I run a small business and one of my clients came to me last week and said ‘I never realised you were a franchise you know’ and I was like ‘what?’.
It turns out that another company has set up with my exact name doing the exact same thing as me but has just put their city on the end of the name. So instead of ‘teacuphiccup’ they put ‘teacuphiccup Swansea’.
My name is trademarked and I own it in the category in which she is trading.
I have sent her a message on facebook explaining that she probably didn’t realise and could she change her name please (she’s only been trading four months) and she replied that she wouldn’t because it wasn’t the same name because she’s put her city name on the end.
I feel really dirty going to a solicitor but I’ve worked really hard for my reputation and I feel people thinking I’m a franchise cheapens my brand.