1 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: Well, hello, and welcome back to another bonus episode of 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Big Business Today. Today we're reading I don't know, we're 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: reading out a DM that's come through to my Big 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: Business podcast instat which, by the way, send me a 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: DM if you've got a problem, if you need advice 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: in your workplace and your business anywhere, send it in. 7 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: And I've got access to the DMS now I did 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 2: it before. I actually did the whole time. I just 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 2: didn't realize. So you might be hearing from me in 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 2: the DMS extra special. 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: So what have we got today, Sander? Someone is sent 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: through a dilemma. 13 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's tea, it is piping hot. 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: Oh. 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: To be quite honest, we are emitting all names from. 16 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: This, okay. And by the way, if you do DMAs, 17 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: we will keep everything anonymous. Like we're not going to 18 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: go saying who you are or who you're talking about, 19 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: what business, what workplace, It will be anonymous. 20 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 3: So send us a question if you have one. 21 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: So it says Hybrid, do you have any advice on 22 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 2: how to handle someone with a similar business to ours 23 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: bullying us online? They have publicly spoken stories about us 24 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 2: on podcasts and are now dming us privately on our 25 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: personal Instagram. I would love to know how to deal 26 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: with this and can you speak on ways to tackle 27 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: the issue. We are genuinely worried about the backlash that 28 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 2: we would receive if we spoke about this online ourselves. 29 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, that's a tough one, isn't it. 30 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: I would love to know more context, not that we do, 31 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: but I would love to know why the other business 32 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: is coming after this business? 33 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: Is it? 34 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 3: Because did you say that they're similar businesses? 35 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: Yes, similar businesses. 36 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: Okay, So my assumption here is maybe the other business 37 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: is saying that this one is copying them or something 38 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: along those lines, because I feel like I have seen 39 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: a lot of that on social media over the years, 40 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: Like you see people saying this person's copied this and 41 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: this person's copied that. 42 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: Well, how question from me? Where is the line drawn? 43 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: Because you know, this is just an example. You look 44 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: at like cosmetic surgeries, we go get botox and things 45 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: like that. Yeah, they're all advertising the same, They're all 46 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: the branding is similar. All those things are very in 47 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 2: line with each other. Yes, Like, where do you draw 48 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: that line when the businesses are similar all the same. 49 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: It's really hard because yeah, there's a lot of similar 50 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: businesses out there. I think at the end of the day, 51 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: it comes down to, I guess how much another business 52 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: is copying another business. Maybe they're copying things word for word, 53 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: Maybe they've copied a website, maybe they've copied. 54 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 3: A video or a style of content. 55 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: And do you want to know It's funny years ago 56 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: when I started doing my warehouse videos where I was 57 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: like walking through the warehouse and talking, I remember so 58 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: many other businesses then caught on and started doing similar videos, 59 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: and so many people would tag me and Fate on 60 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: that person's those businesses videos and say, oh, it's giving 61 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: Fate the label like Fate the label knock off or whatever, 62 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: and I just always laughed those off. But when it 63 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: comes to businesses copying other businesses, it is a really 64 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: gray area and it can be super messy. So my 65 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: advice to this person, and again I'm just assuming this 66 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: is what this business is bullying you about, is you 67 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: might be copying them, or they're claiming that you're copying them. 68 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: I don't ever. 69 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: Think it should be a first resort for a business 70 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: to go public with something like that. And this is 71 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: more so advice to the other business. If I was 72 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: in that kind of situation where I felt like another 73 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: business was copying us and it was becoming an issue. 74 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: I would go with the private message first, like because 75 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: she said that they've made videos, they're going on podcasts, 76 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: and then they're dming them. If that was me and 77 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: someone was outright copying me or Fate or I felt 78 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: like it was becoming an issue, I would reach out 79 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: to that business first and be like, hey, like, I've 80 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: noticed this. 81 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 3: Can we have a conversation. 82 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: If this person's just gone straight to posting on so 83 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: media to kind of like make you look bad, I 84 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: find that really unprofessional. I think they should have attempted 85 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: to contact you first and have like a fucking adult discussion. 86 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: I think the biggest thing from me, someone who's not 87 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: involved in business at all, is professionalism matters. And if 88 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: you're jumping on social media and you're bashing an other business, like, 89 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: it feels very unprofessional. 90 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. 91 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: And if they could, and this is look, this is hypothetical, 92 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: if they were in the right and they had an 93 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: issue with this other business, it would still look unprofessional 94 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: and it actually reflects more poorly on them. 95 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I definitely think they should have like contacted you first. Again, 96 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: I don't know the context, and it sucks that they've 97 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: gone public with it and are kind of like dragging 98 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: you through the mud. Again, I don't know the context 99 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 1: in terms of like what you can do, And again 100 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: I don't know if you like the person that sent 101 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: this message, I don't know if you're in the right 102 00:04:58,560 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: or if you're in the wrong. I don't know if 103 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: this other business has every right to be saying that 104 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: you're doing whatever you're doing. 105 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 3: Maybe you're not at all in that instance. 106 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 1: Like if I was you and you're worried about your 107 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: reputation and you're worried about your business, I'd take fucking 108 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: legal action. If you are genuinely not in the wrong 109 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: at all. You're not doing anything that other business is claiming. 110 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: If they are making allegations against your business on social media, 111 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: on podcasts, I'd be taking that straight to a lawyer. 