There's been quite a buzz lately concerning breastfeeding mothers getting flack about feeding their babies in public places. A group of nursing mothers recently staged a protest they called a "nurse-in" at a Target store in Texas after one mother was made to feel uncomfortable while feeding her baby in the middle of the ladies' clothing department.
What stands out to us, as a public relations firm that specializes in marketing to women, is not about the question of whether women should breastfed in public, but more importantly, why stores of the big box and department variety don't offer another option. Maybe this could be a comfortable chair in a private dressing room stall, or possibly a separate restroom designated for nursing moms.
With women holding 85% of the buying power, brands should work harder to cater to them on every level, and this includes during times when they are nursing moms. What if Target created a luxury space for nursing, changing diapers, etc. It would certainly be a great marketing effort and would send the message to moms that the brand cared about their needs.
FletcherPR is a national communications firm that specializes in reaching women through the power of media. Headquartered in Knoxville, TN with staff in Nashville & Los Angeles, we are a full-service agency providing strategic public relations, social media and marketing communications services to our clients throughout the U.S.