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Parents are outraged at a popular stationery chain for displaying products printed with the F-word in full view for young children.

Customers of the Typo stores have complained about the crude language on notebooks and other merchandise.

The company, owned by Cotton On, said products featuring the profanity should have a censorship sticker covering the phrase.

It apologised, and is conducting an audit of all stores.

Typo’s website, which was today promoting an uncensored ‘Zero F–k’s’ candle, ‘F–k Yeah’ sign and ‘F–k It, Let’s Disco’ notebook, will also be altered.

One mum said, “I find it highly inappropriate for these books with this kind of language to be in full sight of young children,” she told the Herald Sun.

“They shouldn’t be subjected to this kind of disgusting language right in their face in the middle of the store. There was no warning.”

She said she overheard a young child ask her mother what the word meant.

Typo said: “Whilst some of our products are more irreverent than others, we do appreciate that as a gift retailer, our customers fall either side of our target audience of 18-35 so where relevant we use censor stickers on products not appropriate for a younger audience.

“The product in question should have been censored and we are taking steps to ensure this takes place immediately.

“We’ll also make any necessary changes to our product displays to make certain they are less prominent within the store.”

Comments on the Typo Facebook page include….

“I was disgusted by some of the items I saw in my local Typo store in Epping Vic.
The F word displayed on multiple items in full view of children. You also use Sh*t and other swear words on your merchandise. Why is this necessary to sell some notebooks and pens?? Seriously- show some class !!!!!”

“As a loyal customer of your brand I was disgusted to find some of your current products (aimed at children) to contain such innapropriate language. By no means a prude, I am deeply offended that you would use this kind of language on your products. Seriously considering deleting your brand from my children’s Christmas gift list!”

“I am not a prude by a long way but when I take my grandkids into Typo Coffs harbour and the Fword is on so many things I find that both embarrassing and offensive I thought typo was a family store very wrong.”

Other comments argue that the Typo range really is not aimed at kids.

“Don’t change your products for a few sensitive people that are getting their panties in a bunch! Typo products are obviously not aimed at kids – this is common sense.”

“Don’t stop selling items with swear words on them because people are prudes. I think they are funny and ordered some more today. Obviously I agree they need to be censored with stickers for online and store purposes to avoid children seeing them but don’t stop making them! Your age audience is 18-25 so they fit perfectly with that as most teenagers today would find them funny or ‘cool’. I know I do.”

“Kudos to typo for continuing to sell the stuff with swear words. Shouldn’t need to censor anything. If there are people going in there that get offended by swearing, they clearly haven’t grasped the demographic you guys are marketing to. Too many whingers these days.”

A quick browse around online shows a few of the products mentioned. Although the CENSOR label has now been placed over the fword items.

typo-bullshit typo-fuck typo-shit-yeah typo-shit-2

What do you think? Is Typo a kids store?

Share your comments below.

Image via Typo

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  • Perhaps they need to have an adult section in the store if they wish to stock such things.

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  • I thought Typo was a kids store but certainly not in this instance.

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  • If you are not made aware of it before you walk into the shop you would probably get a huge shock. You may also unwittingly take children in there who may / may not have heard or seen those words before. Is there a warning in the shop windows and on the doors ????? if not it is inappropriate.

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  • Not all stores are to our liking then do not go in there. I have been brought up with these words from others and find no need to use them, even no I say to my adult children beg your pardon. I see no need for these words but they are used by many so , it is up to us to control what our young children see and hear.

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  • No, not my thing.
    Inappropriate to teach kids such words. Just as much I don’t like swear words for kids I don’t like them for adults.

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  • I’ll pass on buying those items – just not me.

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  • I do love shopping at Typo. I seeSmiggle so being the stationery store for primary schoolers, and Typo for secondary schoolers. However, I’ve noticed parents happy to up-age their children all the time now I love Typo for my home office too. Having said al of that, I don’t think the language is appropriate or useful for anyone. I wasn’t outraged or mortified, just chose not to buy those items.

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  • Typo aim at 18-30-year-olds.. based on what I’ve heard from this age range at gigs swearing is pretty common.. no – i won’t wrap my sons gifts with that ribbon but i would wrap a few friends with it – they’d love it.. It’s not a place i take my son because of the target age range. I don’t’ see the problem with it – this reaction feels too strong – like when parents took young kids to the cinema to see “go – life starts at 3am” and similar films?
    Anyway – the brand is now censoring the images in person and in store – do we really want a nation where only things enjoyed by a particular sub-set of the society are available though – this seems to be what is being argued for here?

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  • Making money at any cost is not worth the loss of reputation and backlash.

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  • I find it inappropriate in any contest. I don’t like swear words at all. And I wouldn’t have expect such a choice from Typo, a shop very much loved by a lot of teenagers.

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  • I guess there must be a market for these things – sometimes I think they are cool, but I totally agree that they shouldn’t be at a child’s eyeline and that in general the profanity should be at least concealed so that young readers don’t stand there trying to read the notebook covers outloud!

    agree with the other mums though, if you don’t like it then walk away and give your $$ to another shop that sells similar but without the swear words.

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  • Wow, that’s one store that would immediately be losing my custom.

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  • Well, I agree censoring the words would be polite, but you can vote with your feet. Unfortunately, after the damage is done, for some people.

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  • Typo are trying to be cool but are not with these expressions!

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  • it is the same with other stores products you don’t like, move on and don’t shop there!

    Reply

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