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caroleallen
23-10-2009, 08:40 PM
For months people have been telling me that another local jeweller has been copying my work. She was at the show today and when I looked at her table there were at least 10 things that were almost identical copies of mine. I was so furious that I'm afraid I had to say something. She denied copying, saying she'd been doing them for ages. She then burst into tears and went to tell the organiser that I was picking on her. I was shaking like a leaf as I don't like conflict. What can you do about people like that?

Di Sandland
23-10-2009, 08:48 PM
Aw, Carole, warm hugs. I can't give any advice as I'm not the most emotionally controlled person in the world and often act before thinking. Either that or I'd have moped around and got depressed.

So, not a helpful response, but just to say I feel for you in this.

Boo
23-10-2009, 08:51 PM
Wrestle her to the ground and kick her in the tits?

Di Sandland
23-10-2009, 08:53 PM
Wrestle her to the ground and kick her in the tits?

Now why couldn't I have thought of that? :Y:

caroleallen
23-10-2009, 08:55 PM
Wrestle her to the ground and kick her in the tits?

Good idea! I'll do that tomorrow!:Y:

Boo
23-10-2009, 08:55 PM
Sorry, not practical or helpful. Bad Boo.

What did the organisers say? What a thoroughly horrible situation to be in - for which there's no easy answer.

If she has been copying you and knows it, she must have been dreading you coming to her stall. In which case, she'll know she's wrong and hopefully feel even worse than you about it.

caroleallen
23-10-2009, 09:05 PM
Well to make matters worse, I've heard that she's accused me of copying her! The organiser was only concerned about there being an atmosphere. I was also upset by his reaction as I've been doing his shows for about 6 years (with said jewellery designs) and the other woman has only started them recently. I thought he might have had some loyalty to me but how wrong was I.

Lisa Quinn
23-10-2009, 09:05 PM
I'm not sure that I would have had the courage to say anything, although I would have really really wanted to, as I have no doubt that even though you are probably shaken up by the whole experience, it has probably had the desired effect and she will be too embarrassed to copy your work in the future. I have no doubt that sometimes we all do some pieces that are similar (e.g. hearts ), but a lot of your stuff is unique to you and if the jewellery she is producing are basically replicas of your designs and now she knows that she has been sprung she will undoubtedly stop.
!
LOL Lisa xx

caroleallen
23-10-2009, 09:09 PM
Sadly Lisa, I don't think she'll stop copying as she knew I was aware of what she was doing last summer when she saw me looking at her table when I thought she was out of the way. She's even using the same web designer as me - how weird is that?

Lisa Quinn
23-10-2009, 09:11 PM
Wrestle her to the ground and kick her in the tits?

I thought long and hard about a sensible, constructive response to Carole's post !!! but ...........

Go Boo....Go Boo...... Go Boo, yeea, get yourself down Sarf Boo and kick some copycat ass!!

Big Cheer for Forum Girls xx

Boo
23-10-2009, 09:12 PM
Her reciprocal accusation is probably just a knee jerk reaction at being caught and shown up - cornered animal-style.

If you've got to back tomorrow, do you have an old invoice for one of the pieces in question going back a while that you could take with you?

With all of my orders, I print the invoice alongside photos of the item and any notes about sizes, mods etc. written on it (I take a screen grab and the photos and print them on one sheet) and staple that to the postal receipt, copy of the customs forms etc. That way I could show, with photos, anything I've sold with postal proof of when it went etc. If you had such a thing from 4 years ago it would show how long you'd been making the piece.

caroleallen
23-10-2009, 09:18 PM
I don't really have anything like that but everyone who's been doing the shows as long as me knows that I've been doing those pieces for years. She used to have a gallery which another jeweller used to supply until one day she said she didn't want her jewellery any more. That jeweller then discovered that she was copying her work. She obviously doesn't have the imagination to do her own designs.

geti-titanium
23-10-2009, 09:48 PM
Wrestle her to the ground and kick her in the tits?

Crikey! Is there an emoticon of a little smiley face spurting out and nearly choking on a cup of tea!

I think that's topped anything I've ever come out with and has to go down as the best expression in forum history - we can even use it as a new acronym,
'whttgakhitt!' - everyone say "aye" :)

jetlag
23-10-2009, 10:42 PM
Do you mean like this?

http://www.darksnow.co.uk/images/smilies/spitcoffee.gif

LOL

geti-titanium
23-10-2009, 11:00 PM
Yes I like him

http://www.darksnow.co.uk/images/smilies/spitcoffee.gif

MuranoSilver
23-10-2009, 11:21 PM
How aweful for you Carole :(
Let us know what the organiser says and how it all turns out in the end.
What pieces is she copying?
Nicx

caroleallen
23-10-2009, 11:38 PM
She's copying my anticlastic bangles, bangles with charms, star pendant and earrings and several pieces with little flowers with gold centres.

