Feedback: Fakes and counterfeits
FEEDBACK C O N T I N U E D “[The costumes they have seized are a] drop in the ocean and [the amount of fakes on the market] makes fancy dress a complete nightmare to make any margin. The fine and actions taken are not going to scare big players when they are importing containers of fake products. Suppliers have to blame themselves when they start putting their prices up by 50% and suppress all discount for online companies. They have created a disproportion between the cost and the selling price, making the fake costume market more lucrative. But now they are spending the money to chase them down…” ALEX PREVOST, managing director, Character Fancy Dress (Aylesbury)
Above: Character Fancy Dress, Aylesbury
“In terms of the manufacture of face paints and cosmetics, fake and counterfeit products are an increasing Cameron Martin risk to consumer health and well-being. We will always advise retailers, distributors and wholesalers to make certain that face paints and cosmetic products (particularly Chinese imports or companies using Chinese manufacturers) comply with EU and FDA regulations by ascertaining safety documents and ensuring they are consistent with current regulations. Consumer safety is not something to be taken lightly and all companies hold responsibility for ensuring that consumers are protected from fake imports and misleading labelling.” CAMERON MARTIN, sales manager, Moon Glow
“Fake and counterfeit costumes are a big problem in the costume and party industry. The customer always wants something they have seen online, at a similar price - but suitable for them – such as an officially licensed Wonder Woman in a size 28, or a Superman for £12. Retailers need to understand counterfeits are illegal. License holders need to realise some retailers only have small budgets and we are not all the same. Customers need to realise that small independent shops are not Above: Fantasy World, York Argos – we can’t hold vast stocks of outfits in every size and colour and sell them for just a few pence profit as some sellers do on eBay and Amazon! The public don’t care about much other than price. They go off a photo online – which could be of the proper licensed costume anyway! I do think that if licensed costumes were cheaper, they would sell more and no-one would try and copy them – many are not good value in the first place. If suppliers don’t work with costume shops, we will be out of business, as trading is becoming more difficult.” JUSTIN HEAVEN, owner, Fantasy World (place name) “ Counterfeiting is
Having seen the a problem for every extent that generic industry; piracy is as old goods are being copied as time immemorial. and substituted on Where there is demand, marketplaces, suppliers there will always be could definitely do more. supply and the problem I am pleased to report isn’t going away. While that we have expanded marketplaces have our antipiracy team upped their game and are increasing our Above: Rubie’s Mike O’Connell (centre) with Paul in the fight against Hogarth (l) and Kev Ives (r) from the Police Intellectual brand protection actions Property Crime Unit. counterfeit, companies and anti-counterfeiting also have to take efforts. In the past three responsibility for their brands and take the months alone, we have seen successful appropriate remedial actions to protect criminal convictions against four people. their customers and their brand. We are Whether selling online or instore, achieving ground-breaking results in this we are continuing our zero tolerance area, with raids taking place regularly. campaign, raiding premises and bringing The majority of party and costume counterfeiters to justice. If you see a retailers don’t stock counterfeit goods suspected infringement, please report it to and the small minority that do are being antipiracy@rubiesuk.com.” very foolish. We’ve already prosecuted two MIKE O’CONNELL, head of global retail vendors and won’t hesitate to take antipiracy, Rubie’s UK action again.
“We could not be any more against
this practice. Intellectual property is at stake of course, but most importantly consumer confidence is being shaken in our ability to supply merchandise that is up to the high standards we expect in this part of the world. The natural consequence of this are skin conditions being aggravated by make-up that does not meet EU standards, costumes that go up in flames and items that will not offer any safety guarantees. We represent great licensed merchandise and we defend its intellectual property, but – most importantly – consumer safety is our priority.” SERGIO BATTANER, marketing director, Palmer Agencies Sergio Battaner
“Counterfeits are a huge problem, especially online where a licensed photo can be used to sell counterfeit goods. Customers are correct to shop around for the best value, but Above:www.TheCostumeShop.ie is an online retailer. its impossible for them to discern if the items have met the safety standards. The party industry has become very competitive, people who sell fakes make a conscious calculated decision based on the information they have. If they have got away with very obviously selling fakes for several years and got nothing bar a solicitors letter with zero follow through, then they can make an educated decision that it’s a risk worth taking. We have frequently reported counterfeiters in the past. The feedback from the large costume companies was that the sellers were too small to be able to pay the court costs associated with prosecution or that the websites were too big and valuable accounts for them to cut off. We do try to educate customers, as in the past was have had customers bring up price differences on other websites, in these instances the best we could offer was a letter from the manufacturer explaining the website in question was not selling the official costume.” RONAN O’BRIEN, ceo, www.TheCostumeShop.ie SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE
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