Advertisements by Studio Retail Ltd held to be “irresponsible” – 27 January 2021

Complaints were raised in relation to a television and video on demand advertisement by a catalogue and online shopping retailer, Studio Retail Ltd, on the basis that the advertisements encouraged the use of credit to facilitate excessive Christmas spending during a period of financial hardship for many consumers. In particular, the use of phrases such as “spread the cost” and “go all out this Christmas” were identified as problematic. The ASA upheld the complaints. It found that the advertisements irresponsibly encouraged excessive spending and should not appear again in their current form.