Over the years, Pack Protocols has come across obvious and ambiguous packaging oversights. After witnessing multiple packaging anomalies we decided to put together a new series dedicated to packaging related blunders. The intent is not to emphasize the wrong doing of packaging. Instead, its purpose is to shed light on how minute details of packaging projects can be overlooked, misinterpreted, or completely forgotten. It can happen to anyone!
The issues resonate beyond packaging and are common. For example; a famous car company mistakenly called a new compact car back in the “Pinto”. The U.S. based company may have thought it would be wise to name the new car along the lines of one of their more popular cars named after a type of horse (Mustang). It is believed “Pinto” was to relate to a spotted or speckled horse associated with Native Americans.
There was no harm with the car naming until it sold in other countries. The car company did not research well and the car was released in other countries under the same name. Regrettably, the name “Pinto” in certain countries is a term for male genitalia. Oops!
Our first example of a packaging blunder is the naming of a packaging company with multiple interpretation possibilities. Although the company name is probably a well respected name in a specific part of the world, it may be interpreted differently to certain English speakers. This may be true especially if they’re not aware of the origins of the name.
Full identity of company has been edited to prevent disclosure.
The company name shown above has been used for other industries as well. A firm associated with the name above may or may not be fitting or taken seriously depending on culture and personal perspective.
Thoughts?