Carl Martin
24-10-2009, 05:57 AM
Carole I can only sympathise. The very same happened to me 11 yrs ago and I vowed at that stage never to have a website again. I was 2 yrs into my college training and one day a fellow student came in asked me if was selling my pieces at a shop in a nearby town ....anyhow transpired that this "shop" owner had copied my designs from my website and then made and displayed them in his own shop...Talk about light the blue touch paper and run.. I was fuming...closed my old website down there and then, never had one until October this year when I had to bite the bullett because of my expansions. It makes me sick to think people need to stoop that damn low.

MuranoSilver
24-10-2009, 07:49 AM
She's copying my anticlastic bangles, bangles with charms, star pendant and earrings and several pieces with little flowers with gold centres.

So basically she's gone for the simple to copy things.... her talent isn't up to yours (positive point) and you're a constantly evolving artist with new tricks and designs up your sleeve.

Mentally shake herout of your head, she's not worth the aggro or your time!
nicx

pauljoels
24-10-2009, 09:14 AM
Do you have your designs registered at all?

Jayne
24-10-2009, 10:32 AM
Oh Carole, what a horrible situation :(
Unfortunately I don't think there's much you can do to prevent people ahem.... taking inspiration from your work and sadly it happens all too often. (think Links 'sweetie' bracelet)
Having said that, if you are in the same room as this person and there is clear evidence that she is still copying your work then I think that it is perfectly reasonable to approach her in a calm, respectful way and ask her not to do it anymore. If you remain respectful and stick to the facts I think it's possible to say almost anything ;) And as Lisa mentioned before, you've probably made her think twice about copying your work again, already.
On a slightly different note, it is a sign that your work is so creative and iconic that someone wants to copy it - what a compliment!! On a practical level other people know that she is copying from you and not the other way around so they're not likely to buy from her (take no notice of the organiser - they're not in a position to take sides).
The only thing I would consider in a proactive sense would be to ensure that all my pieces had a prominant makers mark (maybe you do this already, inwhich case please ignore) to firmly identify your pieces as yours.
You are head and shoulders above this other person - completely different ballpark. Rise above it & enjoy what you do :)
J xx
(and if all else fails whttgakhitt ;))

geti-titanium
24-10-2009, 12:04 PM
I can sympathise with you on this especially as this person is geographically close to you. I created a range of rings in Black Zirconium and put them on the internet way before anybody else - I don't know if they had been made before, probably, but I hadn't seen them and it doesn't matter anyway.

My competitors followed suit perhaps 2 years later with one in Canada claiming to be the first ones ever.


Black Zirconium - In the pioneering tradition characteristic of our Absolute Design Studios, we are proud to be the world's first jewelry design studios offering on line a line of jewelry designs made of this exotic, unyielding metal,

Another competitor that I showed my rings to when I started and who said that he didn't think they would sell, now sells them as well with designs very similar to mine - I even spotted one of my images in his printed catalogue!

The point is, you can't prevent copying, so as Jayne said, you rise above it slightly flattered and confident that your products are better than anybody elses and then make them keep up with you with new designs - invent new ways of doing things that if they are going to copy them, they are going to have to find out how to do it themselves. In the meantime you are working on other ideas.

What you shouldn't do is knock the opposition - smile sweetly, compliment them on their work and ask them "wherever did you get the inspiration for your designs?" Whilst wearing your own exact design around your neck for all to see.

Then when nobody is watching whttgakhitt! :Y:

jetlag
24-10-2009, 12:46 PM
As infuriating as it is to have your designs blatantly copied, I've never understood the drive to not have a website because of it. To sell your items, people need to see them. If people see them (anywhere, even at a fair), you are at risk of having them copied by unscrupulous competitors. It seems to me to be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face to close your website, though.

If it were me, though, I'd name and shame her.

State, boldly, on your site or stand, that you are the original designer of the much imitated design and that people should beware of cheap copies.

Take a leaf out of Princess Lasertron's book. Her bridal bouquets have been much copied (including by me, though I would never make them to sell) and has stated as much on her etsy page:

princesslasertron on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8502)



We were the first to design the famous felt flower bouquets which took the wedding market by storm in 2008.


or similar.

