The decision to launch Funtimz www.funtimz.co.uk was, in itself, perhaps not all that surprising. After all, if you work on the old adage that sex sells, then perhaps this was the sort of business that I should get into, I reasoned.
But to have launched an ‘adult’ business in a small, relatively remote backwater in South West Scotland where church attendance is still relatively high compared to the national average has certainly raised a few eyebrows locally.
The disdain with which some members of our small community regard our business became evident when I tried to join Rotary International, an organisation for businessmen (women not allowed, even in these more enlightened times, they have to join Inner Wheel). I had been invited to join, but after a life-changing event and a sudden change of career from local newspaper editor to self-employed, I launched two businesses with partner Bobbie Ingram, a business consultancy and Funtimz.
As the Rotary membership evening drew close, I bumped into a Rotary member in the town who looked awkward and embarrassed when I asked him what time the membership evening was due to start.
“Ah, well... you see.... it’s, er...,” he stuttered. “It’s all a bit embarassing really. Perhaps we should discuss this in private at some other time.” Not prepared to drop the subject, I pressed him for an answer. “Well, erm, it’s the website.” “Oh, Funtimz,” I replied enthusiastically. “Good, isn’t it?” I added. “I am very proud of it, quality products and reliability, that’s what it’s all about,” I continued.
“Well, erm,” he continued awkwardly, “it’s like this, you see, we have to be careful.” Careful of what? I wondered, the sensibilities of small minded folk? “Well, one or two of the membership are unhappy about it,” he added.
“So, tell me,” I continued, “ if I were a senior executive with say, BAE Systems, you would be happy for me to join Rotary then?” His face lit up. “Oh yes, of course,” came his enthusiastic response. “So, let me get this clear, you would be happy for someone who makes weapons, tanks, fighter jets and missiles which kill people to join Rotary, but not someone who sells products to adults for their pleasure and the pleasure of their partners?” “Well, yes, I suppose there wouldn’t be any objection to that. But the sex industry, well, that’s different.”
I also pointed out that as around 90% of casualties in modern warfare are innocent civilians, mostly women and children, not soldiers, I personally would not be happy to mix with people who make their livelihoods from manufacturing the weapons that kill them.
Come to that, nor would I be happy mixing with people who think arms dealing is a more appropriate way to make a living than selling quality lingerie and sex toys. We live in a strange world, with some pretty strange attitudes and ‘values.’
- Peter Jeal, Managing Director, Funtimz.
Soapbox Update - February 7, 2007
It seems that my initial comments in Peter’s Soapbox above have caused quite a stir after the local paper, of which I was once Editor, decided to devote almost its entire front page and page 5 to the ‘row’ over my Rotary membership application some three months after the event.
That was then followed up by a piece in the Scottish edition of The Daily Express and The Daily Star. You just can’t buy that kind of free publicity!
But let’s be clear on a couple of points. I don’t really have a problem being rejected for Rotary membership - they are entitled to have whoever they want as members - but I am unhappy about the grounds on which my membership application was refused by local Rotary Club officials. The point of the blog - Peter’s Soapbox - was to question the values some people have in our society, namely that sex is dirty but arms dealing is okay.
Well, I, and I am sure, many Funtimz customers, do not share this view. Sex is, after all, natural, part of life and certainly nothing to be ashamed of or guilt-ridden about, while arms dealing, which is about trading in weapons for the purpose of killing people, should almost certainly be ostracized in the way the ‘sex industry’ is.
This aspect was completely missed by the Express and The Star and did not feature strongly in the local paper’s coverage either. You just can’t trust journalists to get it right!
But, something a little surprising, to me at least, has come out of this. The local community here in Newton Stewart have been generally supportive of my position, so I guess I would have to say, it’s not such a small-minded community after all, only in some sections. What is also for sure is that the Newton Stewart / Galloway area is scenically fantastic, just an hour and half’s drive from the M6 at Carlisle and the perfect place for a quiet, relaxing holiday.
Check out www.newtonstewart.org for information about accommodation providers locally.
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