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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let you know that Tesco stole the skin tone plasters

128 replies

drspouse · 04/03/2020 07:00

I just saw this on Twitter

twitter.com/lovettejallow/status/1234880832415969282?s=19

I would like to say I'm shocked but I'm not really.

OP posts:
Marmit · 04/03/2020 07:02

That’s shocking!

Enchiladas · 04/03/2020 07:05

I'm sure that woman on Twitter's friend didn't invent plasters in various skin tones Hmm

drspouse · 04/03/2020 07:05

I know!
I saw the plasters on Etsy a while ago too - I think I'll be ordering from there.

OP posts:
drspouse · 04/03/2020 07:06

@Enchiladas no, but she did pitch them to Tesco who did order some to copy.

OP posts:
UnmentionedElephantDildo · 04/03/2020 07:06

The need for skin tone plasters has around for ages, and ascily called for since the 1980s

Tesco are ruthless, but the concept did not originate with this producer a mere two years ago

Zoecarter · 04/03/2020 07:08

Who discusses things with a possible supplier/competitor without an NDA 🙄🙄

AngeloMysterioso · 04/03/2020 07:08

Can’t say I’m surprised.

TabbyCatPaws · 04/03/2020 07:08

Is this genuine? Surely the buyer wouldnt call themself 'tesco.com' and if that address could easily be an employee ordering for personal use?

Tbf skin coloured plasters is hardly revolutionary.

BentNeckLady · 04/03/2020 07:09

Plasters have always been skin toned.

Sirzy · 04/03/2020 07:10

So if this is real this seller decided to post out a packet of each shade plaster to what was clearly Tesco? Not exactly the sign of someone with decent business brains then! What did she think would happen?

drspouse · 04/03/2020 07:10

Funny how everyone says "wow, I never thought of that" on the other thread welcoming them.
I have no idea if she had an NDA but how could a small Etsy seller take a huge supermarket to court over this?

OP posts:
LooseGoose29 · 04/03/2020 07:11

I can't get worked up over this. Essentially you are saying Tesco got hold of something looked at it and made their own version.
Exactly the same as all the other own brand products they sell and exactly the same as some people will only buy branded baked beans some people will continue to buy from that woman's friend.
The people who buy stuff on Etsy are quite likely a very different demographic to the people who buy supermarket own brand.

ProudDada · 04/03/2020 07:12

It says it's marked as a gift. So she maybe sent them to TESCO as a sample? Who gifts plasters.

SimonJT · 04/03/2020 07:12

@BentNeckLady Only if your skin tone is caucasian.

A quick google shows plasters that aren’t just for caucasian skin have been available in the states for over 15 years. So, the etsy person technically also ‘stole’ the idea.

NoveltyFunsy · 04/03/2020 07:15

2015

To let you know that Tesco stole the skin tone plasters
Dyrne · 04/03/2020 07:17

Tesco never claimed to have invented the idea though?

In the BBC news article they specifically say they were inspired by a tweet from a man who found some and was touched by it.

Supermarkets would have gone to all sorts of sources to see if they could supply to them, as they do with everything.

The woman from the Etsy shop didn’t invent them either, unless she can prove she has a patent or copyright.

Lockheart · 04/03/2020 07:17

YABU. Tesco have stolen fuck all.

There's no copyright on different coloured plasters.

Her twitter friends idea wasn't exactly new - I very much doubt she is the original creator of diversely toned plasters.

I also doubt they are the only ones Tesco bought samples of.

If I wanted to sell a certain type of product I'd also conduct market research, including buying examples on the market, as well.

JinglingHellsBells · 04/03/2020 07:28

You are being ridiculous and naive.

Pitching a product to a major company is a complicated process and whoever does it needs to have legal advice and a patent or a trade mark for the product.

You can't patent an idea so the Tweet you linked to doesn't make sense.

Robuns · 04/03/2020 07:30

It looks like someone's linked in account, so presumably the seller looked the name up after sending or whatever and either saw they worked for Tesco, or knew and is just using it as proof. I agree though that these have been about for a while, the design of Tesco's isn't the same. Either way it's great they are becoming more widely available.

SoupDragon · 04/03/2020 07:33

I'm more shocked that it's 2020 and they've only just got round to making them.

It never occurred to me that it was a problem because I am white but I remember this being pointed out years and years ago and realising how stupid it was that they only come in Caucasian pink.

JinglingHellsBells · 04/03/2020 07:33

Anyone can sell anything.

Just because this friend of Lovette was selling plasters, doesn't mean only she can sell them! She didn't invent them I assume nor would she be manufacturing them on her kitchen table. She was buying them from another supplier somewhere in the world and reselling on Etsy.

What exactly is she miffed about? That she wanted to take credit for 'inventing them' or that Tesco decided to source the product themselves and sell it from a supplier of their choice?

If she invented the plasters she should have patented them.

LizzieBananas · 04/03/2020 07:33

Skintone coloured plasters is a minor plot point in Noughts and Crosses, which was written in the 90s. This is not a new idea.

gingersausage · 04/03/2020 07:36

@BentNeckLady seriously? Are you actually that ignorant?

Muckycat · 04/03/2020 07:36

I understand what you're saying, it does feel ruthless but what did she think might happen? I looked into the thread and it seems she sent samples to a Tesco product developer trying to expand her sales without protecting her intellectual property (apparently because plasters are already patented or whatever and you can't patent colours). She took a risk. It's business.

The publicity will probably get her selling more plasters than she was before as people seem to be on her side but she can't claim that a) she invented flesh toned plasters in a variety of shades or b) that this is surprising from a huge retailer when she left herself open.

What is now more likely is that some other big retailer will see this as good publicity for them and stock her brand. This would be no less profit driven.

Also i don't understand the point the Twitter makes repeatedly about Tesco not paying black influencers to sell the plasters. Why should they necessarily? They are a household name and have their own means of advertising.

WalkingDeadTrainee · 04/03/2020 07:37

It's normal to buy and try already available products on a market when developing your ownConfused

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