If I were you, I'd big up the fact that people are copying you! That's a good thing! It makes yours, the original, more desirable, it really does!

Petal
24-10-2009, 01:42 PM
I agree with Jetlag. Rise above her and keep on producing your wonderful jewellery - but let people know that they are buying jewellery from the original designer maker and not from someone who copies others designs and has no imagination.

Knock 'em dead Carole :Y:

xx

Coco
24-10-2009, 01:43 PM
Set a trap. Make up some really horrible designs that you would never have any intention of really selling and let her see them, then if she does something similar everyone will know...

AlexandraBuckle
24-10-2009, 02:19 PM
Oh carole what a horrible thing to discover. I'd be sooo angry if someone copied my work to sell!

Maybe this business link article will be of use:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073791360

Boo
24-10-2009, 02:37 PM
I think copyright infringement might be a tricky one to take any further for jewellery as 'designs' are not as easy to quantify as a specific piece of art, writing, music or photography etc.

There was a test case in the US a few years ago (and I've seen it cited as a precedent several times - although it was clearly US, not UK) where a jeweller tried to sue someone for copying a jewelled bee brooch and the courts decided that anyone could have come up with 'a substantially similar' design, a bee encrusted with jewels wasn't unique enough.

Hang on, I read the court papers a while ago, see if I can find it . . .

This is the chappie: HERBERT ROSENTHAL JEWELRY CORP., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Edward and Lucy KALPAKIAN, etc., Defendants-Appellees. - Altlaw (http://www.altlaw.org/v1/cases/889079)

The Dragon
24-10-2009, 04:42 PM
It must be the most horrible thing to go through, I'm sure if it had happened to me the the dragon would definately be breathing fire.

I'm betting it will play on your mind for a little while, passionate people find it harder to let the bad things go, but as someone who loves working in silver take the silver lining out of the of the situation. Your work will evolve and grow and continue to delight people long after this person's 'creative' talents have been exhausted.

I find your work inspirational, your advice is always apreciated and you have a wicked sense of humour .. and I bet she can't match you on that either.[]

Superior disdain is the order of the day .. you're better than her and she knows it.

amazingbabe
24-10-2009, 05:11 PM
Your jewellery is gorgeous xx.... If she is blatantly copying you then that is so so horrible, I think your style is rather unique and she can never take that from you,,,, but how frustrating... Do you have any thing on your website where you can track what people are coming on to your site ?? Maybe if she thought that you knew every time she went on to your site then she might stop ,,,, I have live feed on my blog and google analytics on my website,,, while i don't know who is on my site, i do know where they they are from... and you will see how frequently she vists !! xx :Y:

caroleallen
24-10-2009, 05:18 PM
Thank you everyone for your support. It's much appreciated. Onwards and upwards! It's not helped by the fact that I had a totally crap weekend at the craft fair. I don't know how she did but no-one around me had much success.
Strange really, as 2 weeks ago I had a fantastic weekend. I wonder if it's the announcement that we're still in recession?

Petal
24-10-2009, 05:42 PM
Oh Carole, I was wondering how you had got on today and whether THAT woman had caused you any more grief - I hope she hasn't and maybe she will just quietly go away. Its a real shame that you also had a crap weekend on the sales front, but as we get closer to Christmas I'm sure things will pick up. As many othes have said on here, you and your work are inspirational and she hasn't got a patch on you - so don't let her play on your mind. []

If the whole situation still bugs you, then get out your rolling pin and bash some pillows :Y: or if all else fails, get the wine out.



xx

Coco
24-10-2009, 06:01 PM
Carole......? Don't hate me for this and I promise I'm not gonna copy anything of yours but can I be really cheeky and ask how you print and paint your aluminium? Do you use regular paint or do you do it with magic?



Realises this probably isn't the best thread to ask in, but meh, don't ask, don't get 0:-)

caroleallen
24-10-2009, 06:41 PM
It's magic Coco.

No, really it's specialist aluminium inks and dyes. Try GSM Industrial graphics. They're really expensive to buy though. Each colour of ink is about £40 and you'll need at least all the primary colours. Non primaries are about £120.

Lisa Quinn
24-10-2009, 08:03 PM
So sorry to hear that you have had a poor couple of days, I hope that this woman was looking suitably sheepish today to make you feel as superior as we all know you are.

I am sure sales will pick up once we get nearer Christmas, so I wouldn't be too concerned yet, I don't know anyone who is seriously thinking about Christmas yet, so I am sure that it will pick up ( says the hopeful lady who has 5 events booked in an approx 3 week time slot between Nov and mid Dec!!)

