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08-27-2008, 09:06 AM | #1 |
Mommy to 3 Princesses Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: DFW Texas
Posts: 11,030
| I have something I need to say I know this is long but I hope everyone will read this. I am friends with and have been talking to several long time members that are sellers here (that sew dog clothes) and I really feel it is time to say something. There are a few things that are bugging us sellers but we are all too nice to say anything and again and again people take advantage of this so here goes: I think I can speak for most of us when I say we dog clothing seamstresses love what we do but we also do this for a living. I feel it is important to know that this is what we do to support our family, to pay bills and some of us just scrape by because to be honest a lot of work goes into this job and many of us dont charge all that much for our labor & time. It may be a hobby for some but for others there is more than just sewing the dog clothes so there is more than just the simple fabric and raw materials expenses. There is so much more work involved. I for one(as well as many others on here) have completely designed and update/maintain my own website(which alone this can seem like a full time job), I also take my own photos of products and edit them, cut and sew my own clothes with no help from assistants or factories, I also order products for resale for the website, handle all communications with both vendors and customers, package and ship as well as other things. More importantly, I came up with all of my dog clothing patterns through much material expense and many laborous hours of trial and error and testing them on my sweet cooperative furbabies. The reason I am telling this to everyone is because recently there has been some people that seem to order from a YT member and then turnaround, copy the pattern and start selling. Ive even seen post on here where someone will ask, "where can I find dog clothing patterns?" and sometimes someone will respond by suggesting they take apart someone elses designs and use the pattern. This just breaks my heart because I put so much thought, time and effort into my work as I know everyone else did to. I think people think this is an acceptable thing to do because they think maybe I just bought my pattern somewhere, but Im here to tell you I didnt, I worked hard to come up with my own. Another problem is some people seem to be copying exact designs & techniques and it should go without saying that this really hurts the original designers feelings and it is just not right but I really feel lately that this is something that has become universally accepted as and okay thing to do. But it is not okay and it is not ethical. I always try to have the best business ethics and I know my customers know this and this is one of the reasons they like to order from me and that does make me feel good. But it still does not make me happy to see the other unethical businesses reap the benefits of copying my hard work and designs and I feel like this is sometimes encouraged by buyers. I know many of us end up with the same fabrics and this is fine, this will happen alot as we shop at the same places so this is not what I am refering to. And I am not just talking about things that have happened to me, there are many cases of these types of things happening to several sellers on here. Some members have even left because of it. So basically I am saying all this because Im just hoping that if I shed some light to the hard work that goes into these businesses, more people will start respecting the products, patterns, designs and the sellers. If you want to sew dog clothes I am not trying to discourage you. I simply ask that you go buy a pattern from a fabric store or try to come up with your own. And please develop your own designs and techniques. I really hope I have not offended anyone with this. I did not start this thread to cause a problem or debate and this thread is not directed towards any single person, simply a innocent trend that Ive noticed lately. So I simply wanted to try and give the general public and inside look to what goes on when someone makes dog clothes. Thank you to everyone that reads this. Hugs, Shana
__________________ Custom Dog Clothing Boutique www.TinkerbellsCloset.com |
Welcome Guest! | |
08-27-2008, 09:14 AM | #2 |
Mimi & Gabby too! Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vineland, NJ
Posts: 3,208
| So sorry this is happening. I've noticed the same thing and I don't even sew to sell. Hope everything works out. |
08-27-2008, 09:25 AM | #3 | |
Mommy to 3 Princesses Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: DFW Texas
Posts: 11,030
| Quote:
I hate to say this but sometimes its customers requesting a different seller make something a certain way other than how they normally make it (such as a technique that is unique to a different seller) and this is how I think a lot of it might happening. So this is another thing I just wanted buyers to maybe be aware of so they can help not encourage so much of the styles and techniques to be copied. And Im not trying to upset anyone if this is something maybe you've done. I know a lot of people do it and just dont realize
__________________ Custom Dog Clothing Boutique www.TinkerbellsCloset.com Last edited by Shanatink; 08-27-2008 at 09:28 AM. | |
08-27-2008, 09:30 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,432
| Aww...I am sorry this is happening Shana. I would be upset too if someone were ripping off my original ideas that I use to support my family as well. I don't really have any words of wisdom or comfort, but if it helps in the least little bit, just know that I can't sew worth a darn so I'm at least one less person you'd have to worry about being a copycat. |
08-27-2008, 09:32 AM | #5 |
Tinkerbell, My Little Flutterpup Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful California!
