How do I stop someone ruining my business?

[Bubnbutton]

I’m really upset about this and would appreciate any advice please.
So I started a small family business earlier this year…
Another company selling similar things for a similar prices is complaining I have copied them. Absolutely not true, it’s competition I get that. I do a lot of advertising over social media and this person keeps putting angry emojis all over my posts. I’ve banned her. Now all her friends are starting to put angry emojis all over my posts too! How do I stop them? I have done nothing wrong and don’t want my customer/potential customers to think they can’t order from me because there must have been previous unhappy customers. It’s really getting me down and making me want to throw in the towel because I can’t be bothered with the hassle but I also refuse to let them win!!

Well I suppose it depends if you copied them, although, unless they have trade marked it, then copying them is fine and not illegal, for instance, someone was the first person to do the social media signs, now there are lots of versions to pick from, the original idea started from somehwere.

Just block them all.

I think you need to give more detail about what the business is. Are there loads of businesses selling the same thing or is it fairly unique?

It’s quite common for example with small businesses selling homemade/printed children’s clothes to copy an original design when it gets popular. That’s not on. But if it’s a pretty generic baking business or something then she can’t complain much.

Ok - idea definitely not copied but does look like they’ve been around longer/lot more followers etc.
So we sell children’s clothes, some clothes are exactly the same as we obviously get them from the same supplier, others are not. They sell them cheaper but have higher postage costs, we sell them for a bit more but have lower postage costs…
I can’t block an individual from my business page unless they have commented or ‘liked’ the page. So one wrote an awful comment saying a copied (hand on heart, I didn’t - never heard/seen them before but I obviously can’t prove that!) so I deleted and blocked her. Now like I said, all the friends are now putting angry emojis on my advertising posts and I’m getting upset and pretty sick of it!

When one of her friends posts angry emojis I would simply put a generic comment underneath stating " I am aware that there are also other suppliers selling these items but am unsure why the fact that two sellers sell the same items would lead to a non-customer leaving such strange comments which could be seen as harassment".

Thank you @SeasonFinale. I will if anything happens again. They obviously feel threatened even though they have a lot more followers and look like they’ve been around for a few years.. not sure why? They must think they are the only ones that are allowed to sell these items 😡
Im tempted to go down the legal route and send them a letter basically telling them to leave me alone as I’ve done nothing wrong but really don’t want to go down that route! Can’t help be feel they are watching my page all the time now see what I’m doing.
They already have gift vouchers, this is something I have already been looking into before all this kicked off and now I’m worried when I put on my page that we now have gift vouchers they will say I’m copying them again!!

Hard to say. My DB has a hand made product business which people are ripping off down to identical labelling, branding and marketing. I'm now prepping cease and desist letters for him with the assistance of a solicitors firm.

Sometimes you have to get mad, check out the law and go from there.....

For this though Zoos I'd be inclined to put up one post along the lines of

"We are so grateful for all the support for our small business since 2020, it's been a delight to provide you with beautiful clothing for your children and see all the lovely photos you share with us!

Sadly we are seeing a harrassment campaign by another small business and their friends, who clearly source their products from the same supply chain as us. We are not and have never been in competition with this other business, who we wish well however the ongoing harrassment is being recorded by us and all details will be passed to the police as a bundle.

We're very proud of our business and look forward to meeting all of our lovely customers at X event (or continuing to serve our community of lovely customers) and hope that you'll always find us well priced / well stocked / full of beautiful clothing for your families / similar positive ending to the post!

Much love, @Bubnbutton and staff"

And leave it there.

I'd be tempted to contact the supplier to confirm they haven't given anyone an exclusive right to their products, and let them know one of their customers has started harassing other customers, which is going to be bad for their business.

Odd to accuse you of copying in these circumstances. Is your business name or website design similar to theirs?

Malicious communication is a crime, so perhaps a solicitor's letter?

Otherwise delete the comments. Or put on s control that you have to approve all posts.

@SoddingWeddings that’s absolutely brilliant! Thank you, I will save that for future reference if it continues and make sure I have a good range of evidence. I just worry it create a backlash of them writing something similar on their posts… I feel it won’t end!
There are some horrible people out there!

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy
Thank you! And thank you for the ‘crime’
If it does carry on, I will send a solicitors letter but only worry that will fuel them more with them saying I’ve copied which I categorically didn’t. However, I have done nothing to their page/posts and I’m not sure how to control someone putting emojis on an advert/posts but will certainly look into it. I have screenshot everything incase they then delete things..

Nope, business name and website completely different just some of the products are not unfortunately but like I say obviously from the same supplier. I’m not going to look at the suppliers products then check their page to make sure they haven’t already got it before I purchase it!

@SeasonFinale

When one of her friends posts angry emojis I would simply put a generic comment underneath stating " I am aware that there are also other suppliers selling these items but am unsure why the fact that two sellers sell the same items would lead to a non-customer leaving such strange comments which could be seen as harassment".

This. Polite, explains the issue, gets the issue out openly.

Unless there is more. eg if I was buying exclusive for a region - I wouldnt expect any other sellers.

If I had copied the idea exactly - then again fair enough for the "original" to challenge.

But I am not sure sustainable long term businesses are built via social media. What other selling channels are you using?

This happens all the time on FB
I’m on a few business pages that sell glittery shit 😂
And fuck me the bitchiness from the different owners is astounding
I’m almost expecting to see a mid summer murder one day
I stay on it now for the entertainment value
However I’ve bought from all of them and they know that as I put likes and reviews on their pages when I have bought something
Just post something bland and factual
And think of this - you are probably affecting them way more than you realise if they are this childish
Stick it out they will get bored when they realise your here to stay

You should be able to set your website /FB page so that you approve all members and any post so that should stop people messing around with your posts
So if you get a new member check to see what sites they are on and who there friends are and what else they post

Thank you all!
@Wegobshite - that made me laugh! Thank you!
I really don’t want it to get that far!
And no nothing ‘exclusive’ they’re other companies selling same things but I don’t get backlash from them!
I not going to let them beat me and I am here to stay, it’s hard enough to get your name out there as it is without having Tk deal with this rubbish. Had I found them first I would have probably A) brought from them and B) wouldn’t dream of doing what they are! I’d think mmm, but just get on with it!

I’m just ok fb and insta at the moment - have looked into Google ads this afternoon which I have heard can be good so fingers crossed I just carry on growing x

To* not TK