Rock Hard Fairy
24-10-2009, 08:17 PM
As infuriating as it is to have your designs blatantly copied, I've never understood the drive to not have a website because of it. To sell your items, people need to see them. If people see them (anywhere, even at a fair), you are at risk of having them copied by unscrupulous competitors. It seems to me to be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face to close your website, though.

If it were me, though, I'd name and shame her.

State, boldly, on your site or stand, that you are the original designer of the much imitated design and that people should beware of cheap copies.

Take a leaf out of Princess Lasertron's book. Her bridal bouquets have been much copied (including by me, though I would never make them to sell) and has stated as much on her etsy page:

princesslasertron on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8502)



or similar.

If I were you, I'd big up the fact that people are copying you! That's a good thing! It makes yours, the original, more desirable, it really does!


Sorry to disappoint but the idea of using fabric for wedding bouquets is not new. My husbands cousin is a florist in Tanzania and in 1984 whilst on holiday there I spent a lot of time in her shop. At that time Tanzania was in a dreadful state with shortages for just about everything but people still got married and she would make beautiful bouquets out of fabrics and waste material. It's not a new idea just new in the Western world.

The way I see it there is very little that is different that you can do to a bangle (which has been around since people started playing with metal) that is totally new - so what constitutes a copy? A plain bangle is a plain bangle. A bangle with a charm on is... a bangle with a charm on. Unless you design something like a new fastening no one has ever seen before or physically moulded and created a design, its not new. My sister who is a lawyer was explaining this to me today and I'm not doing a good job of relaying it but intellectual copyright is more complex than something looking similar to yours.

caroleallen
24-10-2009, 09:29 PM
I agree that a bangle is a bangle and an anticlastic bangle is an anticlastic bangle but this person has copied a lot of my designs and that can't be coincidence. If it was just one or two things I wouldn't be so concerned.

Emerald
24-10-2009, 09:44 PM
Carole, i have been sat here for two days wondering what i would do, i think you approaching her in the first place was a very brave thing to do and maybe it will make her think twice about what she is doing i think i would get some of my friends to stand by her stall every know and again and exclaim how alike they are to Carole Annes designs who has actually being doing them for a few years know if nothing else it will put the wind up her lol. Hope you have a better day tomorrowx

Rock Hard Fairy
24-10-2009, 10:19 PM
The other thing my sister said was that whenever you come up with a new design - take a photo of it, date it and post it back to yourself and do not open it - that would be your proof it was yours. If you have already put it 'out there' for others to see then you can't do that but do it for anything new you create to be on the safe side.

CDW Designs
26-10-2009, 03:57 PM
Crikey! Is there an emoticon of a little smiley face spurting out and nearly choking on a cup of tea!

I think that's topped anything I've ever come out with and has to go down as the best expression in forum history - we can even use it as a new acronym,
'whttgakhitt!' - everyone say "aye" :)

Hear hear!! aye

CDW Designs
26-10-2009, 04:01 PM
Thank you everyone for your support. It's much appreciated. Onwards and upwards! It's not helped by the fact that I had a totally crap weekend at the craft fair. I don't know how she did but no-one around me had much success.
Strange really, as 2 weeks ago I had a fantastic weekend. I wonder if it's the announcement that we're still in recession?


It can only get better and I am sure your product is superior quality to hers. How awful for you. Still keep smiling and knock em dead with your fantastic designs.
:)))

geti-titanium
26-10-2009, 08:50 PM
marched over and chopped her hands off at the wrist to prevent any further plagiarism then set to her with a oxy/propane torch before finally gouging out her eyes with a rusty graver

'moachhoatwtpafptsthaoptbfgohewarg' you mean Jason? Would you then whttgakhitt?

caroleallen
26-10-2009, 08:52 PM
I think she deserves both punishments and then more!

geti-titanium
26-10-2009, 09:09 PM
before decapitating her with a wire cutter and mounting what is left of her charred eyeless head on a size 5 sterling belcher

a size 5 sterling belcher sounds a bit harsh :)

caroleallen
26-10-2009, 09:17 PM
I've got a bangle mandrel which would be just the thing for displaying her eyeless maggotty decapitated head on! Should she be drawn and quartered first though?

lesley
26-10-2009, 09:23 PM
I think you should invite her to join and read all this. ;)

Naming and shaming is probably the best way to deal with this. I'm mighty impressed that you approached her. I think I would have run away and cried!

