How do you choose companies to spend your money with?

[Squeak]

I shall be ordering a couple of crafty ponies for my honorary nephew and niece for Christmas.

On the subject of matchy sets for horses. I don’t like the thick/padded saddlecloths so LeMieux works for Millie. Can anyone recommend a matchy brand that are similar in thickness to LeMieux that I can buy Instead?

Polypads do some 'thin'/ normal saddle cloths as well as their pads and Equiport do some lovely saddlecloths too and with both companies you can choose your own colour combinations.

Just double checked and both make their pads in the UK.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I am beyond disgusted at this move by LeMieux. According to Google the company is worth over 7 million...copying Crafty Ponies is purely greedy, they already dominate the saddle pad industry in the UK and are making a tonne of money from it, why can't that be enough for them?

I am a small business owner myself and in my line of work, I've seen my peers copied by large companies numerous times. Commercialising something which a single person has spent years developing and pouring their heart and soul into is just heartless and morally bankrupt. It is no exaggeration to say that the majority of us little people work 6-7 days a week most of the time, doing our own admin, accounting, marketing - everything really.

I applaud Crafty Ponies for standing up to such a large company and I hope that at the very least, they gain lots of new customers from this publicity. I may well purchase one for my niece for Christmas.

 

[ecb89]

I think this is a bit of a stretch. There’s only so many ways a horsebox can look

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View this content on Instagram

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Yeah, it's a cardboard horsebox, but really not that similar in the design itself.

 

[Tash88]

The trouble is, this is business and there is nothing to stop LM from doing it. Other companies such as Shires and Weatherbeeta have ripped off their matchy matchy idea with new colours and matching boots & fly veils coming out each season, but nobody said anything then. The LM ones (and Anky before them) are much softer and nicer though, and so they continue to be my preferred choice.

As for the Crafty Ponies, I am not their target market but I actually think the LM ones are much nicer, they don't have the tacky cartoon eyes and they look a bit sleeker, so there is a difference. You can't stop other companies from taking your ideas though, as this is how business works. And CP are being aggressive on social media too, but that is the horse world unfortunately.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The reason CP are having to be so aggressive is because they are a tiny tiny family run business who came up with a cracking idea and who have had that idea copied, stolen or whatever you want to call it by a huge investment backed multi national company who don't have to make soft educational toys in order to sell their many other equestrian products.

It is without doubt the lowest Lemieux have ever stooped to in their bid to flood the market with overpriced rip offs.

 

[WelshD]

I do think CP are getting a bit panicky on social media now and I was getting a bit switched off by that, they seem to realise that some of the comments were turning against them and have lightened up the posts which looks a lot better

I cant help noticing that they now have a chunky bridle with white stitching, real leather tack and an ear bonnet - I wonder if they were already in design and production before the LM range was showcased

I still think CP do the better pony and range but I think LM will pick up on the tweenie market where the CP are getting a bit babyish - the 12 year old rider of my pony has started to move away from her CP but I think would like the LM ones

 

[smolmaus]

Other companies such as Shires and Weatherbeeta have ripped off their matchy matchy idea with new colours and matching boots & fly veils coming out each season, but nobody said anything then.

I don't think "matching sets" is a concept you could reasonably put a copyright on to be honest. If Shires and Weatherbeeta were copying the exact style of pads or ears then yes, that would be dodgy but just using a seasonal drop of new colours isn't copyrightable. I obviously don't know sh*t about actual copyright law but there is a fairly obvious difference, in my opinion, between duplicating a unique item (or element of an existing item) that someone else has developed and jumping on a marketing bandwagon.

 

[ecb89]

The horsebox post has disappeared

 

[Miss_Millie]

I don't think "matching sets" is a concept you could reasonably put a copyright on to be honest. If Shires and Weatherbeeta were copying the exact style of pads or ears then yes, that would be dodgy but just using a seasonal drop of new colours isn't copyrightable. I obviously don't know sh*t about actual copyright law but there is a fairly obvious difference, in my opinion, between duplicating a unique item (or element of an existing item) that someone else has developed and jumping on a marketing bandwagon.

