The original post:
Say What? French Tag Slams President, Company Says It Had No Idea
Posted on 04/09/2004 7:15:55 AM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
TOM BIHN DESIGNS T-SHIRTS BASED ON LABELS; ALL PROCEEDS TO GO TO CHARITIES
PORT ANGELES, WA: Tom Bihn, a Port Angeles-based company that designs, manufactures and sells laptop bags, messenger bags, backpacks and briefcases, has garnered worldwide media attention this week after a Web blog posted the contents of the label sewn into most bags.
The inside label carries instructions on washing and caring for the bags. Because the bags are sold in Canada, the instructions are also printed in French. The French version, however, contains an additional phrase: "NOUS SOMMES DESOLES QUE NOTRE PRESIDENT SOIT UN IDIOT. NOUS N’AVONS PAS VOTE POUR LUI.”
Translated to English, the phrase reads, "'We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We didn't vote for him.'"
This week, reports have aired on Seattle, Chicago and California NBC affiliates, on Seattle's KOMO radio and the nationally syndicated Paul Harvey radio show, on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann”, and on the Port Angeles cable station PNN. Bihn has fielded inquiries from German, Irish and other international media outlets.
The company has recorded record sales this week -- with sales more than double all previous weeks in the company's history. Customers have flocked to the Seattle and Port Angeles stores to scoop up the bags with the now infamous label. E-mails and calls have poured into the store, with many customers ordering directly from the company's Web site at www.tombihn.com.
The "secret" message began as an inside joke among seamstresses and staff at the Tom Bihn factory, and was apparently intended to poke fun at company's founder and president, Tom Bihn.
Bihn has created a t-shirt featuring the label, and will donate all proceeds of the sale of the shirts to charities that lend much-needed aid to the families of U.S. military personnel, especially the families of injured and wounded soldiers. The t-shirt will be available for purchase online and at both retail stores.
Tom Bihn products are made in their Port Angeles, Washington, factory, which employs about 10 people. Tom Bihn products are sold at their shop at 108 W. 1st St., 360-565-0143. Bihn also has a store in Seattle's Pioneer Square area at 609 Second Avenue, and sells online at www.tombihn.com.
Supplies are limited. Be controversial. Place your order today.
Note: Feelings run strong on this issue. If you have something to say, we want to hear it. You may email us at inquiries@tombihn.com or post in our forums.
Oh, that is just so funny, I might wet myself laughing.
You weenies want funny? I was at the local video store in 2000, and came across a rental copy of Clinton's deposition before Starr. Someone at the video store had affixed a label below the title on the box that said "Or, Liar, Liar, the sequel." Now THAT was funny - and a lot brainer than this silly pap.
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