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The Value of Design

By Home Furnishings Business in on March 2013

At the recent Las Vegas Market, I was in a showroom visiting with a manufacturer. He was showing me the new line the company brought to the show. It was a sharp-looking suit (bedroom, dining, living room €“ I€™ll keep that my secret).

While he was explaining the features and benefits of the product, I casually mentioned a feature I saw on a similar product in another showroom. The feature I mentioned is a definite benefit and could easily be adapted to most any product you see at Market.

It addresses a problem most consumers have had an issue with at some point before. The fix was a very simple one, but one I had never seen. When I mentioned this, the manufacturer said in jest, €œThanks for the tip.€ When I heard his response I just paused and thought, €œoh damn, I just let the cat out of the bag.€ After a couple of seconds, we both chuckled and our conversation began on how long it would take before others in the industry began knocking off this particular feature.

I€™m guessing I€™ll see it again in High Point at the April Market, but not from my manufacturing friend. He€™s far too reputable and classy to blatantly €œtake€ someone€™s idea€”but there are others, I€™m sure, who are implementing this into the design right now.

I€™ve heard it said, €œImitation is the highest form of flattery€, but maybe not in this case. Designers spend months working on a concept, picking the right materials and coming up with the perfect lines to create the perfect piece.

Once they are happy with the product, work begins with a manufacturer to produce it. The manufacturer builds and markets it, with hopes of getting it to retailers and in front of the consumer.  A lot of time and effort go into this piece. It was an idea in someone€™s head just a few months ago. Now the whole world can see it, draw inspiration from it and well, knock it off.

I€™m really not sure how I feel about this. When does a person cross the line from drawing inspiration to outright knocking off an idea? You all have seen a number of bedroom suits with similar designs and features, someone was first up with the idea, so did all others knock it off? Do you or your customer really care? 

I€™m guessing the deciding factor is whether or not it moves off your showroom floor; and I€™m OK with that. Maybe the original manufacturer that made this piece should have done a better job of marketing this item. They need to make the potential buyer aware of why the original design is hands down a better product.

They have to distinguish a value at that price point. Then, the consumer has a better understanding on why the price point is set as such. As they decide on which product to purchase, original or knock off, maybe that saying €œyou get what you pay for€ will echo in their heads.

This issue of Home Furnishings Business magazine takes a look at intellectual properties and potential issues that could arise from buying and selling copyright infringed goods. Please take some time to read this issue and make sure you aren€™t putting your business in a potential situation that you may regret later. 



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