Classic Advertising Mistake: Arabic Version

My wife found the following funny story on line. Even though it is supposed to be fictional, it is completely plausible and reminds me of GM's attempt to market a car named Nova to Spanish speakers.

A disappointed salesman of Coca Cola returns from his assignment in Arabia.

A friend asked, "Why weren't you successful with the Arabs?"

The salesman explained, "When I got posted in the Middle East, I was very confident that I would make a good sales pitch in rural areas. But, I had a problem I didn't know how to speak Arabic. So, I planned to convey the message through three posters...

First poster- A man lying in the hot desert sand...totally exhausted and fainting.

Second poster - man is drinking our Cola.

Third poster- Our man is now totally refreshed.

Then these posters were pasted all over the place

"That should have worked," said the friend.

The salesman replied "I didn't realize that the in Arabic you read from right to left."

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