Comments on: it’s settled, they are purses http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/ timbuk2 quality control Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:54:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: gonedoggit http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/#comment-311 gonedoggit Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:05:06 +0000 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/?p=105#comment-311 In fact, thinking this through I think T2 missed the boat on this. Someone there should have quickly seen the potential brand conflict that would have (and did) come up with Target and turned that into a win-win instead of a lose-lose. You guys should have looked at this and said, "Target's lawyers are going to come down like a ton of bricks on this." But instead of ignoring that you should have gone to Target and said, "Hey, we have this really cool technology and idea of how to use your waste product in our bags for our mutual benefit." You could have tagged onto one of the largest marketing budgets in the world in a way that would have benefitted both companies AND the environment. Instead you got a cease and desist. Like I said, someone just didn't think this one through. In fact, thinking this through I think T2 missed the boat on this. Someone there should have quickly seen the potential brand conflict that would have (and did) come up with Target and turned that into a win-win instead of a lose-lose.

You guys should have looked at this and said, “Target’s lawyers are going to come down like a ton of bricks on this.” But instead of ignoring that you should have gone to Target and said, “Hey, we have this really cool technology and idea of how to use your waste product in our bags for our mutual benefit.” You could have tagged onto one of the largest marketing budgets in the world in a way that would have benefitted both companies AND the environment. Instead you got a cease and desist.

Like I said, someone just didn’t think this one through.

]]> By: gonedoggit http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/#comment-310 gonedoggit Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:51:42 +0000 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/?p=105#comment-310 That's not what I was saying. I'm saying if the tables were completely turned, if Target started selling upcycled bags that contained fabric that had T2 swirls on it, the T2 lawyers would have an aneurism. And they should! That's what they're paid to do. You really can't play those kind of games with branding. A companies brand is more than a name, is quite often a company's greatest asset. If you don't protect that like a junk yard dog at each and every point of conflict you establish precedence regarding any future protection of that asset. Rather than complain about Target in this matter the folks at T2 should accept that they made a mistake and learn from the experience. Regardless of what you think of Target, in this circumstance Timbuk2 did the wrong thing and Target did the right thing. It's not a value judgement, it's a mere fact of business. (No. I don't work for Target, though I did buy a pair of pants there once.) That’s not what I was saying. I’m saying if the tables were completely turned, if Target started selling upcycled bags that contained fabric that had T2 swirls on it, the T2 lawyers would have an aneurism. And they should! That’s what they’re paid to do. You really can’t play those kind of games with branding. A companies brand is more than a name, is quite often a company’s greatest asset. If you don’t protect that like a junk yard dog at each and every point of conflict you establish precedence regarding any future protection of that asset.

Rather than complain about Target in this matter the folks at T2 should accept that they made a mistake and learn from the experience. Regardless of what you think of Target, in this circumstance Timbuk2 did the wrong thing and Target did the right thing. It’s not a value judgement, it’s a mere fact of business.

(No. I don’t work for Target, though I did buy a pair of pants there once.)

]]> By: Ryan Henbest http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/#comment-181 Ryan Henbest Wed, 28 May 2008 21:59:48 +0000 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/?p=105#comment-181 Yeah except the difference is we took shopping bags and upcycled them into messenger bags. If someone made messenger bags and used our logo on them that would be a whole different matter. Yeah except the difference is we took shopping bags and upcycled them into messenger bags. If someone made messenger bags and used our logo on them that would be a whole different matter.

]]> By: gonedoggit http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/#comment-180 gonedoggit Wed, 28 May 2008 21:13:31 +0000 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/?p=105#comment-180 Good intentions aside, I think if Timbuk2's lawyers were notified of someone else's bags with their swirl logos all over it they'd do exactly the same thing. Someone just didn't think this one through far enough. Good intentions aside, I think if Timbuk2’s lawyers were notified of someone else’s bags with their swirl logos all over it they’d do exactly the same thing. Someone just didn’t think this one through far enough.

]]> By: programmer #1 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/#comment-177 programmer #1 Wed, 28 May 2008 04:08:16 +0000 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/?p=105#comment-177 you may get a cease and desist for saying that! you may get a cease and desist for saying that!

]]> By: Hilary http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/2008/05/14/its-settled-they-are-purses/#comment-156 Hilary Thu, 22 May 2008 23:31:09 +0000 http://www.timbuk2.com/blog/?p=105#comment-156 Kinda sucky that they practically stole your damn idea. http://www.notcot.com/archives/2008/05/target_newsweek.php I'm starting to think Target is just as evil as the rest of em! Kinda sucky that they practically stole your damn idea.
http://www.notcot.com/archives/2008/05/target_newsweek.php

I’m starting to think Target is just as evil as the rest of em!

]]>