A BUNBURY women's clothing store has closed its doors after widespread backlash from local shoppers about their store policies.
Shoppers lashed out on social media this week about what they believe is an "unreasonable" food and drink policy at Victoria Street business Flirtatious.
Today, the business is closed with a sign informing customers to contact the owner via post for refunds on vouchers.
The note thanked customers for their support over the past 11 years.
The discussion erupted after local mother Melissa Fielder posted an outraged comment about her experience in the store.
Ms Fielder said she had just entered the store on Monday with her 11-month-old baby in a pram when she was approached by the store owner.
The owner inspected the closed-in pram and asked the young mother to take the bottle out of her son’s mouth because there was a “no food and drink policy” in the store.
“My initial response was to exclaim “how rude” and immediately leave the store,” Ms Fielder told the Bunbury Mail.
“I was shaking with outrage that someone could have the power to request that I either remove the bottle from my son's mouth or leave the store altogether.
“It is first and foremost a mother’s instinct to protect their child - in this instance removing the bottle would have caused him great distress and possibly result in a crying tantrum.”
Ms Fielder said she took to social media to warn other local mothers against entering the store with children.
“I was overwhelmed with community support and stories of similar incidents from this store,” she said.
“I accept that food and drinks are not permitted in many stores as they are a significant cost to the clothing industry from damage acquired through drink spillage and soiled garments.
"I cannot accept that my son, who is only an 11 month old baby, is unable to continue drinking his bottle while I browse this clothing store.”
The store owner declined to comment but said it had always been their policy to not allow food and drink in the store to avoid damage to stock.
A Consumer Protection spokesperson said it was up to the individual store owner to decide on what their customers were allowed to do within their property, as long as there was no discrimination.
Wardrobe Fashion store manager Rosa Grasso said customers were usually good about making sure their children did not cause any damage to clothes.
“Mums will often get their children to sit up the front of the store and finish whatever they are eating or drinking or they will just pop their drink on the counter,” Mrs Grasso said.
“Parents generally keep an eye on their children, it’s up to the parent to make sure they are doing the right thing – I don’t think a baby with a bottle is going to cause any problems.”
The Customer Service Movement founder Josh Oakey reported a “scary” amount of negative feedback about Bunbury’s hospitality and retail sector in November.
Mr Oakey said the only reason people shop locally as opposed to online was for the experience and if they were not satisfied they would go “straight back to the keyboard.”
Have your say. What do you think is a reasonable approach? Email editor.bunburymail@fairfaxmedia.com.au
