do mail order. I take great pride in offering the freshest possible things in my cafe.
Thanks for the props, though.
=0)
notblueatall -
Gluten free goodies! OMG. I’m like the queen of food allergies, so this is a huge draw.
My husband and I will have to come visit your store after my budget isn’t so wrung clean from scrimping every penny for Dragon*con. (After the first week of September.) I’m in the east bay, so it’s a bit of a trek to your store, but I’ll still tell my local friends they should check you out if they’re in San Bruno!
this is pretty random, but I also have a lot of food allergies, and I recently discovered Enjoy Life Foods (http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/) which are made in a dedicated facility to avoid any sort of cross-contamination. they’re gluten-free, vegan, and free of the most common allergens (tree nuts, etc.). so far I’ve had only the Crunchy Flax cereal- good if you’re looking for a high-fiber gluten-free cereal!
anderson -
I’ve had their “boom CHOCO boom rice milk bar” and I love it because it takes like that milk ch0colate Easter candy that almost doesn’t taste like chocolate. It’s sad the things I miss becasue of my food allergies…but better not to be allergic all the time!
OMZ! You’re local?! Yay! I’m all out of Mariposa Stuff at the moment, but hoping to do gluten-free waffles really soon. Check the site for updates, I’ll be sure to post!
=0)
Excellent! I just moved back to Sacramento but get to SF when I can…I’ll definitely swing by your place some time! <3
I have one here in Brisbane, Australia that I would like to add to the nice list. I bought my bicycle (a gorgeous purple Electra Amsterdam) from New Farm Bikes. I am now able to admit that I was a very nervous bicycle shopper, being a deathfatz and all, and was bracing myself for a little douchebaggery, maybe even a lot, about my size and wanting to purchase a bicycle.
However, I received nothing short of magnificent customer service, my size/weight didn’t even come into play, they were respectful and friendly as they fit the bike to me and even the young skatey boy who does the services and work on the bikes was friendly and sweet. Never once did I feel uncomfortable or judged. When I handed over my hard earned $$ for my bike, the fellow that was running the shop smiled and said “It always makes me happy to see another person on the road.”
I’ve since discovered that their slogan is “Bikes for the rest of us.” which is lovely.
This is what fat friendly customer service is like!
That’s awesome! I bought a bike too at Bike World in Belleville, IL a year ago and they were super nice too. When my tube needed replacement (from lack of us… I only now started using it) he filled it up and I asked how he knew how much to put in. He just said, “Well, I sort of eyeball it and look at your size and what you need and fill it to the right level.” Nothing weird, no “Um… uh… fatness needs more air.”
This is exactly what I want… let’s support fat friendly businesses!
Peace,
Shannon
Awesome! The same for me, I was buying all the doodads and extras and Bron (I hope I’ve spelled his name right!) just told me what PSI he wanted me to put in the tires when I was getting the bike pump, no comment about anything else. It’s so refreshing to be treated as an equal!
Great idea, but it is truly sad to think that retail and service establishments *aren’t* friendly to all of their customers whatever size, color, sex, etc. You would think after that great scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts returns to the shop that dissed her that sales people would Get A Clue about Customer Service.
Jake’s Bikes in Alexandria, MN seems to be pretty fat-friendly. DH and I went there looking for a Schwinn Aerodyne exercise bike like he rode at the VA for his knee rehab. Jake’s didn’t have one of those, but steered us to a Star Trac 8610, which is similar (and costs about $200 less than the Schwinn, at their store). When I asked what the weight limit was on it, the sales rep didn’t even blink, just looked it up and said 350 lbs, and that it should work fine for both of us (DH is only 250 lbs, but I’m 380 lbs…..lol). We’ll be going back there to purchase the 8610 from them.
Revolution Cycles in the DC area were pretty awesome to my friend and I when we went in to buy bikes. Although we didn’t speak it out loud, I think my friend and I were both pretty nervous to get “fitted” for bikes and the like. But Revolution was pretty damn great and I never felt judged, looked at weird or anything… and as someone else said, this should just be the norm but sadly it isn’t.
Since I bought my bike, I’ve gone with other friends (from fat to thin) to either buy or rent a bike- and they were all treated the same way, with great customer service (as it should be). Definitely a bike store that gets biking is for EVERYONE!!!
East Midlands Trains in England for access help in their rail stations all along their routes. Thumbs up!
Shopmobility in many cities in England - free or low cost usage of mobility scooters for those who sign up or even guests in the locations. Heavy-duty ones everywhere I’ve requested them (best to call in advance to reserve). Special props to the Leicester branch!
Vidal Sassoon teaching salon in London, England - Thumbs down for no lift to their haircutting salon. Great low-price cut but only those mobile enough to climb 4 flights can be served!
Attractive clothes up to size 34 at J.D. Williams catalog and shopping website. I buy most all my clothes there in England. Fast accurate shipping most orders. Thumbs up!
I went to their website and they advertised plus size clothing but every single one of their models is traditional thin. I can’t get any idea of how theri styles would fit on me