I have seen a lot of things over the years that discuss how a product name that is used successfully in one country has failed terribly in another country because the name already means something else in the new country. Examples of this are a drink whose name translated as "urine" or a car whose name translated as "small penis".
"Hey baby, you wanna see my car? I've got a small penis!"
No, doesn't work, does it?
Anyway, I was in one of the posher shops in town today when I was confronted by a huge display of these:
and their friends. Now I am not a coffee drinker and the smell of strong coffee makes me feel ill. So imagine my mirth when I read the name: GAGGIA.
Now where I come from, "gagging" is that feeling you get in your throat just before you vomit! What a great name! I wonder if they know that the name of their product suggests vomitting? Perhaps it is a marketing ploy aimed at models who are trying to fit into size 0 dresses?
Who can tell?
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Yeah! Wasn't it the Chevy Nova that didn't make it in Mexico because "Nova" in Spanish means "It won't go" ???
Hey now!! I LOVE coffee!! LOL!!
Great point though...wish I could think of more...
There is a game that has become popular here in the country, but the name for it is also a dirty act. When people talk about the game I have to walk away b/c its weird to hear it spoken of.
As for size 0, you know that some designers make a 00. That's a lot of pressure, maybe I need to invest in the Gaggia machine as a weight loss plan. Hahahahaha!
I bet it's pronounced "Gaaaah-jee-ah" or something fancy like that. They should spell it Gaaaahjeeah then, though, huh?
The worst product name ever is a bread here called "Melena."
Melena is when you have bloody stools. Mmmmmm.
Very intersting... I'm trying to think of some other products but am drawing a blank.
Terri - yes, that is a great one!
Logzie - well there has to be something we can disagree on!
Kiki - Now I am trying to work out what it is!
Mindy - I bet they won't sell you one if you can't pronounce it properly!
Chris - That is terrible!
Kenady - let us know if you think of any!
I never forgave "them" for renaming Marathon bars (Snickers)
Opal Fruits (Starburst)
and Jif (Cif)
James - I am with you there - I hate it when they do that! Will we have to refight the Battle of Snickers at the SOA in a few years time? :-)
that's funny.
i love coffee myself and one of the best parts is the smell.
have you ever tried iced coffee or frozen frapps or anything? sometimes they're a lot better.
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