How do you deal with copy cats?

40701085

How would you deal with a competing business that consistently imitates your marketing, your advertising designs, your product range and just about everything else you do??
The business has already poached some of my staff by paying cash in hand and now this.

The gloves are coming off & all suggestions are welcome..

enviro

Contact your solicitor. Have a chat regarding the issues you have, youll know where you stand then and can take action

Kine

Some wire, a pair of gloves and some butter....all you need

seanybiker

How would you deal with a competing business that consistently imitates your marketing, your advertising designs, your product range and just about everything else you do??including posts
The business has already poached some of my staff by paying cash in hand and now this.

The gloves are coming off & all suggestions are welcome..


Sorry im bored

gnxx

Twenty years ago I would have suggested various tactics to fight this type of competitor. I'm more mellow these days.

My current advice would be .. do nothing directly against this competitor.

If they are copying you etc it indicates that they don't have vision and are probably very light on the ability to execute.

If you end up in the trenches fighting them, this will probably drag you down to their level.

Concentrate on your business and ignore them.

The one action I would take is to review internal proceses. For example, tighten up on security, don't disclose processes / suppliers / customers etc to staff.

Also check the non-compete clauses of employees.

Please PM me if you want to discuss ...

Innovation. It's the key!!!!!!!!! If they are copying you, they are scared of you. Do something off the hook - differentiate yourself.

40701085

Thanks all,
We did try to differentiate (which takes time, thought & energy) but it's just annoying when they lazily jump on the coat-tails of your ideas.

I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery..

flash harry

40701085 wrote: »

I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery..

Just about to say that, can you turn it to your advantage?? "original and still best" etc etc

Can you give us, even loosely, what type of business your in???

40701085

Beauty & Cosmetics - retail

Axwell

Do up some marketing material talking about how you are having a million euro giveaway raffle, no expense spared, raffling off cars ,boats you name it. Then make sure that they get a copy of the material and wait for them to copy you and spend a fortune, then let them in on the fact you never planned to do any of it and the only copy of the marketing material ever sent out was to them and watch as they cry

But being serious there isnt much you can do to be honest, take it as a compliment that they feel they have to copy you to compete with you but at the same time make sure they arent just under cutting everything you do to try get on top. Focus on your own business instead of worrying about theirs, in the long run they wont be able to keep going like this and it just shows lack of drive and imagination on their part.

Lplated

On copying the product range - see if you can source one particular range that you could get exclusive rights to distribute in your own area (ie so they just couldn't have the product).

On poaching your staff - consider putting non-compete clauses in your staff's contracts - so that they could not work with another similar business, or set up against you, in your area for a period of time after they leave you. They are legal once they are judged 'reasonable' in terms of duration that they apply after having left your employment and the geographical distrance they cover.

dandelion

1/ Find someone to copy who's even better than you

2/ Watch Dexter tonight, he knows what to do

Are the businesess side by side? If not the nwy does it bother you. Unless it's affecting your business I wouldn't worry about it.