Flirt gets a little more flirtatious
July 8, 2008 by Haidee
If you buy lingerie, you are probably aware of a few places in Cville where you can get the goods; one of which is Flirt. Located on the corner, it carries everything from indulgences to the everyday must-have Hanky Panky thong.
Cvillain’s post about the store focused more on whether it pressured girls to enter the world of sexy lingerie before they were ready. I, however, am less concerned with lace envy and more concerned with a recent addition to the store’s product mix…girls for hire. Yes, you heard me. The “Flirtresses” are for hire. Although the disclaimer states that they are PG-13, I still can’t help but think this weird. The gals are available to serve drinks, mingle, promote a product, or “add a sense of intrigue”. Indeed, if they wear what they are wearing in the promotional photos, you will be intrigued to know if their parents have any clue what part time job their daughter has picked up on the side.
This foray into entertainment baffles me. I have no doubt that Flirt’s founder and owner is a clever business person. She has set up a very cute shop and puts on some fun promotions. I understand selling undies and nighties to college girls. And I understand that fraternities want these girls at their parties. Voila! The Flirtresses are born. I suppose I can see the natural extension, but what concerns me is the context.
Promotional girls are not news. They are a dime a dozen passing out beer-branded whistles and t-shirts. But this is usually in a trashy bar. The Flirtresses are steps away from a university campus and being marketed as “versatile entertainers” with a “flirtatious edge”. How versatile are they?
I do like the store, don’t get me wrong. I love that they have added some cosmetics and paper goods. There was a cute promo with the release of Sex in the City. They offer discounts during exam periods. But, in my opinion, girls for hire is stepping over the panty line.
What is your opinion?
[photo: www.felinausa.com, line carried at Flirt]
What’s the going rate for Flirtresses these days? I absolutely adore Flirt. I think it’s a great store, with great service and attractive price points. (It’s also a great diversion during lunch, since I work near to the UVa Corner.) I think the owner is creative and forward thinking with her promotions. I’m not one to judge- plenty of promotional companies pay college-aged girls in scantily clad costumes $14.50 an hour to schlep products to drunken fraternity boys. If Flirt wants to play this game, I say more power to ‘em. The girls seem willing, and they certainly wouldn’t be the first to make money off of supposed sex appeal. Although (and I feel like a complete geezer in saying this, but) I would caution these girls to be careful with how they market themselves on the web. Flirt’s websites shows their full names, and you can never know when that might come back to haunt you. Lastly, I would be interested to know more about how this service is organized, and what Flirt is doing to insure the safety of its Flirtresses. I would hope there are some strict guidelines in place for making sure that these girls never end up in bad situations. If Flirt’s owner is truly the smart business-woman that I think she is, she will take every possible precaution to avoid the “worst-case scenarios” presented by this new venture.
I’ve been doing this for free for years…what the heck??
Laine, very good points. I do hope there are some precautions in place. If there are, and Flirt can make it work with the right clients and the right atmosphere, then I suppose it could be a respectable business. Hey…maybe CvilleStyle will hire them to promote the site!
Or we could get Shannon for free
As a part-time dabbler in party planning, I’m not so big on actually paying girls to do this sort of thing. It seemed so much easier when you just asked them to show up and wear a cool outfit and let them drink for free. There’s something in actually giving girls money to do the sexy thing that makes you expect more from them. I know from numerous ventures in catering bartending that men at parties will hit on any female help and if they’re paid to be there to flirt and entertain, some lines may be crossed.
Sounds great for poker night!
I think this blog post is reckless journalism– by using the phrase, “Girls-for-hire,” you create a link between the Flirt girls and prostitution. This is just another symptom of hypocritical pseudo-feminism…you run a website that teaches women that their value lies only in what commodities they drape over their bodies, yet chastise and attempt to censor them when they use their bodies and their personalities as a commodity. I’m friends with most of the Flirtresses and frankly, you’ve insulted their integrity and their honor. There’s no greater insult at this University.
Not a fan of this whole idea. I mean, I think it was a brilliant idea on the part of the founder. It just seems a little bit like crossing the line to me…
Thanks for your comment, Thomas. I appreciate hearing another opinion on the subject. I apologize if I offended your friends. I don’t want to insult anyone; this isn’t Cvillain.
