Cheryl, I have had similar experiences regarding copycats.

Alice, what a valuable experience working with the popular designer! 🙂

Also I worked a few years making jewelry for a local very popular designer. While I did get more comfortable making multiples, and learned a few new techniques, I can honestly say that I have never copied her pieces. And when she saw my pieces for sale, she gave very good reviews. Interestingly, I have seen things online that could be direct copies of hers, I can spot them in a heartbeat. However our styles are so different that there should never be an issue and I strive to keep it that way. Out of respect for her creativity. And gratitude for the whole great experience.

Alice, thank you for sharing this approach to avoid with copying others’ designs.

Just hand them YOUR card with this written on the back: CONSULT $25.00 PER HOUR OR DID YOU WANT TO BUY MY COPYRIGHT?

PERFECT~

To make it difficult…when I designed my booth, I hand designed all of my displays, table covers, risers and shelving. Everything was then gone over and manufactured by other artists including a wood worker (my displays, risers and shelving are all solid wood), a sewing artist who helped me pick fabrics and sewed my table covers and a ceramic artist who created a beautiful large vase. This is a win-win because I was able to trade artwork to help with the cost of manufacturing and support other artists in the process. This is somewhat odd within a post about copying but at many craft and art fairs, the booth designs that I see most often are much alike. This tells me that many of these artists have copied each other or what they have seen online. I have often been told that my booth is the most original and beautiful. It instantly declares the quality and time that I put into my creative process and what customers can expect from my jewelry.

Within the jewelry making process, I do recommend spending time (and it does take a large amount of time) looking for unique components to use within your jewelry. It also takes more money because you cannot simply place one large discounted order from a single supplier. I love to support other artists and frequently purchase handmade glass blown beads and unique hand cut cabochons from local gemstones. It helps immensely to immerse yourself in local culture and to belong and attend your local bead guilds, rock and gem clubs and art galleries and to keep in contact with the artists whose work you love. I also take the time to look at other booths at the shows I attend – for example, at the last one, I found a wood burning artist that carried small discs and I was able to purchase a couple to use as cabochons. I have found that for many people who simply want to copy someones designs that assembling the wide variety of components I use is just too difficult. They usually want items that are easily gathered and easily assembled.

That being said…at the holidays, I do usually make and carry some simpler designs and at my last show, I had a customer tell me that someone else had something similar for much less money. When they showed me what they had purchased, I was able to explain that the product had less components, was generic crystal, was not quite structurally sound and was silver plate vs. sterling silver. Being able to recognize components and explain the various properties behind them to your customers is a large part of selling and keeping your customers coming back.

Some seeming copycats may be pure chance, I once railed at my art instructor, because another student copied the essence of my design and was selling it on the street for $5. I was more upset at the poor quality, than I was, that I was copied. She told me that it was the ultimate in compliments, if I was copied, but that it could have been pure coincidence, that in a society where everyone is influenced by all that surrounds, them many people may have similar or even the same ideas at the same time, without ever seeing each others works. I never found out if the person I suspected, was indeed guilty or had any part in the making of the piece I purchased from a street vendor. The timing though….

Good luck to all those who make a living creating art or jewelry. To paraphrase what others have said, ” Keep on creating and leave the copycats in your dust.” You probably have more ideas than you can possibly bring to reality. Be comforted that you are that good!

When I was a miniature sculptor, I did a show and everyone was excited about the “Hallmark” company being there. It was as if they were royality…NOT. That year I had done a miniature scene in a walnut shell with polymer clay. The shell was real, I put tiny hinges on it and cut windows…it was very unique. Hallmark was there to shoot pictures and get ideas…um steal ideas. The very next Christmas season Hallmark introduced a new ornament…a walnut shell with hinges and a scene inside. My husband was livid, I was sad and felt as though a huge corporation I couldn’t begin to fight had swooped in and stole from me and then made millions on me…where’s my cut?!

That’s awful. Would like the name so I do not purchase from them in the future.

I do however like to see the creativity of other artists and get inspired. Especially when I need inspiration. I know of an instance where my friend bought a bracelet from a person who owned a store, and the 1st time she wore it it broke. The maker said she musta caught it on something as it should not of broken. She did fix it but charged for the repair. Had it been mine I would have apologized and fixed it and never fought over it. But I guess as with this article some people are just too big for their britches.

As to nothings new. I was browsing my bead tool looking for an old pattern and ran across something I had designed years ago. Then found almost the exact pattern on pinterest just different colors. So just keep in mind. We artists/jewelry makers think the same so often. I made a set with quadratiles, posted it on one of my fb jewelry things and was asked for a pattern. I told them sorry I didn’t have one. But when I wore it to town first stop I sold a special order of the set in a different color. It was beautiful and we were both happy AND she tipped me on top of it. I love the design, I was inspired by my hero Diane Fitzgerald on a piece she had done with the round quad lintels.

