Store had printed design featuring local children’s illustration to mark opening of branch in Newport, Isle of Wight

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

If you’re going to print 10,000 special edition bag-for-life carriers to celebrate the opening of your new store, it’s probably best to make sure you won’t have to throw them away before the launch.



Which is what supermarket Asda has been forced to do after printing 10,000 bags with the misspelling “Isle of White” to mark the opening of its first shop on the island.



The supermarket used a design by two local children, featuring a map of the island, on carrier bags celebrating the official launch of the Newport store on the Isle of Wight.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The full design, by two local children. Photograph: Isle of Wight Radio/PA

The error provoked a barrage of criticism on social media, with the hashtag #RetailFail trending on Twitter.



Dan Howdle made light of the gaffe by polling users for the correct spelling of Isle of Wight:

Howdy Doody (@DanHowdle) Poll: What is the correct spelling of Isle Of Wight?

Others were equally scathing, with Martin Hatch posting: “My irony-meter is in overdrive as #Asda has to throw 10,000 ‘bags for life’ in the bin after printing mistake.”



Translator Beth Burleigh tweeted: “Asda gaffe proves importance of proofreading!”



Others were more sympathetic, with Roy Gardner posting:



An Asda spokesman said: “We’re hanging our heads for making this genuine printing error and we’re in the process of reproducing the exclusive design to get back on sale as quickly as possible.”

The spokesperson stressed that the bags will be recycled.