Dr Mumbo

Coles makes a Monkey of Chinese New Year

Bamboo

Coles lucky Bamboo. Click to enlarge.

Chinese New Year is upon us, and Dr Mumbo is pleased to see so many brands getting involved in marketing initiatives around it.

Supermarket chain Coles has caused quite a stir in the Chinese community with its decoratively-potted lucky bamboo, but not in the way it would have wanted.

Next year is the Year of the Monkey, and the pots feature a cute illustration of a monkey. Unfortunately for Coles while the picture is right the traditional Chinese character accompanying it is actually ‘goat’.

This is the character for ‘monkey’:

monkeyAnd this is the character for ‘goat’: Goat

Dr Mumbo understands the bamboo pots are attracting quite a bit of commentary on popular Chinese social platform Weibo and online.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 10.14.03 amRegardless Dr Mumbo would like to wish you a happy Chinese New Year, regardless of whether you’re a cheeky monkey or a stubborn old goat.

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