112 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: I would be screen recording absolutely everything, every video that 113 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: they have posted. I'd be screen recording the podcast clips 114 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: of them slamming your name publicly. I would be screen 115 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: shotting everything that they've written about you. I'd be screenshotting 116 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: the messages that they've sent you, and I'd be taking 117 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: that shit straight to. 118 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: A lawyer, sending some season assists out. That's honestly, that 119 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: scarce it does. 120 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: And I've never been in a position to do something 121 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: like that. But if you genuinely have done absolutely nothing 122 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: wrong in this instance, and some random business is dragging 123 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: your name through the dirt, that is extremely unprofessional on 124 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 1: their behalf. So that's exactly what I would do. Yes, 125 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: that's going to cost you money, But at the end 126 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: of the day, if someone's defaming your name, dragging your 127 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: name through the dirt, if they're causing damage to your business, 128 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: potential loss in revenue, just ruining your reputation, that is 129 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: the first thing I would be doing. I'd be screenshotting 130 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: everything and speaking with a lawyer and sending out a 131 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: cease and desist. 132 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: Have you ever had a business maybe not to that 133 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 2: extent copy fate. 134 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 3: No, we've never had. Like the most the closest that. 135 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: We've become to that is just people copying my style 136 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: of like talking in a video, or like walking through 137 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: a warehouse and being funny, or you know, there was 138 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: a period there where I was like kind of bashing 139 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: people's orders, and then I would see other people doing 140 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: that and like just being funny in the. 141 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 2: Way become trends. 142 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. 143 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 2: You can't help that. Like things take off on social 144 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 2: media media all the time. And if they work for 145 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: your business and they work for someone else's, like, who 146 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: is anyone to be like? 147 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: And the most people would comment is like tagging me 148 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: and be like you're trying to be like Brittany or whatever, 149 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: and like, I honestly just see that as a compliment. 150 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: But this situation that this person is in could be 151 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: far worse than that. And I don't know the extent, 152 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: but businesses really do copy, like for like I've seen 153 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: businesses just copy everything from wording on a website, like 154 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: the way the website looks, logos and everything. And again 155 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: I don't know your situation, but you know, this is 156 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: when trademarking comes into play, Like if they're copying or 157 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: saying that you've copied their business name or whatever, like 158 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: get your business name trademarked so that it's yours and 159 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: you own that business name in that category. Make sure 160 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: everything you're doing is secure. If they're claiming that you've. 161 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 3: Copied a product of theirs. 162 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: You need to be checking, you know, if the product 163 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: that that business makes is their own because you can 164 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: like pattern a product so that you own that so 165 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: no one can come out with something the same. 166 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 3: But I can't. 167 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: Really pattern like a dress because address is so broad. 168 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: But if it's like a really specific product, you can 169 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: own the rights to that product and therefore no one 170 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: can come out with anything similar to that. 171 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: It's interesting you say that because when it comes to 172 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 2: like fashion and like art per se, there's actually no 173 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: real strict rules about what you can and can't copy 174 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: a lot. 175 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: And I think we've seen this a lot with m 176 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: CO Beauty. That company mc Beauty has basically copied and 177 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 1: pasted like all the Charlotte Tillbury products and everything, and 178 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: they've just made it slightly different and they've gotten away 179 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: with it. 180 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 3: So it is a really gray area. 181 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: But yeah, make sure everything that you do own is yours, 182 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: trademark that business name, and if that business is quite 183 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: literally just dragging you through the dirt for no reason, 184 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: get a lawyer involved and send them a letter to say, hey, 185 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 1: this is what you're doing and you need to stop 186 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: it otherwise I will be taking legal action. 187 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, don't play dirty like them. 188 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: No, And it's a shame and I'm sorry to hear 189 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: that you're going through this. But if you have genuinely 190 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: done nothing wrong, which I assume you have because that's 191 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: why you're reaching out to us, because you're like, what 192 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: the fuck do I do in this situation? Get a 193 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: lawyer involved and just send a letter. I don't know 194 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: how much it costs to have a lawyer just kind 195 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: of look at a situation and send out one email 196 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: with a letter. I have no idea, but I think 197 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: if it was me and I was worried about my 198 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: business and my reputation and my sales and revenue, I 199 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: would say it's a small price to pay for even 200 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: just that mental load. Yeah, the mental load that you 201 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: would be feeling. 202 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, the grief and you're putting out with every day, 203 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 2: it's probably worth it. 204 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, So that would be my advice to you. And 205 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: again I'm just assuming that they would be saying that 206 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: you're copying them, like, I don't know if that's actually 207 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: the scenario. But also I think it's a time to 208 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: reflect on what you are doing and see if anything 209 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: is super similar, which again it probably isn't. Like this 210 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: is just me making assumptions, but just make sure that 211 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 1: you are doing your own thing. And not copying businesses 212 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: in any way, and like having your own creative take. 213 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 1: Even if you own a really similar business, it's important 214 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: to stand out from the crowd and kind of do 215 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: your own thing. 216 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 2: Also, the perfect time now to really brainstorm and do 217 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 2: something so out there and different that you have never 218 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: done before and really fucking nail it and just take 219 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 2: the business by the reins and you know, propel it 220 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: forward like you never have before. Motivation. 221 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, use this fuel as your fire to be the 222 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: better business. I kind of want to message her back 223 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: and say, I've answered this in the podcast, but can 224 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: you tell me like who it is, because I. 225 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: Want to know the ty. 226 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll have to get back to her, but hopefully 227 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: this helps. Definitely seek legal advice and get a lawyer 228 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: solicitor involved, just for your peace of mind, even because 229 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: I can assure you again not that I've ever received 230 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: one or sent one, but sending out that email from 231 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: a lawyer saying, hey, these are all the things that 232 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: you've done. Here's all the times that you've slandered my business. 233 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: If you don't stop, I'm going to take this further. 234 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: It will make that person absolutely shit themselves and they 235 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: will have to delete everything, so that's exactly what I 236 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 1: would be doing and wishing you all the best with it.