We run into this a lot. We spend months designing a bag, testing it, redesigning it.. and then we launch it... and two weeks later... someone else has changed a pocket and used a different material, but same bag, same size, same design!
At first we used to get really angry.....
We used to ask ourselves: Do they have any idea how long this took us to come up with? Do they know how much time and effort has gone into this design? But the answer was always... yes... yes they know and no... they don't care.
So we can't say that we haven't had those moments when you want to walk up to someone and rip the product out of their hands and say.. Thats not their design! But you can't, so you end up feeling hopeless. Like you are creating and spending all the research and development so that they can now go and produce the same bag for someone else at a fraction of the cost because they haven't had to spend 3 months developing it and making prototypes over and over again.
BUT.. and here is the big catch!
We have found that our clients, the ones that know of our products and have come back to us year after year after year, and have told their friends all about us... they don't want the knockoff bag or chair or travel accessory.
They want the quality and commitment that we stand behind.
They want the knowledge that they can come to us.. the original... and get a new custom design or have us come up with just he right perfect design that will work for them. They do this because they know how long we spend making these products. They appreciate the fact that we can offer advice as to why a pocket in this area won't work, or why a zip should be used over a clasp or velcro.
So, you have to ask yourself how worthwhile your stress and anger is over something that you really have no control over. Maybe the lesson learned is that we should look at the duplicators and say... Wow... they see the value in our product so much that they need to copy it. Wow...we created that! But finally... Wow... what else can our imagination come up with next?
We hope that you value and appreciate our products as much as we have enjoyed building them. Thank you for all of the years that we have had with our favorite customers and all the new and wonderful customers to come. We will continue creating and designing because of you.
Maggie & Monique