Ad ban unfair, says strip club
CRAVING RESPECTABILITY: With Crave Club owner Craig Trevenna holding the ladder, Lisa Lewis takes down the offending billboard last month.MIKE SCOTT / Taranaki Daily News
A council ban on a strip club's raunchy billboard is being challenged by the owner of New Plymouth's Crave Club.
Craig Trevenna was forced to remove a billboard advertising the club's fifth birthday, featuring Lisa Lewis because of a bylaw that forbids commercial sex premises from advertising anywhere but on their own premises.
Mr Trevenna disputes the council classification and plans to fight to have it changed to an entertainment venue.
"We are not a brothel, I don't believe in them and I won't stand for them, we are an entertainment venue and offer a safe and fun environment," he said.
The NPDC maintains under the definitions in the bylaw the club was classed as a commercial sex premises.
"Therefore the club is subject to the restrictions on signage," customer services general manager Cathy Thurston said.
The bylaw did not apply to other businesses, she said.
Mr Trevenna is angry other businesses were able to use sexual images in advertising and feels the industry is being discriminated against.
"It's a hypocritical situation that we are in.
"I feel we are being stripped of our right to advertise.
"We want equal rights to market our business the same as everyone else," he said.
A national advertising campaign run by Burger Fuel, showing Santa wearing a Borat style swim suit and carrying a blow-up doll, was far more offensive than the billboard advertising his club, Mr Trevenna said.
"I just thought it was very exploitative, using Santa holding a sex toy to advertise meat."
Crowded House and Adriatic tile and bath importers used a lot of bare flesh on their billboards at Fitzroy.
Mr Trevenna wants to see a level playing field for all business advertising, judged on the content of the ad and not the product.
"All businesses should have the ability to advertise, provided it is done tastefully," he said.
New Plymouth Burger Fuel franchisee, Brooke Wolfe, said he had had a few complaints from people about the billboard but his hands were tied.
"I've got no say in national promotions," Mr Wolfe said.
He agreed the billboard could have been seen as more offensive than the one Mr Trevenna was forced to take down and supported his right to be able to advertise around town.
"We are all trying to run businesses and he has to advertise his business to make it grow," Mr Wolfe said.
January 31, 2009, • 02:43pm