How do I prevent someone from stealing my marketing ideas?
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Standard chevre made from goat milk and bacterial cultures
Question by Laura L: How do I prevent someone from stealing my marketing ideas?
EVERYTIME I HAVE A NEW IDEA, SHE HAS THE SAME NEXT DAY! I STARTED SELLING HANDMADE OLIVE OIL SOAP AND GOATS MILK SOAP, AND DEAD SEA SALTS FROM ISRAEL AND NEAT STUFF AT LOCAL FLEA MARKETS MAKING A FAIRLY DECENT PROFIT. THIS STUPID *&^%* HAS COPIED EVERY SINGLE IDEA I’VE HAD. I WORKED HARD TO COME UP WITH THESE IDEAS AND MARKETING. SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE 5 BOOTHS AWAY FROM ME (SHES ONLY 2) IT’S STARTING TO PI5S ME OFF. I MEAN THE PRODUCTS, SET-UP, PACKAGING, BOOTH STYLE, EVEN HER LOGO, HER GIFT SETS AND PACKS, FREE SAMPLES, BOOKING PARTIES, SELLING COFFEE, SALTS, LOTION, NEXT IS THE SOAP. EVERYTHING SHE HAS IS ALMOST A DIRECT COPY OF MINE. WHAT CAN OR SHOULD I DO ABOUT THIS??? BECAUSE I WANT TO SPRAY HER MERCHANDISE WITH PEPPER SPRAY! MY STUFF IS THE REAL THING AND I WORKED DAMN HARD TO GET WHERE I AM. SHE COMES ALONG AND USES IT FOR HERSELF. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, HOW CAN I SABBOTAGE THIS DAMNED COPYCAT? SHE STARTED OUT SELLING HERBS AND MARINADES!!!
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2 Responses to How do I prevent someone from stealing my marketing ideas?
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The first thing that I would do is to check your lease as to what is in it regarding the products you sell. Then I would bring it to the attention of the management of the flea market. Any one has the right to sell products that are similar or the same unless it is in your lease that you are the only supplier of this type of product.
If it is in your lease that you will be the provider of this product and the management company will not do anything you do have the right to seek legal council and move forward to attempt to re-coop your loss. This can become very involved and time consuming though.
The other thing that I suggest that you look at building a website and advertising at the flea market then you can generate traffic 24 / 7. You will have to be inventive in how you deal with a situation like this. Try diversifying and building your business that you have others become your sellers and that you are only the supplier.
I am a business consultant and if you want to e-mail me I will give your further ideas if want. Go through my profile here and contact me if you want.
Good luck.
kadnil
January 27, 2014 at 4:20 am
1) See if you can move your booth pronto. See when your lease is up and see if it’s possible to find a new location.
2) Start offering deals and discounts, and when she does it go lower. Eventually she’ll go so low she can’t afford to and will knock it off (or knock her out entirely).
3) Have a friend hand out flyers at another location further away promoting your booth and items, then hopefully this will drive traffic towards yours and away from hers. If they are handing out flyers far enough away, she won’t be able to figure out why.
4) if you come out with a really great packaging or selling idea with a name attached, then get it copyrighted/see if you can get it patented. Anything else you charge her of is hearsay, but if you have something legally then she can’t infringe on it without getting sued.
lemurmunk
January 27, 2014 at 4:37 am