Gerry,
There are good and bad people in every profession. It is time to
move on from the dealers you are referring to and make new contacts.
Look for dealers that set high standards for themselves and show
consideration for others.
Greg DeMark
email: @Greg_DeMark
Website: www.outdrs.net/~demark
Mike,
This may not be very good advice, and I don=92t know that I can help
much since I am still starting out in the craft and still don=92t know
much, but is there something you think your friend would be good at
that she doesn=92t do, and you would never be interested in
incorporating into your designs? Say like wire weaving, pmc, Chinese
knotting (using silver, ribbon, cord, etc.), or something else you
don=92t plan on exploring in your work. If there is, then maybe you
can =91fib=92 a little bit and tell your neighbor in passing that you
just had a most excellent idea for adding one of those ideas into
your designs, and maybe she will =91steal=92 the idea from you, only t=
o
find out she does it very well and has a lot of fun doing it. That
way, she may decide to stick with it and find her own style, without
making her work look too much like yours. Also, if I were you, I
would stamp ALL of your work with your =91signature=92 or business nam=
e
just so your customers and people who receive your work as a gift,
etc. know where to look when they want the =91real deal=92. You may al=
so
want to include a business card in every bag or gift box you put
your wares in (if it doesn=92t get too pricey) to make sure you get
your name out there. Just in case you might start losing business
because her art looks so much like yours, and if she is stealing
ideas, she may try stealing your customers and business by lowering
her prices a tad under what your going rate is. Some people have no
morals or just don=92t plain realize what they are doing.
Heather
–Feeling sorry for all those people (as well as their pets) down in
Florida country and surrounding areas, what with the pounding they
have been taking from the storms.
I forgot to mention on my other post that you should try to stay
away from your =91friend=92 at art/jewelry shows if you can possibly
avoid her, and don=92t tell her where and when you will be selling
your products. If you know she is going to be at the same show(s)
you are, maybe there is a way you can request through the show
sponsors that you be placed as far away from her as they can humanly
put you, because there is a history of problems with her (or
whatever excuse you want to give them). She will more than likely
take a stroll past your booth so she can check out what you are
marketing as nosy people are bound to do. At least you will be able
to see how closely she looks at things if she picks anything up, and
if she asks questions about how it is made (or what of), tell her
it=92s an old family secret; either yours if you have other family
that have crafted jewelry before you, or the secret of another
family that likes your work so much they wanted to share something
special with you that isn=92t something they want widely publicized,
and you have been sworn to take the process to your grave. If you
are feeling especially mean and don=92t want to =91help her out=92 lik=
e I
suggested in the first post by telling her you are going to try
incorporating something (something you think she would be good
at–knotting, etc.) so she steals the idea and makes it her own when
you were never really planning on doing it, you can go the other
route and drop hints that you have been contemplating adding
something new to your designs, and pick something that you know she
would really suck at. (Preferably something extremely costly) If she
takes the bait by showing an interest and asking questions, you
could offer to tell her what kind of machinery and tools are
required at your earliest convenience. Then pick out the highest
priced things you can find, and tell her she will need them in order
to make whatever it is. Later, if she comes asking you for help, you
can tell her that you decided it would take too much time and money
to try it out, and scrapped the idea.
Heather
Continue from:
I want to thank everyone who has offered their experiences,
insights, opinions, etc. on this particular thread. Several people
were concerned enough to email me off-list and I deeply appreciate
those responses as well. Carmon and I have been burning the candle at
both ends trying to get ready to leave for the east coast on
Saturday. We have 2 shows on consecutive weekends which are annual
“make or break” events for us so I’ve not had time to respond as I
would have liked.
After taking some time to “digest” all the responses and assess the
situation, we have concluded that our best course of action is to
simply be conscious and vigilant about keeping the business and
friendship issues as separate as possible. It’s not an easy shift for
us since Carmon and I both tend to naturally assume mentor/teacher
roles. I suspect that our friend may be so intent on trying to be
successfull with her new business, that she is most likely unaware of
the extent to which she is emulating our design style and business
model. As I mentioned in the original post, we don’t see her as a
threat, we have just been taken aback by how things have unfolded.
It’s hard not to be able to share your successes and ideas for fear
of having them show up in a slightly different form on your friend’s
dining room table. I always resented those jewelers who clam up and
quit talking to you as soon as they realize you also do jewelry or
metal work. I hope we aren’t coming to that.
Anyway, best to all and thanks again!
Mike Dibble
Black Horse Design
www.black-horse-design.com