Friday, 5 October 2012

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

17 is Boots' own brand too so, like No7 which they also own, its about 97% pure profit for them. As you say, it's a shame because Front Cover sells very well over Christmas, which is when Boots has it in stock. However its not the only example of copy catting by this company that I've noticed. Unless there's a way to protect yourself from copying, I don't know what a brand, big or small, is supposed to do.

Ali

LauraVW said...

In the Boots Christmas catalogue, I noticed there is a Bayliss and Harding gift set that seems to have been modelled on the Philosophy Christmas ranges - with pictures of gingerbread and the same style of lettering on the packaging. Boots is also selling the Philosophy products, which appear in the same catalogue a few pages later.

The Postcolonial Rabbit said...

I read the title, saw the first pic, and thought "really, how similar CAN they actually be?"

Cue a gobsmacked Rabbit. That really does take the biscuit. Even down to the double headed liner - really, Boots?

I've always liked 17 as a range (consistent quality for a teen/budget range, even before MUA etc. came along) - so they really don't need to do this. It's just greedy and very, very lazy. Not to mention disingenuous, and bordering on illegal. Hmm.

Anonymous said...

My partner bought me a set about 3 years ago now with nude & natural colours the set 17 have this year is so ridiculously identical i had to laugh, that as well as the copy of desk to date, the nail set & style queen, i just can't believe they've blatantly copied it the first year front cover isn't there. There'll be interchangable cosmetic cases soon....

Unknown said...

I saw the 17 sets in the Boots xmas catalogues today and had to do a double take!

Lizzie said...

That's really outrageous, not to mention unfair. Some of the best ideas come from small brands, and I'm all up for other brands building on those ideas, because that's how innovation etc. happens. But something this blatant - and frankly, boring - is just ridiculous.

Anitacska said...

I personally don't mind Frontcover aren't being sold in Boots anymore, but only because of a selfish reason. Every year I got sucked into buying several of their kits and while they are nice, they are very bulky. I buy less if I don't have it in front of me, lol. Otherwise while it's cheeky for Boots to copy the sets, they have actually been doing 17 sets for ages now, they just happen to look more like the Frontcover ones this year. Everybody copies others. And they are a business, if they want to save money by selling their own brand rather than Frontcover, then it's their business imo.

britishbeautyblogger said...

I think the point is that the first year that FC isn't there, their own sets start to look uncannily like FC. Which personally I think is misleading for the consumer. You're right though - it is their business but as a consumer and commentator, it's my business to have a view on it.

Anitacska said...

Of course you do. I didn't say you didn't, I just added my own view. I can see this is something quite close to your heart, and I agree it's cheeky, but it's not unheard of. I actually really like 17 make up, so I personally don't mind at all.

britishbeautyblogger said...

..and I always appreciate your views! So thank you for your comments x

Unknown said...

I think it's such a shame that Boots dropped Frontcover and released their own to make money as the brand is fantastic and such good value for money.

I personally wouldn't buy a 17 kit so I think they've made a big mistake!

It's a LDN Thing

JenLa said...

I read this post the other day but have only just managed to pick up a gift guide. I'm absolutely horrified at how blatant the copies of Front Cover and Philosophy are. It's not like they've taken inspiration from these brands and made their own version - they have totally ripped them off and to not sell Front Cover any more at all is awful. I'm usually so excited to get the gift guides but this has left a bad taste in my mouth. Boots don't need to pull these kinds of stunts. Ugh

Unknown said...

I love Frontcover, i have a least 8 sets. I used to always put them on my xmas list and used to buy them for xmas presents for friends but i won't be buying any more. They were such good value at boots with 3for2 and when they had a set at half price for a week. I can't afford to buy them for presents without the offers. From what i've heard (not certain it's true) Frontcover weren't happy because Boots weren't willing to sell their kits all year round.