posted on May 6, 2001 02:40:39 PM
CAgrri- I smell success all over this one. If all 100 hats sell, just think how many more people will want their very own "Shabby Chicken" hat! Well, I haven't got any more of the hats. So while everyone else is busy calling their hats "Shabby Chicken" to meet the demand...that's when I break the "Big One" and auction off my 150,000 "Shabby Chicken" Hat Racks!!! Will have to go to Bermuda and rest to think up next "Shabby Chicken" venture after that.
posted on May 6, 2001 09:47:04 PM
I thought that Shabby Chic referred to the practice of including some truly low value {preferably junk yard candidate) items of aesthetic appeal to compliment a generally high class decor, rather than high quality items with a little age. As such it seeks to say "I've not only got money, but the good taste to appreciate things of little monetary value."
posted on May 6, 2001 11:04:30 PM
LOL Paladin! Better make sure to claim the VERO on that one for yourself, before someone else beats you to it!!
figmente- I guess maybe it could work that way too. Although I've always thought of it as the other way around, I do have friends with money who shriek with glee every time they enter target...go figure!
Everyone, I am reminded of a time when I took my dad to a flea market with me. We were looking at tables with mosaic tile tops. He pointed to one table that was beautifully mosaiced, but it had peeling paint, etc. He said "Why would anyone buy that?" I said, "Oh, get with it dad. That's all the rage now! You know, Shabby Chic!" He said, "No thanks. Forget Shabby, I just want chic." At the time I laughed...but I concede now that my dad did have a point...
posted on May 7, 2001 06:44:06 AM
If someone has trademarked "shabby chic" and is taking the pains to enforce their trademark rights then more power to them.
As far as I know you cannot trademark a word or a phrase that is in common usage prior to your own use of the word or phrase.
In addition, the trademark must be inforced or it loses trademark status. This is why Coca Cola has employees that check on the usage of Coke as a generic and insist that Coke not be used unless Coca Cola is actually being offered.
Kleenex began as a name brand for tissue. I'm not sure if it was ever trademarked but it became so used in the generic sense that it cannot now be trademarked.
Trademarks are intellectual property and are very important economically for brand name differentiation. As such, anyone who has "coined a phrase" or created a new word that identifies a product, has the right to trademark the phrase or word.
Don't piss and moan about eBay and the Vero program. If eBay didn't accede to the Vero program it would have to jack fees to astronomical heights in order to pay for staff to watchdog every auction for trademark infringement. And folks who never came within shouting distance of a trademark in their auctions would be the ones to suffer the most.
posted on May 7, 2001 07:37:55 AM
Kinberly-Clark does continue to protect their Kleenex brand.
Funny, the Kleenex name was an offshoot of their Kotex brand with the 'ex' on the end to let consumers know that Kleenex was in the same family of products.
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posted on May 9, 2001 08:56:34 PM
I used to own this lady's books.........that is until I sold them on Ebay *laughs*
Basically Shabby Chic is taking your beat to hell old sofa and throwing some tacky satin with fringe pillows on it.
A really ugly lamp with a cool new shade on it.
A scratched up dreasser with the varnish gone.......painted some pastel color
A beat up rusty watering can now used as a planter.
etc etc
Ya know.........How many people in the 80's and early 90's decorated their homes in "Santa Fe" or "Southwestern" Just because this lady wrote some books Called Shabby Chic I don't feel gives her the right to coin the term and prevent others from using it. One person or a small group of designers started that trend as well. The citizend of Santa Fe, New Mexico can Vero themselves to be the panel of judges to decide if the item is in fact within the theme of "Santa Fe" style decor.
Soon ebay will lay the smack down on anyone using the term "Vintage" unless they can provide proof of the exact age of the item and that it corresponds to the generally known time span that makes something Vintage and who decides when that time span is......
"Rare" will have to be outlawed unless you have the worldwide count on the item you are selling is less than 100.
"Cool" will be outlawed until a panel of judges pre-approve and agree that your item is in Fact "Cool".
"Unique" see rules for "rare" only the worldwide count can only mean that you have the only one on earth as Unique by definition implies "Only one"
"Beautiful" again to use this term you'd have to have your item pre-approved by a panel of judges.
posted on May 10, 2001 07:00:17 AM
Lovepotions: I bought those "shabby chic" books you sold! Have to keep them hidden because my wife thinks I bought'em because I thought they were written about her!LOL I plan to keep the books but, due to the recent turn of events, I have decided to sell my chains. You know, the two I use to drag stuff to creat that really unique,vintage, beautifully cool and "shabby chic like" look!
posted on May 28, 2001 08:24:49 AM
amy: what about local cable networks stations running decorating tips shows? I hear "Shabby Chic" all the time when watching these show and no meation to trademarks or RACHEL!
