I'd really love your opinions on this...

[mojo]

Originally Posted by Connie

Anne...I know you are good friends with Cory. I was also...or at least I thought I was. You cannot understand this unless you had been the one to build a business from scratch. I shared all my information with her...trusting that she was sewing for her own dogs, as she said. I gave her all my trade secrets and pattern. She says now she has changed the pattern, but that doesn't change the fact that I gave her detailed instruction and all the ways I do things...down to making the bow for the dress. It used to take me 20 minutes to a half hour to make just the bow. I then came up with a simple and easy way...I shared that with her. I made everything easy for her. I told her about the fabrics to look for at JoAnn's. She had been there 3 times and hadn't seen it. The next time she called, she said she had found the Tutti Fruitti and bought lots. I told her I was so glad they once again had the butterfly pattern so I could replenish my supply. She said she had bought some of that. Okay...right there tells you she knew I had that particular one. I recently saw pictures of vests she did for someone that was more of my fabric...even the striped fabric I'd gotten to go with the bodice. It was my best seller last year. She knew I had that fabric.

I gave her info on where to get Drings, velcro...what kind of fabric I used for the liniing. I took numerous phone calls from her asking for more advice on how to do something. Even the first dog dress she sold, she called me to ask me how to resize it. I even answered that and kicked myself afterwards!

I built my business all on my own with no help from anyone. I improved upon it as time went on and then share it all with someone I trusted. I realize she took sewing lessons, but they weren't teaching how to sew a dog dress. She got that from me. If she started a website where things were not so similar to mine, I wouldn't be so upset. Go look around other websites. Sure...some of us have some fabrics alike, but if I know someone else is featuring a fabric, I won't buy it out of respect for that seller. She told me when she wanted to know where I got the clear bags I package my dresses in that she wanted to store her girl's things to keep them dust free. That was a lie. She said she wasn't going to advertise her website...another lie.

Anne...I am insulted that you would imply that I made that thread to get business. That was NO my intention at all.

I'm sure that you have read the email that I sent Cory. I do not feel threatened by her, but maybe you took it as that. I did say that she has been to so many meet ups and met people personally, so of course, they will buy from her, rather than me, because they have met her. I don't care...it was the way I was betrayed by a friend. I have enough longtime, loyal customers. My business will continue to flourish and I can at least say I built it on my own and I am proud of it!

I saw that thread yesterday and was kind of hoping you would out the person who betrayed you.
I sure hope you end up getting more business out of this. I truly wonder if this person even thinks they did something wrong. I'm sorry you have been hurt by a "friend".

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by maryeverett1

Ps. Since these designs were publicly stolen and publicly passed off as the OP's own original designs one would think a public apology would be in order? Does that anyone else agree??

that would require admitting that she was wrong, which sadly I dont see coming

[MyFairLacy]

Copying another purposely is wrong..period. Unfortunately, some people just don't have basic ethics and don't think there is anything wrong with what they are doing. I guess you just can't convince those people that what they are doing is wrong Like Connie said, of course some sellers will end up with the same fabrics and ribbons...some dress patterns are very similar. However, a seller should be trying to be UNIQUE..not trying to copy or make a very similar product. I have a few friends with dog clothing/bow businesses who have had problems of their own with others copying their designs...i just don't agree with copying to sell at all.

[Connie]

In my last post of defending myself, I forgot to mention that I was not the only one hurt. Jodie (SissyAngelWear), Des (GoFetch) and Linda (FuFuFashions) were also affected. They did not hand over their patterns and instructions, but were copied of their originals.

My Fair Lacy...I think I have an idea about the friend you are talking about and who stole from her. I just heard about that today and was shocked.

[Baby Blessing]

I just sat here and read the threads and want to say no way, no how, does a thought need to be mentioned that Connie purposely did a thread to drum up business, she doesn't need to do that, her sincerity in everything she does for people speaks for the character that and the lady that she is.

I know Connie very well and the caliber and quality of the person she is. She don't need to answer to such a accusation or suggestion that this is why she started the thread. Simply put she helped a friend by sharing all her know how step by step every detail so this friend could sew for her own dogs. Connie did this because she is the person she is, a very caring loving kind generous soul and she taught herself right from the beginning and came up with her own method of doing, she spent many hours working on her methods in doing and doing her bows, then to share all this with someone that later uses those to start a business, I ask myself couldn't it have been easier for the other person if she chose to start sewing for others to do it on her own and not take advantage of another person.

Connie you don't need to justify anything, anyone that does business with you knows how dedicated you are to pleasing and the pleasure you get in making the items you do for their furloves.

Someone mentioned on a posting that all the doggie attire in dress's is alike, my opinion is only if someone duplicates it, otherwise they are not. They may be quite similiar basicly but when it comes to custom dress making they are not all the same. I started sewing 57 years ago ( teaching myself in everything, I learned on my own like Connie did ) here a few years back I made a few dress's for a member here out of love after she got her lost yorkie back, mine were my own design and creation too. Us that do sew and crochet or whatever that are blessed with doing something such as those, can come up with our own patterns and create our very own style, we do not have to copy to create a business.

I am sorry this happened and shouldn't have, Connie is not deserving of any harsh statements made against her.

Not only does she make and sew for people but she has litterly gone out of her way to do many many many many a kind deed for others. Her giving of herself many times over to help others in many situations is beyond norm. In dong so she has never given thought to the cost in $'s but done so many things from her heart such as she did in helping this lady learn how to make her own doggie attire. I know Connie sews because she needs to but she has so many happy satisfied people that I truely believe they are blessed to get her things, she spends many long hours at sewing, she's an honest person she never mentioned any name in her thread this happening was very upsetting and hurtful to her and she needed to get it in the open, I am glad she did.

Connie built her business on her own and one to be proud of and Connie your website will always be UNIQUE because it is yours and you are who you are.

I have never met Connie in person and may never in this life time but I know when we get to heaven God will see that we do, I am so blessed to have her in my life, last June she was only a phone call away from me endlessly after Jack fell, I am truely blessed to come to know her. There are many wonderful people here at Yorkie Talk and Connie has a wonderful reputation to be very proud of.

Sorry for the long post but spoken from my heart and truely feel Connie was not done right by someone else and that was wrong.

Hugs from us both, Patti and Jack and girls.
We love you dearly Connie.
not gonna enlarge cause my post is too long, not gonna go back and proof read it either.

[yorkiepuppie]

i don't know connie or cory personally. but i think it's really wrong to lie to someone like that. cory, your site looks cute, and so do your furbabies. that was my first impression when i saw your site. but after hearing connie's side of the story. i think what's happened is REALLY REALLY wrong. i am sure connie would not have told you and shared with you how she makes the dog dresses if she knew what you intended to do. (or maybe she would, i don't know, but she should known you were going to set up a site and sell dog clothes and then with that information, she can decide if she WANTS to share her tips/secrets on how to make dog dresses with you)

i see that connie and cory both have friends back them up in this thread. connie also came on the thread to explain things. perhaps it's time cory stepped up and come forth to speak for herslef?

sure, dog dresses can all look similar, and i have seen a lot of people selling dog clothes in the for sale section lately, but no one is accusing those people of stealing/copying other people's work.

competition is good. if you came up with your own wonderful dog dresses and they are selling really well, then it's fair. but getting help from someone, down to the detail of packaging your dresses the same way when you have lied to gain all this information from anyone, especially your friend, is VERY WRONG.

[admin]

Closed at the request of the OP.