Earth Day and Copycats

Happy Earth Day, friends! I love this day of the year, and am especially happy that it's here today. I've had a rough few days this week, and am looking forward to relaxing today.

Earlier this week, I learned of a copycat shop on Etsy that has been stealing my ideas and creations and claiming them to be their own. I stewed and fumed over it for a few days, but them calmed down and came to this conclusion: This shop really isn't a threat to me. I don't feel that this shop has the potential to be taking business away from me. It's just the principle of the matter really gets to me. The shop is run by a repeat customer of mine, who obviously bought items they planned on recreating and selling in their shop claiming them to be their own creations.

I admit that my shop isn't filled of novel ideas. Essential oil blends like Grapefruit Mint or Lavender Citrus are not things that I invented. And brown paper packages tied with string, not my idea. But my Lip Balm? And my Spring blend? My verbiage and photography? My packaging and labels and designs? Those are absolutely things that I solely created that this person has ripped off from me. And those aren't the only things that were stolen. The entire shop is basically a knockoff of my creations.


Here are some of my thoughts: my shop is original and authentic. I've spent years and years and countless hours and hard work (and money!) developing my products, my style, my customer base, etc. And I'm still growing as a crafter and shop owner. And for this person to just swoop in, and within a few months of ordering my products expect to have a successful little shop that is just a copy of mine, it really upsets me. I've had many, many artists, crafters, friends, Etsy shop owners, and prominent bloggers step up to support me. Many of these friends of mine are creative and talented artists who have had similar situations happen to them. Unfortunately, copycats seem to be a growing trend with artists on the internet.. Read a little about copycats here and here. If this person follows anything I do online, which obviously they do, they'll become aware that I know what they are up to. This person has temporarily closed their shop claiming "vacation", and hopefully they are taking time to seriously reconsider the direction of their shop.


Anyway, I've decided to take the turn-the-other-cheek approach, for now. But I'll have a close eye on this person. I have better things to do than to deal with this. Better things like nourish the growing babe in my belly, and wash sap off my three-year-old's feet, and finish making critter barriers to protect my fruit and vegetable crops, and snuggle my Baby Kitty (that's what Burl prefers me call him these days, "I want you snuggle me, Mama Kitty") and plant more seeds, and make more soap, and read this book, again, for the gazillionth time today.

So let's get on with celebrating Earth Day! Today, in honor of Earth Day and ORIGINALITY!, with each order over $10 (before shipping costs), I'm giving away your choice of my Sweet Peppermint Lip Balm or a 3-ounce Spring Soy Wax Candle.

Enjoy your day, my friends! And enjoy this beautiful Earth we live on!

With love,
Amber