Have learned much and thank you. BTW I have had a business license with my state for almost 20 years.

Thank you Rena! I love your tutorials!

Judy, thank you for sharing your thoughts – and you know you can sell the jewelry you make from my tutorials.

No one ever built a brand by copying someone else. I also find inspiration in other people’s work, but I am not necessarily out to copy it. I have studied different techniques from a lot of artists, but my work doesn’t resemble any of them. As they walk out of my booth I usually say “remember, that’s hashtag wired and Fired Designs!”

Sarah, I like your ways of handling this issue – especially smiling while thinking “just you try”. And if they can…well, they weren’t ever going to be your customer anyway.

Yes, it’s really annoying to have someone look intently at a piece, ask you questions about it, then turn to their friend and say I can make you one like this for much less – this happened to me! – but then I think about all the time and money I’ve invested in my materials and training and practice, and smile while thinking “just you try”. And if they can…well, they weren’t ever going to be a customer of mine anyway.

The other thing is, our jewellery, our presentation and our stands reflects ourselves. If someone tried to copy a piece of mine, or my stand, it wouldn’t be authentic to them, and they certainly wouldn’t be able to sustain it. Having said that, I never give away info about my techniques or suppliers – if people ask, I ask if they make jewellery, and if they say yes then I ask about what they make and deflect the convo away from my suppliers and techniques.

Elizabeth, you’ve found great ways to move past rather then get upset. I laughed when I read the part about your customers going past the copycat’s booth saying, “Oh, you’re carrying Elizabeth’s work!”

I’ve always remembered that, and always try to make that a mantra for my own art.

I have had a few times when people have bought pieces from me and made molds. And in those cases, I’ve confronted them at shows with mixed success. But the truth of the matter is that I had name recognition in my specialty, which is dog, cat, and equestrian jewelry, and most of my customers weren’t deceived.

I did confront a copycat at one show, she said “No this isn’t your charm, see it’s a lot smaller.” I said “Yes, it’s 10% smaller, that’s exactly the shrinkage you’d expect when you make a second generation mold.” So I spread the word, and about 20 of my customers went by her booth, and said “Oh, you’re carrying Elizabeth’s work!” That annoyed her so much that she eventually pulled the item, at least for that show. When it happened with a mail order catalogue, I used an email list I was on to organize a call-in. Not only did she return the inventory she had purchased to the person who had ripped off my molds, but she ordered replacements from me.

As far as people photographing my work, I don’t see that as a problem. In the first place, how do I know that someone taking the picture isn’t planning to order at a later date, or show it to a friend? Also, all of my work is posted on my website, my Etsy shop, and my eBay store. So it’s a right click away if someone wants an image. That said, I love the idea of photographing the photographer if I was sure that he or she was a competitor. I hope I’d have the guts to do it!

It is hard for me to answer “where” because I get my beads and findings from so many sources, I can’t always remember. Of course if you have a special secret source, you don’t want to give it away, but why be holier-than-thou about it? If you don’t know or don’t want to say, here are noncommittal answers that will slake their curiosity without being offensive and aggressive: Fire Mountain Gems, Shipwreck Beads, E-bay, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s, Wal Mart, garage sale, birthday present, swap meet, bead show…anything that gives them a friendly answer and still protects any source you might not want to reveal is a fair response and doesn’t make you come off sounding like you need to take a chill pill. A friendly atmosphere in your booth will result in additional sales.

If you are the type of person who can’t stand for someone to take photos, post a sign at your booth that says, “No photos, please.” I really like the suggestion from the person who said to take a picture of anyone photographing items from your booth. If they ask why, tell them your designs are copyrighted and you pursue any instance of copyright infringement.

Personally, I don’t sweat it. Most of my things are one of a kind, because I can’t afford to buy pendants and focal beads in bulk. Someone taking a photo might create something similar, but it will not be the same piece. Sharing a source can be the start of a friendship. Other jewelry designers are not automatic enemies, and anyone who feels that way has a bigger problem than the possibility that someone might try to copy a design.

Remember the old saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!”? I, personally, would be flattered if another artist liked my creations enough to copy them. It’s doubtful that this person and I will have the same target audience.

The only time that this would really disturb me would be if it was someone who sold their jewelry in the same area that I live in, and would try to undercut me on the price.
I’m sure this isn’t the most popular response, but there it is.

Tammy

‘Photography is expressly forbidden. Those breaking this rule will not be tolerated and removed from the arena’. *Or similar*

It could also be printed on entry tickets somewhere. ‘No photography allowed’. Or be the words of the entry rubber stamp for peoples hand *Photography is forbidden/not allowed at this event*

This way everyone is on an even keel.
😀

People ask where I find my inspiration. The answer is three fold: Commit to working in the studio everyday, take classes to expand your skills and practice, practice, practice. Finally, keep a sketchbook. I have six sketchbooks full of ideas. It would take years to complete every design and I doubt I will ever catch up. It’s not necessary to feed off other artists creativity if you commit to developing your own style.

