THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEEK OF JUNE 3, 2007
Billboard Ad Removed
By STEFAN SCHUMACHER
Journal Reporter
The billboard advertisement on Willow Road, near Patriot Boulevard, in Glenview that has caused significant controversy and publicity for a local salon came down this weekend.
The billboard showed a scantily clad woman with arrows pointing to the flaws on her body and how they could be fixed by Pascal Pour Elle salon and Skin Deep Medical Spa.
According to Kevin Hoppe, director of governmental affairs for the Chicago division of Clear Channel Outdoor, which owns the billboard space, it was not their decision to take down the controversial ad.
Hoppe said C.B. Richard Ellis, which manages the Glen Town Center, where the salon and spa are located on Tower Drive, is responsible for taking down the ad.
"We review them on a case by case basis," said Hoppe of Clear Channel's control over the content on their billboards. "We didn't view it as objectionable copy. But it wasn't us that pulled it. It was them who pulled it."
He said C.B. Richard Ellis buys ad space on the billboard similar to the way ad space is bought in a newspaper.
The Glenview Journal late last week contacted the management offices of the Glen Town Center. They declined comment. They did, however, confirm that the ad had come down.
The Journal reported on Friday afternoon that the billboard ad was being taken down by the Glen Town Center management. Other news outlets later reported that it was Clear Channel Outdoor that made the decision, which it did not.
"Some residents [thought] it wasn't appropriate, wasn't the right location," said Pascal Ibgui, owner of Pascal Pour Elle and Skin Deep Medical Spa along with partner Dr. Stephen Bloch. "But we had a lot of very positive response. 'It's great, we like it, it's trendy.'
"There is no bad publicity. I don't believe in bad publicity."
Ibgui was, however, surprised at the reaction the billboard got, and said it wasn't meant to create this level of controversy, which included a petition from residents calling for removal of the ad.
A native of Paris, France, he said if the same image had gone up there, no one would have paid any attention to it.
"This is a totally different mentality, which is okay," he said. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that is the beauty of America. If you don't like it, you raise your voice."
Ibgui said the message of the billboard's image was that people should look for solutions, not problems, when it comes to their bodies.
"If you have a problem with a part of your body, we enhance those parts for you. If something is bothering you enough to call us, we could help," Ibgui said. "There was nothing offensive or sleazy about that image."
He said the negative reaction to the billboard has not hurt his business, which has been in Glenview for two years.
"Every morning I look at my voice mail, I get about 20, 30 voice mails supporting the image," he said. "We get a couple that say it's inappropriate. Positive response definitely overcomes the negative.
"I don't think our billboard was meant to attract that type of attention. If we did offend anyone with it, I would like them to accept my apology. That wasn't our intention. We didn't put the billboard [up] to have such a controversy."
Ibgui said he doesn't expect to be advertising in the same spot again anytime soon.
"I don't believe that they will give me the billboard again," he said of the Glen Town Center management. "I'm too edgy for them."
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