All Spanish labels on products – maybe not the best idea.

http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/BUSINESS06/110070039/1004/NEWS

This article talks about how CVS, the largest retail pharmacy in the US, will begin offering products with Spanish only labels as well as products with bilingual labels. The goal is to attract more Latinos to frequent the stores and thus buy more products at CVS.

Bilingual labels aren’t new, they have been around for years. Many products from moisturizers to shampoos to toothpaste have had multilingual labels for years. I think this started around the time of NAFTA, but I could be wrong – it might be the time I noticed it. Most of these labels are in a combination of English, Spanish, and French (must be for the french Canadians). Many retail chains like Sears and Lowe’s have had directional signage in both English and Spanish for a few years now and they seem to work just fine. All this is fine, if a bit confusing, and it doesn’t hurt anyone but helps those who don’t speak English.

Spanish only labels could be a bad idea. In fact I think they are a bad idea. First, you are alienating non Spanish speakers. Even in the most Latino neighborhoods you have African Americans, Asians, Arab, Eastern European and other nationalities that you could possibly be excluding. Why would a retailer or a product company want to do this? I don’t believe that any or many Latinos would feel that a Spanish only product would make them more comfortable.  Latinos want inclusion not exclusivity.  Second, this could contribute to the Latino backlash that appears from time to time.  Further  “evidence” that Latinos are taking over the country.  As Latinos we don’t want this.  The English only movement fights to keep bilingual Motor Vehicles form in English only and now we have Spanish only fabric softener.  It seems like a dumb thing that we don’t need and that can add fuel to there spark.

That is my thougt, it might change tomorrow but it probably won’t

-Gustavo