ABC, Gruen: Karen Ferry reveals why she feels uncomfortable shopping in department stores

A top Asian and Australian advertising guru says many other women hate shopping in person because the staff are either sexist or racist.

Karen Ferry, who is half Chinese and half European, told ABC’s Gruen show Wednesday night: “Shopping sucks, it’s not great.”

The copywriter said the purchases were great for many consumers, but not everyone.

“There are a lot of occasions, for a lot of people, where that isn’t the case,” she said.

“Like, for example, when I went to New York and I went to a department store and a boutique, in all the stores, I was followed by security because they saw and I saw each other. says, “You are not white. You have to shoplift. ‘

Ferry, a freelance writer and consultant, told the ABC panel that many clients fear they may be victims of racial profiling.

“For many people who experience racial profiling or discrimination based on age and sex, or who have a disability, being frequented by a salesperson or other customers is a reason why you choose to buy online. line, ”she said.

Ferry, a cultural commentator who appears regularly on ABC and Ten’s The Project, said many women now prefer to buy a car online rather than going to a dealership to meet a sexist salesperson.

“You look at something like car sales, they all move online because women will search for the car, choose their car, select their car, book a test drive and buy it online because they don’t want to. dealing with a car salesman asking where their husband is, ”she said.

Melbourne 3AW Breakfast Radio co-host Russel Howcroft, former managing director of advertising agency George Patterson, lightened the mood by saying his story made him feel guilty.

Ferry, a freelance writer, told the ABC panel on advertising that many customers feared they might be victims of racial profiling.

“You make it difficult for me to say how much I love shopping,” he said, referring to the laughter from the panel.

Gruen host Wil Anderson ended the discussion with a joke about being a white man, cutting off panelist Christina Aventi, an executive at advertising agency BMF Australia.

“As one of the disenfranchised groups – a white, straight, rich man, it must be very difficult for you out there, Russ,” the comedian said.

Only the male panelists, both of whom are white, offered a response to Ferry’s observations in the final version of the program.

Melbourne 3AW Breakfast Radio co-host Russel Howcroft (second from left), former managing director of advertising agency George Patterson, lightened the mood by saying his story had made him feel guilty. Gruen host Wil Anderson (second from right) ended the discussion with a joke about being a white man, cutting off panelist Christina Aventi (left), an executive at advertising agency BMF Australia.