Forum Moderators: buckworks
I have an excellent client who launched a new ecommerce website roughly three weeks ago. I was placed in charge of running the internet marketing / SEO / SEM aspects of this operation due to my experience within the particular market (and with ecommerce in general).
Sales have been doing very well, and made our very first sale on day one with a small advertising budget. Now that we've started ramping up the marketing campaign, the website has really started to take off - and it's no surprise that competitors are taking notice.
About a week ago, a major clothing distributor in our market called and let us know that we're no longer able to "sell their products online". This seemed fishy, as they were extremely happy to have our business prior to this phone call. We certainly don't need them. Whatever.
... But now, earlier this evening - my client received a *nasty* email from the #1 competitor claiming copyright infringement on a number of STOCK images and 3 product descriptions which held one sentence of text.
We opted to remove the text. Again, no big deal. I am beefing up every single product description on a daily basis as it is. When everything is finished - he will want to be copying us!
Here's what bothers me:
Now everything is starting to come together. Our competitor has a huge deal with this clothing manufacturer who dropped us without so much as giving us a reason. I know for a fact he spends six figures on their product. Coincidence? I assumed so at first, but now I am not so sure.
I've also always vouched for this competitor as a "great guy", even as a competitor. I've even purchased from him in the past. When I sold my previous business in this same exact market (the $$$ was too good to pass up), he emailed me to congratulate me.
Here was a portion of his email:
<snip>
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The competitor certainly doesn't know that I market this website. I am operating transparently. Is his anger justified, or do you think he is blowing smoke? Keep in mind that our website is pretty slick and picking up sales and credibility within our widget's market very quickly. Is he just scared?
Curious to hear your thoughts!
[edited by: lorax at 11:15 am (utc) on Oct. 1, 2007]
[edit reason] no email plz (see TOS [webmasterworld.com]) [/edit]
Great competition IMO, just a little bit rude and shady - which was the initial reason for the thread. He hasn't contacted me since so I hope that it is over and done with.
