Woolworths shamelessly copies local designer... Again

C4Cat

C4Cat

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It's like they never learned a thing from the whole Frankie's debacle... So rude...

https://shannonmarymac.co.za/dear-woolworths-you-have-some-explaining-to-do/

“Shannon have you seen this?” I open my WhatsApp to read the message and see a screenshot of the baby carrier I designed being sold on Woolworths’ online shop. I can’t describe the feeling that went through my body in that moment.

It’s 16 December 2018 and I’ve just found out that Woolworths has shamelessly copied the complete design and concept of the baby carrier that I have put my heart and soul into for the last 4 years of my life.

At first glance, it looks like they’ve just used my product name ‘Stage 1’ and ‘Stage 2’ baby carrier. On closer inspection, I realize that they’re using the exact same colours, grey and navy to my baby carrier. Upon further investigation, it appears that they have designated the terms ‘Stage 1 carrier’ and ‘Stage 2 carrier’ as Google Adword keywords. So when you search the term ‘Stage 1 carrier’ or ‘Stage 2 carrier’ – the exact names which are unique to my little business – Ubuntu Baba baby carriers and in which my business has a reputation in – Woolworths adverts come up above my organic search results.
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I don’t know what the next step is but I feel an instinctive urge to get my hands on one of these carriers, so off I go to Woolworths to go and check it out.

Not only have they copied my ‘Stage 1’ and ‘Stage 2’ names, used my colours, designated Google Ad keywords to divert potential customers, Woolworths has also shamelessly copied my design and pattern.
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There is no other baby carrier in the world with a waistband pattern like my Stage 1 and Stage 2 carriers. My Father and I designed them from scratch in 2015. It took us weeks just to get that waistband right, and it’s arguably part of the reason why our baby carriers are so loved by many, because they are very gentle on a Mother’s healing c-section scar, yet still supportive enough for her to carry her baby from the very early newborn days.
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I feel like I’m out of my league. I call an emergency meeting with my team, I need help on what to do next about this. One of the ladies on my team suggests searching our online order receipts to see if anyone from Woolworths Head Office has ever purchased one of our carriers and surprise, we find that an Ubuntu Baba Stage 2 carrier was purchased and delivered to Woolworths Head Office in June 2017.
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Before the legal eagles tell me about patents and the law, I agree with this tweet:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1082550523893596161
1546949152356.png
 
This is ****ed up beyond words on the part of Woolworths. Unfortunately nothing that can be done. Woolworths have money for lawyers that the little guy will never have and probably bankrupt him should he want to go the legal route.

And we as a society, upon hearing of woolworths conduct will show zero support in the form of perhaps boycotting woolworths. So this guy has zero recourse. Suck, but that is life.
 
ambroseg1 said:
This is ****ed up beyond words on the part of Woolworths. Unfortunately nothing that can be done. Woolworths have money for lawyers that the little guy will never have and probably bankrupt him should he want to go the legal route.

And we as a society, upon hearing of woolworths conduct will show zero support in the form of perhaps boycotting woolworths. So this guy has zero recourse. Suck, but that is life.
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Maybe, but Frankie's took them to court in 2012 and won.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...-good-old-fashioned-david-and-goliath-battle/
 
Nothing wrong with copying the ideas of other people. Why does this women feel entitled to work that she didn't do. She is still free to make and sell her own baby carriers.
 
question 1, patent?

none, well go cry in the corner like xerox did when windows and apple stole their ideas.

that the sad reality of doing buisness, if nobody/nothing protects your ideas, you've got no recourse,

what can she do? perhaps not sell it without some form of protection going on.
school fees I suppose.
 
Very interested to see how this turns out. Rooting for the little guy, although a patent would have definitely made this a slam dunk legal case.
 
eg2505 said:
question 1, patent?

none, well go cry in the corner like xerox did when windows and apple stole their ideas.

that the sad reality of doing buisness, if nobody/nothing protects your ideas, you've got no recourse,

what can she do? perhaps not sell it without some form of protection going on.
school fees I suppose.
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She lost nothing. As a small time business women she doesn't have all the expenseses of renting big stores and has now received plenty of free marketing. She is in a better position then what she was and should easily be able to sell her baby carrier for cheaper than woollies. A big store copying her design is a big win for her.
 
If they (the smaller company) play this right they can get awesome free marketing out of this!

Woolworths reputation will be getting a rightful spanking
 
Sweevo said:
Would it though? What makes hers unique to any other baby carrier before it or in this case after it?

"There is no other baby carrier in the world with a waistband pattern like my Stage 1 and Stage 2 carriers." I think she probably means there was none before? That aside, I assume she's actually handled the Woollies product. If I see something and like it, what do I have to do to make sure I can make and resell my own without irking someone?
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Function - not so much.
But I would definitely say ergonomics.
 
Sweevo said:
Would it though? What makes hers unique to any other baby carrier before it or in this case after it?

"There is no other baby carrier in the world with a waistband pattern like my Stage 1 and Stage 2 carriers." I think she probably means there was none before? That aside, I assume she's actually handled the Woollies product. If I see something and like it, what do I have to do to make sure I can make and resell my own without irking someone?
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If you read her blog post she has side by side photographs of her product and the woolworths one
 
And I see a big price difference between the original (R1,390/R1,590) vs R450 for the ripoff
 
rietrot said:
She lost nothing. As a small time business women she doesn't have all the expenseses of renting big stores and has now received plenty of free marketing. She is in a better position then what she was and should easily be able to sell her baby carrier for cheaper than woollies. A big store copying her design is a big win for her.
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How could she possibly sell hers cheaper than woolworths?
 
C4Cat said:
How could she possibly sell hers cheaper than woolworths?
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Yeah, this is like saying I can sell my hand made shoes for cheaper than the mass produced in chana shoes that a massive retailer sells? RietRot, your argument here is a bit off!
 
I do agree, that if there's no patent then your idea is fair game to be copied.
 
Pity that she does not have a patent, but it is a clear copy and ethically unfair. Clever social media campaign though. Woolworths are going to be under pressure to make it right. Wonder who assisted with social media campaign.
 
rietrot said:
She lost nothing. As a small time business women she doesn't have all the expenseses of renting big stores and has now received plenty of free marketing. She is in a better position then what she was and should easily be able to sell her baby carrier for cheaper than woollies. A big store copying her design is a big win for her.
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Its a PR disaster for Woolies. They hate this kind of thing, it will get ugly on Twitter and make them look evil.


Personally I hate that they would do something like this to a local business
 
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