I don't want to use my blog as a place to complain or bash anybody or anything...but a situation has come up recently that has extremely upset me. Etsy will no longer allow me or any Etsy shops to make and sell Ribbon/Tag Blankets/Loveys....whatever you want to call them....anymore! Apparently the Taggies Brand people have contacted them on the basis that we are violating itellectual property copyrights. It is a sad day when a huge company like Taggies has to lash out at us Work at Home Mommys just trying to make a little extra income whilest doing what we love and raising our children. They are that insecure of a company that they won't allow a little friendly competition. So anywhoo.....I will be taking orders here for ribbon blankets from now on. Please simply e-mail me at: sherryaharrell@hotmail.com, and we will work out the details. I can send paypal invoices directly to you, therefore cutting out the middle man: Etsy!
Until I figure out a way to keep a permant display of all patterns available at the top of my blog, I will just post them here in this posting for now.
Sorry for the inconvenience...I truly appreciate all my loyal shoppers, and hope this won't deter anyone from ordering and enjoying my ribbon blankets.
12 comments:
hey sherry, i'm really sorry to hear that about etsy!! i have an idea on how you can keep your pictures posted of each "ribbon" blanket you have...try posting them on flickr, then add the picture pool to your website...you can create a title for the pictures but they will stream thru all of your designs or your clients can click on flickr to see their options...just an idea. i have it on my site....
how frustrating! sorry to hear that...i know you can make it work without etsy!
thanks Dana...I just added a Flikr thing...thanks for the idea:)
That is really silly. Yours (and other homemade ones I've seen) are SO much cuter than anything I've seen that the Taggies company makes. I will definately be ordering more from you when my friends' babies are born!
well said. as a fellow etsy ribbon lovey blanket seller (www.belleetoiledesigns.etsy.com), i have to say that unless we're using fleece i don't believe we are in violation of the patent and should still be able to sell our blankets on etsy. and i don't think the same people who have taste for our blankets have the same for theirs (i.e. i don't think we're taking business away from them). if you figure something out, i'd love to know. good thing you have a blog. i'm sure that helps. (i don't, but maybe i should :)). glad you posted this.
Like Heather said...I would pull up their patent online read it carefully and if the designs do not fall into the details stated, post the blankets with a different name. Or even in your write up on etsy profile, you can mention drop by your blog and see your other creations. The handmade blankets are in a different ballpark than those by that company.
Here is the link....
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=RE38782.PN.&OS=PN/RE38782&RS=PN/RE38782
Looks like there are 30 like patents out there.
That's craziness!!!! If you aren't liking the flickr thing, I could show you/ tell you how to add a spot underneath your header.
DITTO!! I love your work. My daughter has a blog devoted just for her luggage/diaper bag tags and you may want to consider doing this also. You can also move one of your page elements over to the top of your blog posts and it will remain there at the top to advertise that clicking on the link will take visitors to your artistic blog :) Don't give up!! You have a talent!!
Hi Sherry - I received the same notice from Etsy regarding my flannel tag blankets. I think the Taggies company is going overboard with this whole thing. It certainly was not their original idea to attach ribbon loops to blankets, they were just the only ones to try and patent it! Anyway, I wish you luck with your blankets and loveys. I think I will only be selling them at local craft shows, and not online. Please be careful, though, I would hate to hear that the company is suing you! Your stuff is so adorable! :-)
--shannon
sugarplumdelights.etsy.com
I love all your stuff! I want to get the keychain loops for me and my sister, Krystyn. She sent me here! Just looking at your stuff makes me want kids...need a hubby first. I do have cats... I didn't see but do you make pet collars?
Sheri, the Taggie people are SO threatened because your stuff and alot of other people's are WAY cuter than anything they've ever made. It's ridiculous! I'll ALWAYS search for someone's homemade taggies versus theres.
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