Shopping in pyjamas gets thumbs-up

Do you have the nerve to go grocery shopping in your pyjamas?

It’s a prickly conversation that has‚ at times‚ raged across social media ever since a photograph of a notice was shared asking customers to “avoid causing embarrassment to others” and not wear pyjamas to Spar.

The picture went viral in 2016 and the debate was re-ignited again this week. The mere thought of a person in a dressing gown and slippers popping into a shop to buy a wedge of Camembert cheese is horrifying to many. Others say the outrage is a storm in a teacup.

Spar‚ which obviously had its ear to the grapevine‚ turned the drama into a marketing opportunity and declared Friday as “PJ day” at its stores in the Western Cape. And‚ as an incentive‚ threw in the promise of a free hot beverage for every customer brave enough – or with the gall – to go shopping in their sleepwear.

“Who says you can’t shop in your PJs? Certainly not us‚” said the retailer in a post on Facebook. “We’re throwing a pyjama party.”

“Between 8 and 10am‚ pop into any of our stores in your pyjamas and enjoy a free hot beverage on us. #SPARPJDay.”

The PJ shopping invitation was extended to all shoppers in the Western Cape for two hours on Friday.

Venture into a store elsewhere in the country wearing pink pyjamas at your peril.