It’s no secret that Poundland’s social media team is renowned for their humour and wit.
Not only are they engaging with customers online, they’re also no strangers to having meme-heavy Twitter exchanges with other British retailers, notably Marks & Spencer and Iceland.
But one thing you don’t ever want to do is attract the ire of Poundland’s social media team.
This was the case with Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Winston Churchill and current MP for Mid Sussex.
Last week, Soames attacked John McDonnell MP by calling him a “Poundland Lenin” over a row in which the shadow chancellor said Soames’ grandfather was a “villain”.
As Westminster erupted into a debate over Churchill’s legacy, Poundland zeroed in on to Soames’ comment, refusing to let it slide.
In a public letter shared on the discount retailer’s Twitter account last week, it called out Soames’ use of Poundland’s name in a derogatory manner and stood up for its employees.
“Let us be clear, you would do well to think about what your grandfather said in 1906: ‘The recognition of their language is precious to small people’,” Poundland said.
“Wise words. Because when you don’t, you’ll find small people will, perhaps unfairly, judge your character by your words.”
.@NSoames @johnmcdonnellMP @jeremycorbyn @10DowningStreet Our first message for your information: https://t.co/eHaSUcytmI #Proudland pic.twitter.com/rJgKNDFZQG
— Poundland (@Poundland) February 14, 2019
It’s not the first time Poundland’s social media team has owned someone so publicly.
Last year, the retail chain came for Thameslink, after it responded to a passenger tweet of a departure board with train cancellations.
“Very sorry Kevin. Appreciate at the moment the service is less Ferrero Rocher and more Poundland cooking chocolate,” the rail firm had said.
In response, Poundland tweeted Thameslink chief executive Charles Horton as well as the chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, Thameslink’s parent company.
In its tweet, the discount retailer highlighted how it served millions of customers each day and had a “pretty good idea about what great customer service is, but if we ever fall short, perhaps we’ll describe ourselves as a bit Thameslink”.
It added: “If you don’t want to hear from our extremely twitchy legal team, we suggest you remove your tweet.”
GTR subsequently apologised and deleted the incriminating tweet.
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