There really are “those” people out there
October 1st, 2007
I got an email last night from someone I met at that tradeshow. This is someone who made an appointment to see us at the show, interested in carrying our personalized baby blankets in their personalized gift boutique. They came, they critiqued, they balked that OUR LABEL WAS ON OUR PRODUCTS, and then they left.
I sent a follow-up email after the tradeshow, to say “great to meet you” and blah blah niceties. Two weeks go by and I get a response last night - telling me they won’t be carrying our blankets but to let them know when if we ever have new prints, oh and by the way - “I hope you got a chance to see what some of the other bedding companies are doing”.
And that was how it ended. Not even a period at the end of that sentence. At first I didn’t know why it bothered me. Besides the fact that we define ourselves as a trend-setting company and “copying” other companies is the last thing I’m into, what bothered me is that there was absolutely no reason for the snippiness. No reason at all.
So, I guess those are some of “those” people that you run into in this business. But all it does is confirm for me that I never want to become one of those people. All she did was leave a bad impression on me - and confirm that no, I will not be contacting her when we have new prints. Or ever. On the bright side, darn it if isn’t “those” people that light an extra fire, make me want to prove all the more how successful we’re going to be…so maybe we need a little snippiness here and there.
Entry Filed under: Apparel & Accessory Merchandising, Sales & Marketing, The Startup Phase
10 Comments Add your own
1. Lisa NYC | October 2nd, 2007 at 7:06 am
Sounds like she was more of a “competitor” than a “vendor”…strange…LOL
Yep..seems we all run into that “type” somewhere along the way. Chin up!
2. amber | October 2nd, 2007 at 9:01 am
I got to thinking after I wrote this that they probably do their own blankets or something like that in their “personalized gift boutique”.
We’ve gotten so much great press on these blankets, we’ve had so many people flip out over them, and both the online sales and our boutique sales are drastically increasing every week - so it didn’t bother me as much as blow me away. If it had been one of our first potential boutiques, I know I would have taken it more personally.
It’s true you have to develop a thick skin. But I also just tell myself it takes a zillion styles to make this world go round, not everybody is going to like our stuff. So ‘oh well’.
Another thing that’s a red flag for me is that they were fishing for which fabric suppliers I use. I hate how much clearer things are in hindsight. Maybe they are going to take some of my ideas - and maybe not. Maybe they are just snooty…
3. ayomide | October 2nd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
What’s wrong with having your label on the product? Is that a crime? Well there are always people that are just nasty for no reason and try your best not to allow people to steal your ideas, cause the fasion world is full of them. Take care!
4. Jamie Lentzner | October 2nd, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Oh my gosh - it takes all kinds doesn’t it? You really should take a gander over at my blog - I have been writting about copy cats in fact in OUR industry - it sometimes sucks to be a trend setter. I have met some doozies at the trade shows, online and in email. I even had one woman yell at me on the phone because I did not ship the order out the week after the show - even though it SAID 2 to 3 weeks, she threatened to cancel her order - I had to refuse…
5. Jamie Lentzner | October 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Okay another thing - i have learned the hard way (even people i thought were friends have ripped me off) but anyway - i am super suspicous of any and all - i make them give me a tax payer id #, re-seller permit and name of store sometimes a photo. I have had many a “I totally want to sell your stuff” fall off the face of the earth when i ask some questions…..don’t let it bother you I always say i have met some “interesting” people in this industry - and that is the TRUTH!
6. amber | October 2nd, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Jamie - wasn’t it on your blog that I read about someone walking up to a booth and telling the exhibitor “No, I just want to copy your designs.” Was that you writing about that? One of my neighbors at the ABC show had a doozy too, but I can’t remember it. OH, yes - I believe someone walking around as a “guest” came out and said that they were just looking for ideas for their own line. WHAT?
Ayomide - I checked in last week and saw that you’ve started grad school. I hope it’s going well!
7. Esther | October 3rd, 2007 at 7:14 am
Unfortunately, there are boutique owners out there who want special treatment. They want to buy one item and redesign it or create a private label program where they have you carry the inventory. Don’t worry, they have a short shelf life - just hang in there.
8. Jamie Lentzner | October 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Amber - yes yes yes - true story about a manufacturer that designed bedding - the lady was very offended that he did not LET her use his designs. This isn an “interesting” industry is what I say….I just glanced at your other posts - I am way behind and neeed to see what you have been up to…..
9. Robin | October 16th, 2007 at 5:16 am
Don’t let that get you down. You will meet all kinds. Keep doing what you’re doing and someone will see and love the uniqueness to your products.
10. London | October 30th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
amber, unfortunately this won’t be the last time you run across someone with little or no class whatsoever! The funny thing is that she probably thinks she was helping you out. I would hate to hear the things she says to her customers. I had a customer send me a bitchy email because his order hand’t been delivered yet, after two weeks, and I had to clearly point him to the spot on my website where it states my turnaround time is 4-6 weeks and told him if he’d like to cancel, I would be happy to refund his money. Well… he apologized after seeing that and even sent me a nice email when the plate arrived, stating how much he “loved” the plate. The point is, sometimes you have to be willing to walk away from a sale when you are dealing with someone you wouldn’t want as a customer anyway. A sale isn’t always worth it!!
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