While surfing through articles I came across some hilarious examples of what not to do. So learn from the mistakes of others and before settling on an ad campaign and even if you are working for a business that is small and only on American soil, take into account that once that company grows they may want to expand internationally. It’s always good to be resourceful and think ahead before you are kicking yourself all the way back to the drawing board.
1. Coors put its slogan, “Turn it loose,” into Spanish, where it was
read as “Suffer from diarrhea.”
2. Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: “Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.”
3. Clairol introduced the “Mist Stick”, a curling iron, into Germany
only to find out that “mist” is slang for manure.
4. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same
packaging as in the U.S., with the beautiful Caucasian baby on the
label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what’s inside, since most people can’t read.
5. Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called “Cue”, the name of a notorious pornographic magazine.
6. An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish
market which promoted the Pope’s visit. Instead of “I saw the Pope” (el Papa), the shirts read “I saw the (more…)
