BusyBumbleBee
08-10-2009, 09:14 PM
So I asked the promo group that put on the show this weekend if anyone else was selling bows before I agreed to commit (I didn't want to be one of 5 other bow makers). They said I was the only one, but someone did sells bows but they were on flip flops. So I agreed.
Well the other stand there were the owners of a business called "Lollitops." Anyone heard of them? They originate in St. Louis, MO (my area), but they sell all over the place. They don't put bows on flip flops at all they sell the kufi hats but promote them as "a hat that turns into a purse." Well I sell the hats too, along with probably 10,000 other online boutique and stores just NOT with lollitops idea behind them (they have a patent on them so you can NOT copy their work in case you get any ideas). Well we were not close to each other at the show, but within walking distance. They sell their hats for $30 each (different prices in different locations) and I was selling mine plain for $10 and then the flowers for $5 each and the ribbon band for $1 each, more like create your own. The promo guy came by my booth and notified me of the similar items and just asked that I not discount mine or make a big competition out of it and I am in no way going to do that. They are trying to make a living too. Well it was kind of funny to see people come by my stand and tell me I wasn't charging enough, or that mine were the same thing but so much cheaper... on and on. I didn't say one bad thing to them about the high cost of the other booths products and if people asked me if I was "lollitops" I told them "no, but they were here with a stand too."
I just want to know what you guys think about this whole thing? What would you do? Their whole idea is a hat/purse; however, it's not their idea to sell these hats with ribbon and flowers attached (which is still all it is, just extra long ribbon hanging off to the side). I even had one lady walk off and I over heard her say "they copied off lollitops!" That was the worst, knowing that I did not. It's just been bugging me. The promo guy was in charge of viewing our sites before accecpting us and he was nice about the whole thing and said other promo groups would have probably made me take down my hats which was a big seller for me and would have hurt my sales. So what are your thoughts?
Well the other stand there were the owners of a business called "Lollitops." Anyone heard of them? They originate in St. Louis, MO (my area), but they sell all over the place. They don't put bows on flip flops at all they sell the kufi hats but promote them as "a hat that turns into a purse." Well I sell the hats too, along with probably 10,000 other online boutique and stores just NOT with lollitops idea behind them (they have a patent on them so you can NOT copy their work in case you get any ideas). Well we were not close to each other at the show, but within walking distance. They sell their hats for $30 each (different prices in different locations) and I was selling mine plain for $10 and then the flowers for $5 each and the ribbon band for $1 each, more like create your own. The promo guy came by my booth and notified me of the similar items and just asked that I not discount mine or make a big competition out of it and I am in no way going to do that. They are trying to make a living too. Well it was kind of funny to see people come by my stand and tell me I wasn't charging enough, or that mine were the same thing but so much cheaper... on and on. I didn't say one bad thing to them about the high cost of the other booths products and if people asked me if I was "lollitops" I told them "no, but they were here with a stand too."
I just want to know what you guys think about this whole thing? What would you do? Their whole idea is a hat/purse; however, it's not their idea to sell these hats with ribbon and flowers attached (which is still all it is, just extra long ribbon hanging off to the side). I even had one lady walk off and I over heard her say "they copied off lollitops!" That was the worst, knowing that I did not. It's just been bugging me. The promo guy was in charge of viewing our sites before accecpting us and he was nice about the whole thing and said other promo groups would have probably made me take down my hats which was a big seller for me and would have hurt my sales. So what are your thoughts?