2 minute read
Before You Go....
by 55 North
RETAIL RANDOMS
Hong Kong ding dong
Executives at the Hong Kong-based Incognito Group are no doubt delighted that one of their products has scored a drinks industry first.
Perhaps not, since it’s the first time that alcohol watchdog The Portman Group has upheld a complaint against a drink’s name for causing “serious or widespread” offence.
As you’ve no doubt gathered from the picture, it’s Fok Hing Gin that’s behind the rumpus.
Incognito innocently claimed the name is a Hong Kong language term meaning “good luck”. Yeah, good luck trying that one.
Even better, it then said it had gone out of its way to avoid causing offence since, in paying homage to Hong Kong street ‘Fuk Hing Lane,’ it tactfully changed the ‘Fuk’ to ‘Fok’.
All of this fell on deaf ears at The Portman Group, which took the side of the offended Licensing Officer who grassed Fok HIng up in the first place.
The complainant said: “The name of the product Fok Hing Gin is clearly intended to shock and be pronounced as an offensive term.” They were probably referring to the brand’s alleged online marketing comments like: “Those who don’t like the name can FOK OFF.”
That’s you told, Portman Group.
Sitting on a fortune
Ever wondered where all your spare change goes? The mystery has been solved – and it turns out it’s all down the side of the couch.
Research from rubbish disposal experts Divert.co.uk has revealed that there’s a suspected £10m worth of change hidden down the sofas of unsuspecting Brits – enough to feed the average family of 4 for 3,019 years, buy 667 average-price family cars, or pay for 2,086 family holidays. How many Olympic-sized swimming pools it would fill remains unclear.
Citizens of 10 UK cities were asked to rummage down the sides of the sofa and report their findings – and it’s residents of Leeds who are sitting on the biggest gold mine, with an average of £3.07 down the couch, while those in Brighton have the least – a paltry 32p on average.
And it’s not just domestic furniture that’s nicking shrapnel. York-based barman Alec can easily make £20 a week from end of the night cleaning. He said: “Drunk people chuck their change in their pockets, sit on the sofas and it all spills out.”
