Since the Boycott Flannels campaign originally started back in January 2012 to urge them to end their sale of fur, Flannels initially requested actions to be held off for a short period of time whilst their management discussed the matter however only got back to us with a shoddy, unofficial statement that they "do not intend to sell fur in 2012", whilst refusing to make an official statement that they would not sell fur again and refusing to sign an official fur-free policy. In response to this, the campaign then began actions - and has grown from strength to strength ever since...

The campaign launched regular demonstrations where activists took to the streets hitting their stores on a regular basis, campaigners have been shaming them at their own door-steps of their stores across England and Wales in full view of the public, who have been very supportive in taking leaflets, signing petitions, complaining to Flannels and voicing their support for our campaign. Very soon after the routine protests started, the campaign saw three of their stores remove fur from the shelves and send it back to HQ (Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester). However protests continue outside of all of their stores until Flannels management make the official move to becoming a fur-free company. The reaction from Flannels on protests outside of their stores has only confirmed the effectiveness of the campaign; staff tried ignoring us, but that soon changed as it wasn't long before they were shouting and ranting, they have tried to assault a couple of activists which only saw the pressure turn up on them even more and they have tried laughing but that didn't last long either when they've quickly shown their frustration with the loud verbal complete with angry facial expressions again.

As the campaign gained recognition and momentum, we launched an email call-out, which received support from larger organisations and groups including Viva!, Animal Aid and CAFT as they included the call-out in their newsletters, action-alerts and websites. Lots of emails have been sent to the management as a result, who've been responding by giving their same mundane response.

Phone protests have been another regular action, where people have been phoning up Flannels HQ to complain to them about their sale of fur. Flannels didn't have much to say on the phone either, simply telling people to email or saying "no comment".

The campaign launched it's first official national day of action (FLANNELS: IT'S TIME TO THROW IN THE TOWEL) in March, which saw visual, focused demonstrations hit every Flannels store on the same day. Campaigners protested outside of Flannels with a creative variety of costumes, props and stunts, including cages, animal costumes, a skinless human costume, bloody (fake, of course) fur coats, zip-face make-up and memorial protesting as well as huge banners, placards and more in a unified day of action, which again received huge support from the public, much to the clear annoyance of Flannels.

And most recently, there was the Flannels Fashion Show at Manchester Fashion Week, and Boycott Flannels campaigners were as determined as ever to make sure Flannels know wherever they are - their company will be shamed for selling real fur. Activists protested outside of the venue with costumes, banners, placards, leaflets and petitions as their voices could be heard from inside the venue. After two activists had won a competition for a couple of free entry tickets that Flannels unknowingly gave to them, campaigners inside the venue then jumped up onto the catwalk, unfurled a banner and scattered leaflets, in full view of the press, freelance journalists, bloggers and photographers as well as fellow fashion businesses. They were arrested, then de-arrested and also got interviewed by the press as Flannels were seen seething over their event being turned upside down by the protests.

Flannels are being thoroughly shaken up and are feeling the immense pressure from a determined anti fur campaign that will only continue until they stop selling fur, release an official statement and sign an official fur-free policy that they will no longer sell it, permanently!

For more information, and ways you can get involved with the campaign, see the official Boycott Flannels website at: www.boycottflannels.net