Family member copied my business idea!

[EnidsHoliday]

AIBU to be rather annoyed?

I started an online business venture about 8 weeks ago and have had better than expected success so far (made about £500 in the first full month and it's growing!). I won't go into too much detail as outing but think along the lines of social media/shopping/etc.

It's a relatively niche area of which I have some experience with the target audience etc. I started it to help subsidise my maternity pay.

An immediate family member has basically copied and pasted my entire idea and is now running a virtually identical business, competing for pretty much the same customers! They have a full time job and so have said it is just a hobby for them.

Not sure if I'm overreacting or how to handle? They kept it quiet for the first couple of weeks as they were scared I'd be upset(!).

Is it a MLM?

Nope not an MLM - an independent online shop specialising in something I have knowledge of that I have set up and sourced products for myself - social media is just my main form of marketing using blogs etc.

They knew you'd be upset, they know what they're doing. I guess my first thought would be to think about their motivation - are they generally kind or unkind to you? Do they need the money or is this some kind of power/control/pisstake type thing?

Do you have any other family members who might be able to intercede on your behalf and point out what they're doing is rather unkind?

They were scared because they knew they were being a CF!
I would speak to them along lines of, what are we going to do about this? We are going to be in competition and your actions will effect my business, that I started and was my idea, I don't want this to effect our personal life but why have you done this? If it's something unique that was your idea then you have grounds to sue I would imagine.
Unless it's Herbalife or similar, in which case you are both unreasonable!

If you’re doing it as a full time job and they’re doing it as a sideline, it’ll become obvious when they take longer to respond to customers and it’s not a priority like their main form of income is.

They’ll likely get bored once they realise how difficult it is to juggle full time paid work and their own business- it isn’t for the faint hearted.

Fair play to you for starting a business during maternity leave- I’ve just been watching a lot of Netflix.

Unfortunately that’s business. Your relative is horrible for doing it though.

I’d there another way to build the business? Can you get contacts/contracts that they don’t know about? Ones that are not online so she/he can’t copy?

Haha no Herbalife!

They have just done it as they are a 'phasey' sort of person i.e. they have hobbies they keep up for a month or two and then tire of - and thought this would be fun, definitely don't need the income! Tried to justify saying they have a different audience but they don't, especially with my plans to expand (which they knew about). I'm working with a few 'influencers' on social media to promote some bits and they even followed my 'brand reps'!!

And don't be shy of telling friends and family how disappointed you are that a close family member has set up in direct opposition to you, piggy backing your idea (or stealing it if you think that is a more accurate description).

They have acted as they see fit, you don't owe it to them to be polite and stoic about it! You may well find many people agree that they have been a tad underhanded!

But in the long run, given your circumstances and experience, you should be able to wipe the floor with them...

If they plan things as an amateur that will show in their work.

If you’re professional, promote yourself well and smart about marketing, there’s no way someone who’s half-arsing it will compete.

You need a strategy to make your products more desirable then theirs. Advertise your business as the "one" to go to over others. Publicise your reviews and maybe invest in some swanky marketing ploy. You'll have more time than your relative to focus purely on it. Good luck.

Is it completely your idea and do others exist? You could have copyright then that would stop others taking your exact idea.
But it's business and you will have competitors.
Look at your pricing, customer terms and conditions and your product.
Is there anything you offer that's different.
Also most businesses fail in the first year or two anyway, unless the person knows how to manage a business.

It's cheeky of your relative but all businesses need to be sufficiently resilient to withstand competition from others.

Be grateful that your relative is not taking it sufficiently seriously giving you the opportunity to asses their position and ensure you have the competitive edge to ensure long term sustainability

Why do they know so much about your business plans.
The only people who should know would be a financer, loan company, and partner in your business.

Romany - there are a handful of others that are similar - so not my idea as in invention or whatever. I guess it would be comparable to something like an online homewear shop - there are others but my particular products/marketing is what makes it more niche. More my idea as in I had experience and was doing some thinking/research into how to subsidise my maternity. There is competition absolutely, I guess what hurts is that's just a blatant rip off by a (very close!) family member. So much so some of the T&Cs on the site are copied/pasted from mine!

Romany - because they're a close family member I thought I could trust!!

“So much so some of the T&Cs on the site are copied/pasted from mine!”

I get people saying that this is business etc, but I’d expect more from a close family member (I’m guessing sister or SIL....).

Can you block them from viewing the business’ social media?

Confront them and ask them why .

Shame on them. Unfortunately you’ve just learnt a very difficult lesson. Is it a sibling and this is immature rivalry? Do you intend to keep contact with them?

Dinosaur Kisses - exactly that - you're going to get people copy businesses or have similar ideas etc. but when it's someone you trust and the reason they have done it is blatant because they saw yours and liked it is just hurtful! It's not like they had any intention or had ever considered doing something similar before!

I'm guessing a sister, too. A sister who's always been jealous/competitive.

The only thing you can do is to tell her nothing further. She'll be able to see certain things from your online presence, but anything private, keep to yourself. Don't tell anyone in your family. I know it's hard, but you really can't trust anyone at the moment and have to look out for yourself.

My SiL did this, came to visit, asked a load of questions and then used all the info to basically compete. Very unimpressed, particularly as I think she hasn't declared the income ever. Thankfully, only see her every few years...

Mummyoflittledragon - not a sibling - I didn't really want to say in case she reads but it is in fact my DM!!

Your mam!?!? What the fuck?

You seem very familiar with social media as a marketing tool etc and seem quite on the ball.

Without sounding ageist, would your DM be as confident in that area?

Your Mother!! What a Penis!