Posts: 6,112
| I completely support your post Shana. I took atleast 2 years of perfecting my pattern and style to get it where I am proud of it and what I thought was unique from others and to fit how I think things should fit. When you've put that much time, thought and effort into something...you can spot your pattern immediately even if it's listed on ebay or etsy, without elaborating, recently there have been some instances that I am shocked about and have been very hurt. |
08-27-2008, 09:40 AM | #6 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| I am so sorry this is happening and you had to post this thread. I hadnt noticed it but will be on the look out for it now
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
08-27-2008, 09:45 AM | #7 | |
Mimi & Gabby too! Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vineland, NJ
Posts: 3,208
| Quote:
Anyway I'm so sorry.....but I'm very proud of you for saying this. This is how you feel and there is nothing wrong with expressing your feelings. BTW I support your feelings. It isn't right for ppl to do that. | |
08-27-2008, 09:58 AM | #8 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: tacoma, wa. USA
Posts: 8
| new here I agree with you. I am new here, but run my own small business. I cut ,sew, design, and market my own products. Not t-shirts but other pet items. I also buy some for retail. I have seen other's copy my item's and its frustrating, and complimentary at the same time. Apparently they like what we have created on our own that they thought it was great enough to copy.... It's still not right though. It is true we do put all of our time and effort into our business. I tuned my two car garage into my workroom, office, sewing room ect... I awnser the phone call, send the packages, and create the items. No oversea slave work coming from me!!!
__________________ Packwood, Georgia |
08-27-2008, 10:08 AM | #9 |
I heart Sugar Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 7,373
| I can imagine how frustrating this would be. I used to have a handmade soap business. There were a few times I came across other sites who had completely copied my wording, word for word on different things. This drove me absolutely crazy and the time and effort I put into my wording was minor compared to what y'all put into patterns and designs. It might feel innocent but it is stealing.
__________________ "If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." — St. Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226 |
08-27-2008, 10:14 AM | #10 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Several times I've seen "duplicates" of someone else's design being sold by others here. I don't agree with it. Shows a lack of moral charactor and a decidely lack of creativity imho.
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com |
08-27-2008, 10:16 AM | #11 | |
Tinkerbell, My Little Flutterpup Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful California!
Posts: 6,112
| Quote:
Last edited by chloeandj; 08-27-2008 at 10:19 AM. | |
08-27-2008, 10:20 AM | #12 |
Therapy Dog Donating Member | Hi Shana oh so sorry this is happening to you and to the other YT vendors. I don't sew either beccause you see I'm a professional shopper. So you don't have to worry about me but can certainly see your point. I see a lot of things on this site that I know were duplicated from YT vendors so I don't even go down that road. I hope others see this thread and think twice about purchasing from those that copy. It's not worth saving a few bucks in my opinion.
__________________ Cynd, Izzy (Yorkie) & Cosmo (Biewer)(Secwetary & Charter Membwer of the Dirty FurKids Cwub)-Jusz say NO ta bein' cwean!)proud member of the CrAzYcLuB! ~The PINK club~SRC |
08-27-2008, 10:28 AM | #13 |
Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member | Shana - you and I have been here a LONG TIME and I know exactly what you're talking about - seen it often and always feel bad. You just posted in a non offensive way about a problem that I see happening everyday....I totally understand everyone who sews wants to show off what they make and or sell their clothes - but I've also heard the quality of some leaves ALOT to be desired. I hope this helps those who really are serious about sewing and maybe makes the hobby sewer think a little. There IS alot of work into custom designs and it's sad that so many are being undersold. |
08-27-2008, 10:30 AM | #14 |
Senior Yorkie Talker | I'm so sorry that this is happening to you or anyone else. Unfortuantely, this seems to be the world we live in now. I did some checking and it appears that, unless you get a patent for your idea,design, etc. or even a copyright on your written marketing, there is no legal ground that you can take to protect yourselves from theft of this sort.
__________________ MistyBlue |
08-27-2008, 10:40 AM | #15 |
Lovin' My LilBug! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,513
| I'm currently working with trial and error on a few doggy things (not dresses/clothes) and I can 100% see where you're coming from and it's sad . It is a very hard thing to do and money consuming as well at first and I know I would be heartbroken if/when I do start selling my things on here/on the internet. I most likely wouldn't take it as lightly as you are though . It's down right stealing and it's down right ridiculous. The way I see it, if they want to take your work (or anyone elses) and copy it and sell it, then they need to just go ahead and send you the majority of the money they make off of it . C'mon people, stop the "stealing" - it's ignorant.
__________________ love my lillybug! rags and ribbons! |
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