Craft Show Conflict

[BusyBumbleBee]

I swear, there has just been WAY too much drama going on lately - Why not add more, right!?

I am just angry over this situation. The show I did at the mall last month was through a promo group. Now that I'm in that promo circle I along with the other vendors keep getting the invites to these other shows at local malls and events.

The show I did last month had the Lollitops stand (kufi hat turned into a purse). Well they do have a patent on these things and I or no one can use their idea - GOT THAT! However, I along with A TON of other people, sell the decorated hats. I'm sure that includes some of you on here even.

Here's the issue. The show I did included me selling that hats, and lillitops selling their hats at 3x's the price. The promo guys said I didn't have to take down my hats but other promo companies probably would have, WHY!? Well I'm trying to set another contract for another show in Sept. and he's asked that if I do the show NOT TO SELL MY HATS! WHHAAAATTTTTTT!?!?! NO WAY!

I'm seriously just angry. They have their hats patented, yes, but the hats themselves can be sold by anyone that buys them to resale. I am in no way selling them in the manner that lollitops is. They've asked him to have exclusive rights to this product, can they do that? I guess they can if this guy wants to loose my business. The hats a good seller for me too. Lollitops sells bows, did I ask them to remove their bows?? NO!

I'm sure my bloodvpressure is extremely high right now. Would you guys be mad too? Or agree not to sell the hats?

[firedancer201]

I'd be mad. I'd go off on him and tell him that beanie hats aren't patented just THEIR concept.

[BusyBumbleBee]

Well I did e-mail him, but I'm hoping I will get farther if I try to be nice about the situation.

Here's my thought... say you sold T-Shirts (a common item) and someone decided it would be a good idea to take those T-Shirts fandangle them into a PURSE (Hahaha!). Would no one else in the mall be able to sell T-Shirts?? I think so!

I hope my point gets across to him. If not, I'll throw that analogy at him and see what comes of it. Worst case, he's lost my business. Maybe he'll learn from it.

[firedancer201]

Yeah, being nice is probably the way to go. I have a problem with that sometimes when I'm mad. *sheepish grin*

[BusyBumbleBee]

UPDATE:
The guy messaged me back and said I could have my foam head with the accessorized beanie out for display and if someone asked where they could get the hats then I could "bring them out to sell." - Uh, still not good enough for me. I'm already telling him I will bag the hats and hang them and not set completed hats out to sell. I thought that was a nice offer.
So I'm on the counter attack. I told him if we can't come to an agreement I will have to respectfully decine. My husaband, who is usally pretty mellow, is not happy with the situation either.

To be continued...

[mamabrandy]

Geeze, this really stinks! I wouldn't be happy with the situation either. Hopefully the guy takes his head out of his rear and starts thinking.

[firedancer201]

What happened with this?

[BusyBumbleBee]

UPDATE!! And it's a good one :clap:

So I've done two more shows since this conflict - both of which didn't involve Lollitops being there so it wouldn't have mattered if I had my hats out or not.

The guy FINALLY woke up. He told me that there was another store selling these hats and he had mentioned that they were made in "Ballwin, MO." The owner of the store said "No, they are made in Taiwan" :rofl: He finally realized that these hats can be sold by anyone that purchases them to resale. He has since retracted his promise with Lollitops to give them "exclusive rights" to these hats. :001_tongue: He said he is not going to be "policing" them and he will just separate us the next time we both do the same show.

So glad I won this battle!! cheerl Here's to all the boutiques out there selling these hats and have to deal with people like Lollitops! :cheers2:

[Chrissiemags]

Whoo hoo! Way to go girlie

[Barbara Jean]

UPDATE!! And it's a good one :clap:

So I've done two more shows since this conflict - both of which didn't involve Lollitops being there so it wouldn't have mattered if I had my hats out or not.

The guy FINALLY woke up. He told me that there was another store selling these hats and he had mentioned that they were made in "Ballwin, MO." The owner of the store said "No, they are made in Taiwan" :rofl: He finally realized that these hats can be sold by anyone that purchases them to resale. He has since retracted his promise with Lollitops to give them "exclusive rights" to these hats. :001_tongue: He said he is not going to be "policing" them and he will just separate us the next time we both do the same show.

So glad I won this battle!! cheerl Here's to all the boutiques out there selling these hats and have to deal with people like Lollitops! :cheers2:
Glad to see the "little guy" come out on top! Yay for you!

[StitchezUtl]

way to go congrats!

[Chrissiemags]

So I was looking at Lollitop's site and it states that "it is illegal to reproduce" but they are just kufi hats embellished...I did not see ONE that was used in the fashion of a purse...ALL pics were of them as a hat...so is she representing that it is illegal to reproduce an embellished kufi? I've been selling them for quite sometime now and have no intention of NOT selling them, obviously I wouldn't reproduce her embellishments but not to make then at all is kind of crazy...

[BusyBumbleBee]

I hope she isn't claiming rights to the decorating of the hats, I was just thinking the idea behind the hats turning into purses... if she is caliming rights to the embellishment of the hats she's got a lot of people to battle that one out with.

On the subject of not seeing pictures of the purses on the site, I heard from somewhere that people WERE repoducing these hats and having them turn into purses by just looking at the photos on that site and had the pics taken down. I did see pictures though from a boutique online that sells these hats and you would NOT believe how low these things (purses) hang. The kids are wearing the straps across the front (over the head and one arm through) and the purses hung down to the kids' knees. TOO LONG - which means the ribbons on the hats are extremely long posing choking hazards and could cause a child to trip on the strings if they are younger.

Just my thought...