Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – according to the freedictionary.com, the meaning of this phrase is:

Copying someone is flattering because it shows you want to be like that person.

The reason I bring this subject up is that I hear the following from many of my fellow estheticians:

A spa down the street is coping all of my Facebook posts. What do I do?

My competition seems to be watching everything I do and copying it. What do I do?

One of my former employees left and is now contacting my clients and offering my trade secrets… and charging less than I do! What do I do?

OUCH – this last one REALLY hurts and I know this 1st hand!

Although I am not an expert in law, I will share with you some solid advice on what to do when someone is coping you.

1. Know that NOBODY can steal your energy. Your ideal client is attracted to you because of who you are and how you are showing up in your practice.Your ideal (super loyal and most valuable client) is not coming to you based solely on your price point so it’s not very likely they will leave you for someone who is $5.00 less expensive or for someone who tries to use your marketing message.
    
   FACT: The most effective marketing message is one that comes from your “passionate place of truth” and nobody can steal that.

 

2. One substantial bit advice my mother gave me as a young child was, “the truth will always come out.” How does this relate to someone coping you?Well…When you are not showing up as your true authentic self (and how can you when you are stealing from someone else?) people will see, hear and feel this in a New York minute.
    
   And…
    
   Nobody wants a fraud working on him or her in such an intimate way.
    
   Again it goes back to an exchange of energy.
    
   Think about it, haven’t you ever invested time and money into a service provider that just seemed a bit like a fraud? People are aware and can feel this especially if there is human touch involved in the business transaction.
    
   Examples of others we connect with in an intimate way: a hairdresser, a massage therapist, a dentist, and a chiropractor.
    
   FACT: We provide a very intimate type of service and clients will invest in us mainly because they know, like and trust us.

 

3. Karma baby Karma – I think this one pretty much explains itself, but just in case it doesn’t, let me tell you what I mean by this.Karma = a universal way of creating your own destiny or fate.
    
   FACT: What comes around… goes around.

 

4. If someone is really being obnoxious and blatantly stealing your material, I recommend contacting a general law or copyright infringement attorney. They can explain what your rights are and whip up a “cease and desist” letter for you if that is appropriate for the situation you are dealing with.
    
   FACT: Copyright infringement is against the law and you are protected.