When Ford launched its Ford Pinto vehicle in Brazil, its branding team learned the hard way that “pinto” was a slang term for “small male genitalia”… Taking your business abroad is a big step in the expansion of your company. New people, new markets, new money – it’s an exciting venture! Of course, it has…
Category Archives: Marketing
28
Mar
Mar
Remember the big billboards by the highways? Or perhaps the ads on TV that promised you a deal you just couldn’t refuse if you dialed their number right now? Those marketing techniques saw businesses dictate to the masses what is worth buying. However, in order to access those avenues of advertisement, companies needed a sizable…
14
Feb
Feb
What can happen when you launch a product abroad without cultural awareness? Ask IKEA who released a cute toy wolf whose name in Cantonese regrettably turned out to be a crude insult. With the rise of emerging markets, cultural intelligence is becoming increasingly strategic as companies expand their operations to new horizons. Since the 2nd…
31
Jan
Jan
You may have heard the catchphrase, “Nothing personal – it’s just business.” Coined by Otto Biederman in the early 20th century, it was popularized by The Godfather, and is now used prominently by anyone and everyone. Fortunately, this phrase is no longer relevant. The power of social media combined with the rise of emerging markets…
05
Feb
Feb
Earlier in January, H&M released an ad featuring a dark-colored child wearing a green hoodie with the inscription “coolest monkey in the jungle”. Soon after, the brand was accused of racism. The anger reverberated in social media – namely because Canadian singer-songwriter and brand collaborator The Weeknd loudly tweeted his disgust. Viral pandemonium ensued, throwing…
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