How about also bezel setting the eyes and and making a cute pair of earrings?
I still think whttgakhitt is the best though.

geti-titanium
26-10-2009, 09:23 PM
I've got a bangle mandrel which would be just the thing for displaying her eyeless maggotty decapitated head on! Should she be drawn and quartered first though?

Flippin' 'eck! Halloween's come early this year - I'll take a trick please. :)

caroleallen
26-10-2009, 09:27 PM
I've had a good laugh about whttgakhitt with other stallholders as well.

caroleallen
26-10-2009, 09:36 PM
I might be up for a bit of happy slapping.

bustagasket
26-10-2009, 09:37 PM
"whttgakhitt" is one of the funniest things I have seen posted yet. :rofl:

I would pay to see Carole do that and would hazard a guess that many others would to, shall we have a board whip-round and sponsor Carole for a public plagiarist bashing?

Who is gonna run a book?

I volunteer you :P

Solunar Silver Studio
27-10-2009, 07:31 AM
'moachhoatwtpafptsthaoptbfgohewarg' you mean Jason? Would you then whttgakhitt?

Really Geti...If you insist on using such big words in you posts - you should at least learn to spell them right!!

I think you will find that the correct spelling is:-
m - o - a - c - h - h - o - a - t - w - t - p - a - f - p - t - s - t - h - w - a - o - p - t - b - f - g - o - h - e - w - a - r - g.

I'm just off now to go get a life!!:-D

geti-titanium
27-10-2009, 07:46 AM
Really Geti...If you insist on using such big words in you posts - you should at least learn to spell them right!!

I'm going to bow to your eagle eyes on this one Barbara without actually checking your outlandish claim and consider myself out-getid :)

lesley
27-10-2009, 04:00 PM
Back to the topic................hmmmmm, I've noticed something somewhere which isn't making me very happy. Will keep watching. Sorry to sound so cryptic. ;)

caroleallen
27-10-2009, 05:26 PM
Now you've got us all wondering .....

amazingbabe
27-10-2009, 06:09 PM
Back to the topic................hmmmmm, I've noticed something somewhere which isn't making me very happy. Will keep watching. Sorry to sound so cryptic. ;)

ah now lesley you can't do that !!!!!! Don't keep us in suspense :(|:(|

bustagasket
27-10-2009, 06:42 PM
ah now lesley you can't do that !!!!!! Don't keep us in suspense :(|:(|

do i hear "the Twilight Zone" music in the background?:confused:

Emerald
27-10-2009, 08:39 PM
Back to the topic................hmmmmm, I've noticed something somewhere which isn't making me very happy. Will keep watching. Sorry to sound so cryptic. ;)

So have you seen anything else Agent Elel?

geti-titanium
27-10-2009, 08:45 PM
hmmmmm, I've noticed something somewhere which isn't making me very happy. Will keep watching. Sorry to sound so cryptic.

Don't tell them yet Lesley - spin it out a bit and just keep it between us two so that only we know :)

The Dragon
27-10-2009, 09:31 PM
Wooah down boys & girls, not to be a party pooper (I'm as mad as they come and always up for a good time) but just remember that this is about someones reputation and livelyhood, lets make sure it's not something serious before we make the jokes. We can always devise a repayment stratergy later.

EmmaRose
28-10-2009, 12:32 PM
Hmmm on a serious note, try Untitled Document (http://www.acid.uk.com) Anti copying in design.
I have been told best way to prove designs is to keep dated design books so you can prove when you created them.
The trouble is sueing takes money...though sometimes just a formal letter from a letter to cease and desist is enough. It is far far more difficult if you are ripped off by someone in India or China with cheap mass production... have a sign on your stand "the original and best"....and what has always worked best for me a) keep updating and changing your designs- keeps you fresh and interesting to customers, retire old designs- oh don't you know those are SO last year...and b) figure out a techinque that is difficult to copy.....
hth
Em
x

Atelier Ava
28-10-2009, 05:50 PM
For fear of showing my age here and years of experience of jewellery design, you have to keep pushing the boundaries. I agree totally with Em in all that she advises. I learnt hard lessons early on about copying and it destroyed my love of what I do for about 7 years. You now have an advantage of youth and advice, something I did not have. Keep designing, the only way to beat copiers is to make there designs look passe but keeping the best sellers and your own 'classics', what defines you and your work as a unique. There is nothing better than turning up to a show with heaps of new work that is fresh and different, research and development a never ending tread mill that will one day pay off, just believe.
Paula x

EmmaRose
28-10-2009, 06:35 PM
just out of interest, a case in the US...even when you HAVE copyright (sighs)
Imitator Sues Me to Overturn Copyrights: Please Help Defend My Art: John T Unger Artist's Portfolio (http://www.johntunger.com/legal-defense-fund.html#1)

Lindyloo
28-10-2009, 09:45 PM
That's very scary Em

Somersetmaker
25-10-2010, 05:50 PM
How totally annoying Carole!