Yep, LeMieux was certainly not the first company to make matching sets, they've just spend a s**tload of money marketing them. I can remember Amigo (Horseware) releasing matching sets donkeys years ago - head collars, rugs, bandages etc all in matching colour schemes.

'Matchy matchy' is very much a social media driven consumer trend, LeMieux have very much capitalised on the trend but they do not own it.

 

[TPO]

The horsebox post has disappeared

Yeah noticed that too. As much as I support Crafty Ponies that comparison was a bit of a reach!

 

[milliepops]

well it was, but LM could have released them in a stable or something if they gave a toss

 

[TPO]

well it was, but LM could have released them in a stable or something if they gave a toss

I'm sure that stables will be available to buy separately in no time at all...wonder how close in appearance they will be to CPs version ? ?

 

[ester]

it was a stable if you turned it inside out

The LM do look more bandage functional leg wise, given that mini matchy is their main reason to be selling them.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I can see why CP are panicking - most small businesses make 50% of their yearly revenue in December. Now they have a huge company to compete with that spend thousands on ADs.

What's worst about this copying situation, imo, is that they have not only closely copied the design of the plushes (size, pose, cotton/wool like hair) but they have stolen the concept of making them educational for children to learn to tack up, plait the tails etc in the product descriptions. This was something unique to CP, and whilst you could argue that you can't 'own' a concept, it's pretty obvious that LM saw they were doing this successfully and hence copied.

There are LOTS of horsey plushes out there, Breyer do nice ones - it would have been easy for LM to come up with their own vibe for these soft toys, without trampling on a small business.

 

[COldNag]

I had an email newsletter from a big national retailer today promoting LeMieux, so I had a quick peek at their website. They are selling the LeMieux ponies, so I emailed explaining my disappointment about them stocking these. I doubt I'll get much of a response, but I feel I've made my point.

Edit: I got a response really quickly - quite impressed. But they just said that they stock both the CP and the LM ones. I have responded sayign that isn't really the point. I'd hope they woudl not sell the blatant copies. I know they won't of course but it's worth asking. I've also explained I'll never be buying LM again out of principle. It stifles creativity when bigger businesses copy ideas from smaller companies, and it's just not ethical. I know it happens but it doesn't make it right.

Well done on those retailers who've taken a stance on this.

 

[mini_b]

Nuumed - great customer service & made in the UK

nuumed are fantastic, second this.

 

[COldNag]

The trouble is, this is business and there is nothing to stop LM from doing it. Other companies such as Shires and Weatherbeeta have ripped off their matchy matchy idea with new colours and matching boots & fly veils coming out each season, but nobody said anything then. The LM ones (and Anky before them) are much softer and nicer though, and so they continue to be my preferred choice.

As for the Crafty Ponies, I am not their target market but I actually think the LM ones are much nicer, they don't have the tacky cartoon eyes and they look a bit sleeker, so there is a difference. You can't stop other companies from taking your ideas though, as this is how business works. And CP are being aggressive on social media too, but that is the horse world unfortunately.

I agree that you can't stop other companies from taking your ideas - but it isn't ethical and I applaud businesses that are standing up to this.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My local saddlers are pushing the Crafty Ponies on their FB page which I think is lovely. A small business and it is just a tiny shop is supporting another small business.

 

[holeymoley]

My daughter has a CP and we see them at trade stands at events (could easily spend a small fortune!) She seen the LM and she really likes the grey. We'll maybe buy her that as a gift from Santa but in general we will always buy from CP - maybe she would like another CP instead? I do prefer their learning aspects too, how cool is the farrier set!

In general, I do like LeMieux products. As I've said before, I have 3 saddlecloths, purely as that's as many as I need! It is a bit cheeky though that they have done this given they have already captured most of the horsey world with their matchy sets, definitely an element of greed to it. I would have much preferred if they went in to some collaboration with CP selling mini versions of their stuff.

 

[Renvers]

Nuumed - great customer service & made in the UK

Can also recommend Nytack, Polypad/NEW Equine and Dark Horse Equestrian as well as Nuumed. All UK made.