3 Nepalese Brands that became Generic Names
Brands throughout the globe can be seen resorting to aggressive marketing & branding practices. Superficially, consumers react to such practices by simply purchasing products and services. However, beyond influencing the purchase behavior, branding & marketing plays an important role in influencing the psychic of audiences. An interesting observation can be made on how such practices of brands have influenced linguistic semantics.
Product names, such as Bubble wrap, Chapstick, Xerox, Thermos, Jeep, Escalator and Matchbox, are used indiscriminately, regardless of their brands . Little do people know that these names were once identities of discrete brands.
There are numerous brands in Nepal that have genericized their names into the common tongue of people. Let us take a look at some of them.
Sancho
Sancho is literally perceived as a panacea by the majority of Nepalese. Be it a runny nose, a sprained ankle, a sore throat or a headache; the answer to all is presumably “sancho”. Perhaps this perception of the product comes from the name itself, which translates to “relief” in English. Over the years, the brand has established such a presence that any herb-infused liquid in a fun-sized glass bottle is referred to as sancho by an average Nepali.
Khukuri Rum
“Imagine a drink that turns you into a fearless being with superhuman physique and strength”; Khukuri Rum has this perceived effect on an average Nepali. Despite the reality being entirely bogus, the symbolic connotations attached with the drink does not fail to incite a Nepali drunk on this rum. The name Khukuri itself is enough for people to evoke brave and heroic notions. Moreover, captivating branding practices have brought about a predisposition of people to immediately decide upon Khukuri Rum, whenever the drink of preference is rum.
Wai Wai
Wai Wai is the undisputed winner of “Battle of Fried Noodles” in Nepal. A number of brands have attempted, but relinquished and vanished from the country over the past couple of decades. Ask a random Nepali what a noodle is and Wai Wai is most likely the first thing that pops in their mind. More than four decades of prosperity, owing significantly to pinpoint marketing and branding strategies, has defined Wai Wai as a ‘standard fried noodle’ in Nepal.