I do keep a camera in my booth, and I do let customers know I have it, but this is intended as less of a copy cat deterrent than an effort to engage new clients. We bring in a lot of young art enthusiasts and I like to chat with parents and keep mementoes of their children’s design efforts.

As far as suppliers go, I don’t always like sharing all of that, and Rena’s suggestions on deflecting are good. But I do offer tips that I think have business potential, for example, if a piece is upcycled or the stones are locally sourced or, in the case of human rights or environmental issues, purchased from some exceptionally reputable place, I’ll draw attention to that.

A few other thoughts: I’ve started making many of my clasps and my earwires by hand. It’s a distinctive style, and I always use genuine metals and stones in my new pieces, so to really copy me, the “thief” or secret admirer or whatever we call her must use high-quality materials and do more work than just hitting Wal-Mart or flipping through a catalog. We also do upcycled and vintage jewelry — good luck getting a piece of 1950s or 60s jewelry that looks like mine!

A friend of mine made a lovely polymer pendant, and posted it for sale in her online shop. Lo and behold, a very well-known polymer artist wrote to her and informed her that was too much like one of her own designs, and had to be removed from sale immediately!

Much cattiness and discussion of ethical business practices and copyright issues ensued. The sad part was that my friend’s design had nothing to do with the other artist’s work, it had been born from her own heart, and she was very proud of it. The whole issue was very hurtful, and dampened my friend’s enthusiasm for quite a while.

Had the offended artist responded in a pleasant, cooperative and gentle manner, the issue probably could have been solved quite easily. Lesson learned? Be generous and compassionate in your own dealings with other artists, and remember that the shoe can pinch when worn on the other foot!

Fortunately some artists have been able to sue and win against big companies, such as H&M. But the sad thing is – they already made the bucks, and in the grand scheme of things you’ll never be the one known for designing the product. The big box store will.

So thank you sooooo much for the idea to take photos of the photographers. That will help so much =)

I get asked a lot about where i get my Lucite flowers or my pocket watches and I always say things like “locally, sometimes online. You just have to search around.” Some people come by telling me they have been thinking about starting a jewelry business. I tell them that it’s a saturated market so it’s hard to make money, and you will find you’ll spend over 10k in two years and still wont have made your money back. That takes about 5years or more. So unless you have money sitting around, you might want to look into a different kind of craft that isn’t so saturated.” This I do not only because I want to be honest, but I don’t want them copying my work.

I’ve also received advice that you should change the look of your booth all the time. Another idea was that you should mail photos of your work to yourself. If you keep track of all the jewelry you’ve made in one month on your computer, print out all the photos and then mail it to yourself, asking the post office to date stamp it. In case you need to take someone to court about copyright, you will have the untouched photos inside the envelope as proof.

Sometimes I look at pieces mainly to see if there is something I can do to change my rather generic pieces, into something different. I guess, in the strictest sense, I am copying. But, I’d be willing to bet, if you look back in history, your original piece isn’t as original as you believe. If you make a clasp that looks like someone else’s, can you be accused of copying?

I have taken a picture once or twice at our local market, but it wasn’t to copy, it was to ask my daughter if she’d like to have that item. After reading here, I realize I should have first asked. I just didn’t think. But, I would have been mortified had someone treated me as though I were a criminal and I doubt that I would have bought anything from them- ever.

It’s understandable being upset when others make cheap knock-offs, try to pass the design as their own, and undercut your prices. But, just in choosing beads, I can tell you that true quality shines through. You do realize, it’s not likely the person buying the knock-offs would purchase your quality items, either because they don’t appreciate true quality, or they don’t have the funds for the better items?

As for the lady who took the grilling from the woman at her booth; It’s like Ann Landers used to say, “Someone can only abuse you as far as you let them.” If you truly didn’t mind answering her questions, you could have asked for her number and suggested you call her at a more convenient time. Less frustration for both of you and more time for your other customers.

Some people love what they do so much that they are willing to share that love with others. You don’t have to give away your personal designs in order to give basic information. Sometimes a person like me just wants to know how to wire wrap, or do I need special tools to do something like that. Though, there is a time and place to ask those questions.

I am 65 and retired, the jewelry I make usually ends up as gifts for family and friends, but I do sell a few pieces. It helps cover my materials so I can continue this most relaxing hobby. After reading all the comments here, I’m not sure I want to be a part of a community where I will be accused of being a copycat if what I’ve made looks too similar to someone else’s. Of course, my husband would say we’re all copycats, we all make brooches, necklaces, and bracelets… Now whose ideas were these, anyway?

My hat’s off to all the true artisans I have seen here and on other sites. May you look beyond appearances and find the truth and may you always love what you do.