Maybe “girls for hire” was a bit harsh. But what is it then? They are not promoted as waitresses or hostesses or coat checkers. They are promoted as young, pretty girls who flirt for money and represent a store near the University that sells lingerie. I found that surprising, and so I wrote about it.
You are not the first to tell me that the Flirtresses are nice girls. I am sure they are. My concern is with the way this service is positioned, not with them. Hey, I even hear that Spicy Bear might hire the girls for its next party, and I look forward to seeing them in action.
But I’m not sure that they would appreciate your describing their job as “using their bodies and personalities as commodities” any more than my describing it as “girls for hire”.
Hey Thomas, it’s cool of you to stand up for the ladies, but Haidee was not trying to insult them (nice poke at cVillain too, H.) She was merely questioning the concept.
Hello cvillestyle!
Thanks so much for noticing us as it has accelerated Flirtresses’ public debut as the premier special event promotion team in Charlottesville! It seems like everyone could use some further clarification and explanation. First, Flirtresses does not directly represent Flirt Co. Lingerie, the boutique on the UVA Corner — we are an extension of the marketing and PR concept that already exists within Flirt, its Friends, and Customers. The idea of Flirtresses began with a Lingerie Fashion Show this past Spring in tandem with Bud Select to promote their new lingerie-themed marketing campaign. At this event, Flirtresses were on hand to meet and greet guests as well as coordinate the student sponsored fashion show and to generally get the party going. Precipitating events included a Lingerie party for women only at the Woodlands of Charlottesville, Soiree Event Productions ‘La Dolce Vita’ with proceeds benefiting S.A.R.A., and the formal launch of Flirtresses will be at the Cville Weekly’s Annual Best-Of Party. The pictures on Flirt’s Website and on our Facebook Fan Page were an afterthought during a Flirt photoshoot in response to the recent boom in demand for Flirtress action. Note we are wearing little black dresses and this is standard Flirtress attire but can be tailored to the needs of the event. It is notable that the Budweiser, Woodlands, Soiree, and Cville Weekly contacts and event coordinators are young female business women with a mutual eye towards involvement, fun, and direct connection to your customers and stakeholders as a fresh marketing tool. And they shop at Flirt!
Thanks also for the compliment to our forward thinking business mindedness, as Flirt Lingerie was developed on the recognition of a market demand for lingerie near a twenty something audience. Lingerie, clothing, makeup, perfume, and accessories encourage women, young and older, to spice up their drawers for a multitude of reasons- our favorites being self confidence and accessorizing your best assets! On the same note, the owner has recognized the same market demand for a modeling/PR agency in Charlottesville. Flirtresses, although still in its inception, has evolved from favors to friends, partys with a purpose, into a conceivable business venture. Just as Flirt Lingerie aligns and unites with oodles of student and community groups to raise money and generate awareness for various causes, Flirtresses will in tandem have an eye towards community involvement by requesting a charitable contribution to a womens agency in the greater Charlottesville area by each of its clients.
Thus far, our successes have proven us as a unique, innovative marketing tool for a variety of promotional events, product launches, modeling, and cocktailing. As Flirtresses continues to develop we would like to make clear that we are not selling our sexiness in any way. We are simply broadening the horizon for marketing beyond just print, radio, television, etc. But let’s be honest, just as these media outlets aren’t free, Flirtresses foray into event specialists will have a price. Since the going rate so far has been in the spirit of helping other business, the participating Flirtresses can’t keep virtually working for free- whether it be pouring wine or hostessing an event. Additionally, as for our conduct, we wouldn’t be receiving so many business opportunities if the grapevine hadn’t found us poised and professional conversantionalists and effective engaging promoters. Flirtresses as well as their clients have standard contracts just as any event entertainment like DJs, staging, catering, etc.
Please feel free to contact us with any more questions. We’d be delighted to rock your party out and hopefully you’ll win best blog so you can see us in action as Cville’s Best-Of Party (but I voted for Cvillain!). Contact us at info@flirtresses.com!
Hey Thomas… I really don’t think that this website is “teaching women that their value lies only in what commodities they drape over their bodies,” but it’s awesome that you are speaking your mind. Clearly the blogs you read must be journalistic masterpieces-thanks for taking this pretty little thing so seriously. Also wanted to congratulate you on being a real friend-sticker-up-for-er. I feel better now that you’ve pointed out that your friends use their bodies and their personalities as a commodity!