Someone I was in a craft market bought some earrings from me once and had them copied in Thailand. Like you I was really livid and it was lucky for us both that a year elapsed until I bumped into her at another show at which point I waited until no-one else was around before going completely ballistic at her and warned her never to get near my stand EVER.
I think those ^^ who told you to be controlled etc may be totally right but there comes a point when its just not going to do you any good to hold this anger inside.

I'm disgusted with the show organiser tho'. That is not good practice. <_<

Wendy Moriarty
25-10-2010, 09:06 PM
I went to the Great Northern Cratt Fair on friday, and I saw some painted aluminum anticlastic bangles, they were nice but not a patch on yours, I was going to post a thread just to tell you this, yours are far superior to the ones at the fair,(there was nothing wrong with them, just not a patch on your artwork) I am shocked that someone would be so blatent as to copy you and try to sell in the same place, I would print signs saying that your work is being copied, a kind of disclaimer against copies and display prominently. Good luck and if all else fails 'whttgakhitt'
Wendy

abyjem
31-10-2010, 08:01 PM
They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - but I'd still punch her in the tits!

The organiser should tell her that if she continues to copy your work, she wont be welcome at the craft fairs in future. It simply isnt on to copy and then turn up at the same craft fair!

Arborvita
04-01-2011, 08:44 PM
I think a previous poster had it spot on. Constantly evolve and develop your work. Plagiarists will always be several steps behind. You are the true artist. Make your work harder to copy. I recently posted some of my work in another forum and got this reply from a member:

"It is so so so so...beautiful. Love love love....
I will try to make a similar one. Hope it will be success."

I took a look at their website and it was on Alibaba selling stuff that looked like 'crafts' but selling at rock bottom prices. So I replied to him:

"Feel free to take inspiration :)

By inspiration, I mean not taking my designs and making cheap, mass produced knock-offs to sell for 1/5th of the price."

I guess there are people floating about on the forums ripping our designs off. Since starting my business I have been in two minds of whether to promote it on forums and display new work. Maybe I should take the links and pics down? I see quite a few senior members on here have no links.

mizgeorge
04-01-2011, 09:58 PM
Arborvita, I wouldn't worry a bit about that one. I know the forum you mean, and indeed the poster, who is one of two that the mods there have for some reason are allowed to remain on the board, despite the fact that one is promoting a website full of imported Chinese fake goods, and the other spams constantly. You have no need to worry that they might copy - I very much doubt they own so much as a pair of pliers.....

Dennis
05-01-2011, 09:16 AM
Quote: "I very much doubt they own so much as a pair of pliers..... "

A nice turn of phrase George, It will go into my book of original put downs. Happy new year, Dennis.

Moon Willow
05-01-2011, 09:26 AM
In a nut shell all this work that's being copied will not stop !! some folk are content not to make a profit, I think they just like the company of other people at these craft fairs, I sell jewellery that i could teach a student to make inside a day, but it's the speed I make it that gives me the profit, there's jewellery I've made which after finishing I've said that's a one off, if someone wants to copy it they're welcome.

I look at the jewellery industry and know we're losing the bottom half to China & Thailand and from experience (sadly) I know I can look at some forms of jewellery send the design to China and get it for a 10th of the price and boxed, the quality is dire but it seems some folk don't mind. I'll hasten to add, that I've NEVER done this.

orestruck
05-01-2011, 04:34 PM
She's copying my anticlastic bangles, bangles with charms, star pendant and earrings and several pieces with little flowers with gold centres.

OMG I know exactly who you mean....
I was having an internet trawl t'other day, I saw them and thought, bloody hell they are familiar!

Arborvita
05-01-2011, 08:28 PM
I very much doubt they own so much as a pair of pliers.....

Nice!

He might not own pliers but an email to the factory with a pic stole from me would be enough.

That's enough moaning from me!

If people want something made with love, care and attention. They can come to us. If they want cheap tat that supports foreign slave labour, they buy from them.

Both sets of customers will always exist.

Maybe its our role to educate and inform our customers further?