The Create & Thrive Podcast - Episode 8

Whether you’ve been a creative business owner for only a short time or you’re a veteran seller, you’ve been touched by those who copy your work and pass it off as their own.

Some of us have been directly affected while others have watched friends and other crafty biz owners get upset or frustrated when their designs appear to have been lifted or not attributed to them properly.

I’ve had customers and friends contact me when they thought there was a business copying my designs (for which I’m thankful – it shows they care!). I’ve looked at those shops and thought they looked eerily similar to mine.

Do you know what I did?

I clicked away and never thought about those shops again.

There are ways to deal with copycatting and it’s always on a case by case basis. For me, I didn’t want to waste my time chasing someone who may have been copying my work when I could be focussing my passion on my own business and my loyal customers. I’m thankful to those people who brought it to my attention – because it shows they care. But my choice was not to engage with the copycats.

There are three types of people who copy you and your reaction is going to be different in each instance:

  1. DIYers or Pinterest pinners
  2. Another business like you
  3. Corporations

There are ways to deal with each of these types of people or businesses when you think they may be copying your work and I discuss them in some detail in this week’s instalment.

If you are having a problem with copycats, listen in for my advice on how to approach it and protect your business, reputation and sanity.

Love the show? You can show your support by:

  • Leaving a review on the C&T FB page.
  • Leaving a review on iTunes.
  • Donating a few dollars towards the costs of producing the pod.
  • Joining the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible.

 

Fuel for your fire.

 

 

Quotes and Highlights from this Episode:

  • Copying is a touchy subject, especially in the handmade community
  • A DIYer or a pinner may share your work and would say something like ‘I’d love to make this’ or blog post about how to make a particular thing.
  • Our first instinct is instant reaction against it and that’s ok and normal.
  • People who will copy and make your items for personal use will never be your customer.
  • If you see somebody sharing your work without attribution – jump on and say “so glad you liked my design, here’s my website.”
  • e.g. A member of the Thriver Circle had a photo posted on another person’s account without attribution. The Circle advised them to jump on there and say thanks for sharing and post her own website of where to buy it.
  • “Nobody likes negativity, so take the high road and know it’s not going to hurt your business if you take the right path”.
  • If it’s another business like you, don’t ever accuse someone of copying your work unless you are absolutely sure.
  • Approach them privately and personally and be friendly and positive but ask why it seems that they are copying your designs.
  • Tell them you’ve noticed this happening and document the times and dates and give examples. If you’re 100% sure that they are copying you – then you should be able to find clear examples.
  • Get screen captures of the events – otherwise they may go and delete all the evidence and then come back and say they don’t know what you’re talking about.
  • Think very carefully if you want to make this public.
  • Is the fact that this person is copying you, hurting your business?
  • “Is the cost of embroiling yourself in that issue publicly worth the backlash and negativity that might come out of it?”
  • Corporations who steal from you should be held to account, again, if you can 100% prove they copied your work.
  • It must be something that is distinctive enough and have evidence that you started making it first and there is no way they could have come up with that design themselves.
  • “You’re fighting the good fight for all of us by standing up to those who are stealing from the little people. It’s completely unethical and really, really uncool.”
  • My jewellery designs are sleek and simple. They aren’t a photograph or a print or a piece of art which is really obvious is someone copies me.
  • “I don’t care that I think they might be copying me because in the long-run, they don’t have a sustainable business.”
  • It could be that you’ve just come up with similar designs.
  • “Let it go” (I know you just heard that Frozen song in your head… sorry!)
  • “If you can’t let it go. Use it as fuel for your passionate fire. Use that fuel to come up with new designs for your business. In the end that’s all you have control over.”
  • It’s really important to find that micro-niche. That slice of the market that is yours, that you can dig down on and who love what you do and want to buy what you do.
  • It doesn’t matter what those others are doing, what matters is what YOU are creating.

 

Download/Listen to this Episode

You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher)

Pin It on Pinterest