Hello Flirt!
Thank you very much for your well thought out response. I am glad you joined the conversation to tell us more about the Flirtresses and the services they provide. You’ve explained it really well, and I suggest you use some of this language on your site. Including your community service work - applause!
Congrats on your recent success. Indeed, it sounds like you have identified a niche for event / live marketing in Charlottesville. I sincerely wish you the best of luck with the business.
Elle B-
You’ve contributed nothing to the discussion other than a few snide remarks intended to make me look stupid. Why don’t you try to stay on topic rather than get personal?
-thp
Children, let’s play nice.
Wow - these are some really thought-provoking posts.
I’m glad Flirt joined in to explain in more detail.
I guess, in the end, it’s like a model wearing a specific designer in order to promote that designer’s line. Or an actress on the red carpet who wears a little-known name and then she wins a top award, so the designer’s name gets out there. Only here, they promote their lingerie line and important causes, along with perhaps a local business.
Yesterday’s Progress had an article about this too.
http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/model_marketing_business_hopes_flirtresses_steal_the_show_at_parties/24994/
Someone who hired the Flirtresses referred to them as “professional girls.” I do believe that is a common euphemism for prostitute. So it is not just CvilleStyle that is caught in some word games…the people that hire them are throwing whore terms around too!
Risky business!
Haidee, congrats on your mention in that article!
I just read the article and can’t help but laugh at one line:
These ladies seem to have forgotten that they are the hired help. That’s pretty far in my book from being an “it” girl.
Sidenote that’s probably more cVillain than CvilleStyle: The Woodlands seems kind of desperate these days. Has anyone noticed how their marketing has changed over the last two years or so?
Thanks for the kudos, Kyle. It is pretty cool to have been part of such a big conversation. And I like the direction that TheUpstart is taking it. I couldn’t help but think that if you have to hire pretty girls to have a good party, then maybe you shouldn’t be hosting the party.
Wait…Spicy Bear might be hiring them. But not because they are pretty, right? Spicy Bear knows plenty of pretty girls. It is because you need someone to pass out name tags and drink tickets.
“if you have to hire pretty girls to have a good party, then maybe you shouldn’t be hosting the party.”
When I helped with Artini and the Live Arts afterparties, we brought pretty girls in as volunteer entertainers. They got free outfits and free drinks all night and got to attend an awesome party for free. We knew that having attractive ladies dancing and mingling would make the party a little more interesting. That’s probably what they’re going for.
hahahaha.
you prudes have helped allison’s business explode into a charlottesville phenomenon. how many times has cvillestyle been featured on the front page of the daily progress and interviewed for the local cbs station?
and to “the upstart:” “hired help”– seriously, how nouveau are you?
I’m sorry, I don’t understand your comment.
The fact is that the UVa girl mistook being hired as a party host/spokesmodel as a sign of an elevated social status. It’s laughable.
Hey Thomas,
Welcome to Charlottesville. People were offended when we walked around in bikinis at the last Artini. I’m sure there are other Charlottesvillians who feel the same about this endeavor unfortunately.
Maybe you mistook them as offended? I would think that most were confused and perhaps thought it just looked out of place. Bikinis at the IX building…it seems kind of odd.
The black dresses seem like a better direction.
No, we definitely heard about complaints and there are mentions of offense taken on CVillain and in the weeklies.
And if I can explain, my original intention was to bodypaint the girls as artsy walking advertisements for the sponsors, but the girls weren’t down for wearing only paint and g-strings so we had to order bikinis. We also were embracing a water theme and the suits worked with that.
I loved the Artini girls and think they totally were an awesome addition to that party. We have some sweet party stuff coming in the near future, I wish I could tell you guys about it!
Thomas, I think it is awesome that Allison’s business has received so much exposure. I certainly don’t have any ill will towards other business owners and entrepreneurs. In fact, I like seeing small business owners, especially female, succeed. Did I not say that I really like her store?????
And I am far from prude.
The DP article got picked up in the Sat. Richmond Times Dispatch too. More publicity for Flirt and CvilleStyle. In this incidence, I think you’re both winners.
And it makes me giggle that Haidee had to point out, “I am far from prude.”
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