The Cost of Poor Localization
Launching a product in a new market is a significant investment. The last thing you want is for your packaging to fail due to avoidable localization errors. From regulatory non-compliance to broken layouts, these mistakes can damage your brand reputation and lead to costly recalls.
1. Ignoring Text Expansion
One of the most common issues is failing to account for text expansion. Languages like German and French often require 20-30% more space than English.
Design Tip: Always design your master packaging with "breathing room" to accommodate longer translations without compromising the layout.
2. Direct Translation of Marketing Claims
"Crisp" in English might translate to "Crunchy" or "Fresh" depending on the context. Direct translation often loses the nuance and emotional impact of your marketing copy. Transcreation—adapting the message rather than just the words—is essential for preserving your brand voice.
3. Overlooking Regional Compliance
EU regulations (FIC) differ from UK (FSA) and US (FDA) standards.
- Allergens: Must be emphasized (bold/italic) differently.
- Nutrition Tables: Format and rounding rules vary.
- Claims: "Organic" or "Natural" have strict legal definitions that vary by region.
4. Inconsistent Font Usage
Using a font that doesn't support all necessary glyphs (e.g., accents in French, umlauts in German) can result in fallback fonts that look unprofessional and break your brand consistency.
5. Neglecting the "Back of Pack"
While the front of pack gets all the design love, the back of pack is where the legal heavy lifting happens. A cluttered, unreadable back of pack can deter customers and flag regulators.
How WYLLOLAB™ Helps
Our Packaging Localization Service combines native linguistic expertise with high-end design to ensure your packaging is not only compliant but also visually stunning in every language.
Don't let localization be an afterthought. Start your localization project today.