Cheeky, cheeky fucker...

[OkMaybeNot]

I have a small business selling handmade items. It is very, very niche... It's not anything like crochet or

As a total aside, I have been trying to teach myself calligraphy recently with a book. I am terrible . Did you go to classes? I am thinking that might be better for me....either that or I have naff all talent!!

Sorry to hear about your copy cat - how very annoying. Cant believe she has been so bloody cheeky as to use your wording as well. As pp’s have suggested, I would incorporate how many years you have been trading and how much training you have done, quality of products etc on your site and a cease and desist letter to this woman. Cant bloody stand it when people are so fucking unoriginal - get your own bloody idea!!

Have a chat with an intellectual property lawyer.

Do you have someone you can ask to look at both ads for you for free and give their comments? You need to know if the ads are as similar as you think they are, which means you need someone independant to do that - it'll be hard for you to do it because you'll just see the copied bits, if you see what I mean.

It's about what they're advertising as well as what they're producing.

I had similar to a pp and I ended up getting slammed for their crappy products because people were confused. I'd not done anything thinking I was being oversensitive but later found out I should have asked someone independent to look at them and see if it was a breach or not.

I would update your advertising, website etc with details of the skills, time etc that is required and basically just all your quality credentials so it’s more obvious to a lay person that hers is a cheap knock off.

You could also say “please note I am not associated in any way with copycat business”. To most people this will make it obvious that her standards are far lower.

to those saying update and change your website and information I think this is the worst advice to be honest. people who have seen your advert in the past but cant remember your name will then not be able to find you. They will however find her. You will lose even more business this way!

she is in the wrong and you need to act hard and fast to sort this out before the black Friday Christmas purchases start.

If its the magic spells letters I've seen on craft craft and more craft this morning, hers look terrible. No calligraphy skill at all!

I agree with the "cease and desist" letter from a solicitor, and I would also block her from your page and then change your whole page - pics, advertising words etc. - anything that she has copied.
I would even go to the trouble of mentioning on the page that cheap copies exist out there but they are in no way comparable to your own wares, if you feel the need.
But the solicitor's letter and blocking her would be my top priorities.

I honestly can't see why you're so surprised?

Oh I know this happens, people do it all the time. It's the way she's done it that's so blatant that has me shocked!

I’ve had this happen to me. Not a friend though, but someone copied me almost exactly!

Nothing I could do and it’s brutal but a good lesson in business. I’d rejig your promotional stuff, selling the fact that you are well established, great feedback, all your good selling points. Anything to differentiate yourself. Do some Facebook ads or others.

I wouldn’t get into one with her at all tbh. I might not block her, I’d see how she does. You could hide your page from her though and watermark pictures.

For me this competition really helped me in the end, I upped my game and in the end they folded. People like to trust things like shopping online, and that takes time. You’ve got that.

I work in a gallery OP....filled with beautiful things made by skilled artists and craftspeople. You wouldn't BELIEVE the cheek of some people.

They will come in, hawking their "unique handmade wares" which are directly copied from very stand-out and original pieces WHICH WE ALREADY STOCK from well-known local artists.

"OH!" they say "Isn't that a coincidence!"

Yes....when you've directly aped their style, right down to the brushwork and subject matter!

If you've liked her post on the public page I would comment underneath, "This is lovely. I've been making something incredibly similar for X years and it can be tricky to do well," with an image of your far better product and a link to your page. If anyone was even considering hers then they'll come running to you when they see yours is better.

I've got nothing useful to add, but I love anatol's comment

It's possible this could actually help you, if her stuff is as naff as you say it is. What comes up on a search on Etsy (if that's what you're using)? If the two accounts are both there for customers to compare you could definitely claim to be of better quality and manufacture than 'other' vendors Having a higher price would also be to your advantage there.

Mate!!! Rip her tits off. Definitely confront her! That is not ok. It's one thing to do the same thing but to copy your advertising etc as well noooooooo and she's obviously gone to lengths to hide it so she already knows she's in the wrong. Bad decorum i say

If this happened to me I would be concerned that people may think copycat items were the original and that this would impact on reputation. If your business names are similar this could be an issue.

I think the thing that hurts most is it's a friend that's doing it, not some random person, especially if you're a small business and this is a way of making a living. You'd hope friends, people who actually know you, would care about the impact on you.

I'm also a maker of things and I've come across this before. It's infuriating. I'm struck dumb by the brass neck of some people when it comes to plagiarism.

It's so hard to know what the "right" reaction is. She knows she's copying you. You know she's copying you. Everyone else who knows you both knows that she's copying you.

If you shrug your shoulders and dismiss it with a "nice attempt, you'll get better with time", it's inevitable that someone will think you're being catty. If you take it seriously and tell her to stop, then others will think you're being silly to be threatened by someone so rubbish at what you do so well. Whatever you do, it'll be wrong in some folks eyes. These copycats make life a misery for those of us who work really hard to gain our skills and develop our talents, and I feel your frustration.

I've no advice I'm afraid, just lots and lots of sympathy.

Did you go to classes?

I'm self-taught, through books and videos, since I was around 15. It was just a hobby until this year. Classes would be fun, though I've never actually seen one advertised!

What is it that you do?

Don't go posting passive aggressive 'nice' comments or keep 'liking' her posts, message her and tell her to stop or you will take legal actions!!!

Mate!!! Rip her tits off. Definitely confront her! That is not ok. It's one thing to do the same thing but to copy your advertising etc as well noooooooo and she's obviously gone to lengths to hide it so she already knows she's in the wrong. Bad decorum i say

This. ^

Why are you not confronting her directly?

I am still wondering what you do OP?

I find it most effective when I find someone copying my design work to ask a friend to comment and say this is really like feefees work, down to the picture composition and they point out how long I’ve been doing it and then get them to tag me in it. It’s usually enough to shock low level copycats out of it, and with bigger companies it usually drives their business over to me. All without me saying a word. Friends are great 😂

Can you say, or is it too identifying? I just want to have a nose on facebook