So you've developed a new product, organised your packaging supplies and are now looking at which countries to ship it to.
There are a number of packaging mistakes made by big companies which has cost them dearly in shipping, recalls and getting new packaging supplies. When it comes down to it, there are really only two things you have to be very careful with.
Translation Problem
The Gerber Baby Food Company found themselves in a similar situation when they decided to launch their range of products into French supermarkets.
This was the same trap that the Gerber Baby Food Company fell into. When the company launched their line of baby food in French supermarkets, they initially recorded dismal sales. After some closer matrket research, it was pointed out that the word 'Gerber' translated into 'vomiting' in French.
Now i'm no food critic, but even i'm pretty sure that you wouldn't buy food that was produced by a company called "Vomiting" down here, as was the case in France.
It was later pointed out by a sheepish French person that 'Gerber', the company name appearing on all their packaging, actually means "Vomiting" in the French language.
Sometimes there are times where fate just deals you a bad hand. This was the case of a company that launched a diet product.
This second trap that packaging suppliers can fall into is related to incorrect translation. While having your product becoming a household name is a dream for most retailers, there are instances where it can become a household name for all the wrong reasons.
Unfortunatey this product had the packaging brandname 'AYDS' and as anyone who was around in the 80's and onwards knows about the terminal disease with the same name that became well known amongst the western world.
The worst part about this is that if this happens to your product, its probably not your fault and to compound this, there's not really much you can do to stop people using the particualr terminology. Your best bet here is to cut your losses, change your product name and order new packaging supplies.
If you are out of the cultural loop, its always pays to do some group testing to make sure that there will not be a large negative reaction to your packaging. - 15433
There are a number of packaging mistakes made by big companies which has cost them dearly in shipping, recalls and getting new packaging supplies. When it comes down to it, there are really only two things you have to be very careful with.
Translation Problem
The Gerber Baby Food Company found themselves in a similar situation when they decided to launch their range of products into French supermarkets.
This was the same trap that the Gerber Baby Food Company fell into. When the company launched their line of baby food in French supermarkets, they initially recorded dismal sales. After some closer matrket research, it was pointed out that the word 'Gerber' translated into 'vomiting' in French.
Now i'm no food critic, but even i'm pretty sure that you wouldn't buy food that was produced by a company called "Vomiting" down here, as was the case in France.
It was later pointed out by a sheepish French person that 'Gerber', the company name appearing on all their packaging, actually means "Vomiting" in the French language.
Sometimes there are times where fate just deals you a bad hand. This was the case of a company that launched a diet product.
This second trap that packaging suppliers can fall into is related to incorrect translation. While having your product becoming a household name is a dream for most retailers, there are instances where it can become a household name for all the wrong reasons.
Unfortunatey this product had the packaging brandname 'AYDS' and as anyone who was around in the 80's and onwards knows about the terminal disease with the same name that became well known amongst the western world.
The worst part about this is that if this happens to your product, its probably not your fault and to compound this, there's not really much you can do to stop people using the particualr terminology. Your best bet here is to cut your losses, change your product name and order new packaging supplies.
If you are out of the cultural loop, its always pays to do some group testing to make sure that there will not be a large negative reaction to your packaging. - 15433
About the Author:
John McKinnon shares many tips on packaging supplies at his packaging supplies web site.
