Copycats Don’t Last

You DON'T Scare Me 

Our time is precious, isn't it? We now live in a world that is different from what it was 10 years ago. With the age of the internet, everything is done twice, if not triple times as fast as before. What was previously unheard of before can now spread like wildfire, and with it came a wonderful surprise.We now have niches and segmented group of people who are interested in vastly different things. Best of all, we have the ability to search and gather exactly what we want, whenever we want it.


What would you try if you had no fear and what adventures would you go on if you weren't afraid of risk?
Copycats are a fact of life in the  world. No one likes someone suckling at their creative teat , but instead of getting mad, get over it and get AWESOME.Some handmade artisans are afraid of people copying their work and stealing their ideas (which is something that happens, I know!)
No two true artists will produce exactly the same work.  You’re always coming up with new designs and ideas because creativity bubbles out of you! The more you give, the more you get!
You’re a creative soul!There are rare occasions when a more serious action is required, but in most cases it’s best to take a deep breath and let some time pass before letting it fade away. Why? Because you’ll {often} never know for sure if it was a try case of The Copycat. I will absolutely admit I’ve called others a copycat. It felt powerful at first but later on I felt terrible
Worrying about copycats is unnecessary negative energy.
Someone could go look at my shop and replicate all of my designs and there’s nothing I can do about a copycat.
I’m all about the  Positive Mental Attitude.

But you can’t help how you feel, right?

You can help what you DO with your feelings. Take that GRRRRRR you’re feeling about that copycat and go make something really kickass

ACTION STEPS FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE COPYCAT SITUATION:

Take a deep breath.
Take the afternoon off + enjoy a creative day.
DO NOT (!!!) share your frustrations via social media or email.
Screenshots + hurtful words can’t be deleted.
Homework// Search for materials, color palettes, textures, product designs + word usages that are unique to you by taking your initial idea and re-creating it differently. Take your idea to the next level. Customize it. Sit on it for a day or five. Re-create it once more. Allow your idea to become marbleized through this process. When you feel comfortable with your idea put on your shield of bravery + move forward. Don’t let others words bring you down. And allow what you experience to continue to mold you into your best self.

If someone is using your photographs, text, or artwork without your permission, they are committing actual copyright infringement.  In such cases, I’d suggest sending them an email politely explaining that you are the owner of the work, that using it without your permission constitutes copyright infringement, and that you are asking that they remove it to avoid legal action. Most people will oblige with an apology, because they simply didn’t know that what they were doing was wrong. It’s a sad side effect of information being so readily available on the internet that many people just assume they can take anything they find on the internet and use it.Everyone can be creative — copycats are merely serving a need within a market (cheaper knock-offs, etc) that has nothing to do with YOUR market. Copycats are here to make money, designers and artists are here to make a difference. Which side are you on?

Copycats don’t last.

They’ll make quick buck off your idea and then move on to someone else’s idea. And then they’ll die. Figuratively, of course.

Every single instance where I felt I was copied- the shops were either gone within a year or the person stopped replicating my design very quickly.  You know why?

Creative people are driven by the creative process. They would get bored very quickly with copying.

Copycats are driven by money. And sooner or later most of them will realize what all of us handmakers already know- if you’re in this for the money, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

As a creative soul, you’re constantly coming up with new designs and ideas, they just bubble right out of you because you can’t help it. You encourage the flow of creativity because when your work is constantly fresh and new, your customers get excited and buy more! Now this creativity that comes naturally to you is what means you don’t have to be afraid of copycat artisans. The people who are true copycats will never be able to come up with new ideas on their own. They have no creativity or else they wouldn’t be stealing designs and pictures, they’d come up with their own! You, on the other hand, are filled with creative energy, so you’ll always be ahead of the curve. You define the curve!

You need to empty your cup in order to fill it!

It’s a universal truth that the more open and giving you are, the more will come back to you in unexpected ways.

I hope this little article has set your mind at ease from worrying about copycat artisans. I bet some of you will disagree with me, and I’d love to chat with you about it down in the comments!  hugs of creativity to all of you! We make amazing art and the world’s a better place for it!!

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