They say a picture speaks a thousand words, but get a marketer involved and you need a thousand words to explain the picture – in a letter of apology. The amount of advertising gaffs you find on billboards, newspapers and in magazine has to make you wonder what is actually going through people´s minds – and what they think is going on in ours! Here are 10 advertising gaffs to give you a chuckle – or a shock.

Cooking With Pooh

If only A. A. Milne had sat down with the advertisers before choosing a name for his storybook bear. It´s doubtful this recipe book made the best-sellers list, but there is bound to be plenty of honey recipes.

Male Chauvinist Shoes

If you don´t want to get a date, wear our shoes…

All The 3´s

We know a special deal when we see it which is more than you can say for this US store…buy three for the price of three – how could you refuse!

What´s Up Doc?

The guys who put the billboard ads up are only following instructions, but applying some common sense and a quick phone call to the super could have avoided a crude gesture that could scar a small child for life. How can the poor beans ever watch Bugs Bunny again without thinking of this image!

Rapefruit

It´s a nice try, but this ad is surely going to leave a sour taste in the mouth of a lot of people…and they probably don´t even like grapefruit!

Burger Kinky

If she wasn´t wearing such bright red lipstick this poster would look a lot less like a blow-up eating a burger. But no…

That´s Asda´s Price

Twenty-five per cent of women in Asda must be shitting themselves…

Furry Bag

The spelling is atrocious…

French Christmasing

The French have a reputation for romance, but how can any marketer think this modern impression of Santa is going to woo parents enough to allow them on a ski holiday? Judging by the abs and medallion Santa is not thinking about stuffing the turkey…

Hong Kong Quickie

There´s nothing like a worn-out travel cliché to get you excited about a holiday destination – especially one that is so alluring the marketers have chosen to draw a picture of fireworks. It must have taken the agency ages to think that one up..!!

A Little Pick Me Up

This is just the type of story you want to read over a cup of coffee to brighten up your day…