Melbourne Brass and Woodwind Centre P/l, Ormond, VIC

I have used Melbourne Brass and Woodwind for 5 years. This morning I went in to buy a cleaning rod for my son and was confronted by a violin with breasts propped up on the counter. I was told this was in order to 'advertise' their new strings shop just down the road. I asked to see the manager and told him that I found breasts on a violin being used to advertise a new music shop offensive. I also pointed out that a young girl of 6 or 7 who was learning the violin - or a young female violinist of 12 on the edge of adolescence - would find that violin - at their eye-level - deeply confusing. What message does it send? That violins are for men? That violins are sexual objects for men? That breasts are a catchy way to advertise your new store? This is a shop in a school belt and I see many mothers in there with their children. It just isn't appropriate in this context. The manager told me that 'Breasts are everywhere' and I should get over it. The nuances of the various levels of offence given by plonking disembodied breasts on a violin and using it for advertising purposes seemed entirely lost on him. I will not be taking my children (son or daughter) into that shop and I will never be shopping there again.