Business tips for using the country of origin effect to your advantage


If you have a product that could be exported (and who does not?) you might be in a position to use country-of-origin impact to your advantage. Country-of-origin impact is the phenomenon by which products and brands are colored by consumers' opinions concerning the nation the product comes from - and for many firms it can work greatly to their advantage.

For example, we have a tendency to believe that Germans are good engineers, that the French create fantastic food, the Belgians make good chocolate, and the Americans are great at quick food. You will find, no doubt, poor German engineers, incompetent French chefs, poorquality Belgian chocolatiers, and very slow American restaurants, but the overall impression remains.

Cachaca is really a Brazilian spirit made from sugar, rather like a white rum. Until recently, cachaca was virtually unknown outside Brazil, since only about 2 percent of cachaca production is exported. This all changed, however, when Sagatiba was launched onto the British drinks marketplace in 2005.

The company's advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, decided to use a Brazilian theme. Probably the most famous icon of Brazil is, of course, the statue of Christ the Redeemer that stands on the Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro.

Saatchi & Saatchi was aiming for a young audience, so it started by (controversially) hiring graffiti artists to spray images of Christ the Redeemer on walls all over the East Finish of London. It also commissioned an image of a pool player resting his arms on a cue balanced across his shoulders - imitating the pose of the statue.

Ultimately, Sagatiba seeks to tap into British perceptions of Brazil - hence the use of Christ the Redeemer. The British advertising bears no relationship to the way the product is marketed in Brazil. Sagatiba has also tapped into other Brazilian icons, soccer and samba drumming, but these have not played as well as the Christ the Redeemer icon.

Make certain that the perception you tap into will be the one that the target audience has of your nation - this really is likely to be various from your personal perception. Test the alternatives. There may be more than one icon that you could use, but only one will be the most efficient one.

By no means, ever, simply translate your existing advertising into a foreign language. Cultural differences go well beyond language. Always check with people who reside in the country you are targeting. They may occasionally be wrong, but as a foreigner you'll almost usually be wrong if you try to guess how customers will react.

Legal Disclaimer

Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Articleinput.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.

Note: This article was sent to us by: Phoebe Helgin at 01202011

Related Articles

1. Pay attention to the people and the image of your brand
The people business The service trade is a people business. Customers are very much the king and do expect to be treated as individuals, with all their quirks a...

2. How to extend the life of the product you are selling
Extending the product life cycle It is debatable whether the first or the second in the market makes the most profit. Often the first signposts the way, allowin...

3. How to compile a sales forecast and conceive a marketing strategy
Compiling the sales forecast There are two main areas to look at - desk research and field or commissioned research. Desk research 1. Look at ...

4. Test sampling of your own product might actually improve sales
Testing the idea New firms would be advised to do some test sampling of their new product or service before making large-scale commitments. For manufacturers, a...

5. Test sampling of your own product might actually improve sales
Testing the idea New firms would be advised to do some test sampling of their new product or service before making large-scale commitments. For manufacturers, a...

6. How to place advertisements where your audience is likely to see them
Think of a customer The most important principle to grasp in advertising is placing the advertisement where most of your target audience is likely to see it. Th...

7. What is erosion and how does it affect you marketing strategy
Erosion - the numbers game A popular area for small firms is the 'Postal Bargains' slot in many papers, but research on response is hard to come by. I have carr...

8. Which advertising agency to choose for my business
Using an advertising agency It stands to reason that those who are designing ads every day of the week should be able to come up with better ideas and layouts t...

9. How can I design my own ads for my business
Design your own ads Despite the obvious advantages in going to an agency, many of you will design your own copy, particularly when just starting in business. I ...