10/22/2025
I’m generally fairly quiet on social media over the last few years. Mainly because I only have so much bandwidth between business and life. But I came across something yesterday by a maker who fairly recently started following me. It was my sign. But it wasn’t. Same words, font, colors…similar enough that I did a double take thinking it was mine.
It’s wild when someone copies your exact idea — same concept, same vibe — and suddenly it’s their “bestseller.”
I used to get mad, but now? I just feel bad. Imagine being so unoriginal you have to trace someone else’s vision just to call it success. I know I don’t own the words, or the style, or really anything about the design, but my shop has a vibe. This sign follows my vibe, my style, my image. In their shop? It’s awkward and so out of place.
But here’s the thing — when your ideas get copied, it’s proof you’re the blueprint. The real ones already know where it started.
No bitterness here, just quiet pride. While they’re busy recreating, I’m already on to the next. If you come see me in person, you’ll know what I offer extends way beyond what you see in my shop!
The sad part is, their “successful” shop is full of the ideas of other people, some makers who are very close to me personally. So to see they follow shops just to mimic best sellers to almost identical versions is crazy to me.
They can copy the recipe, but they’ll never have the flavor. Genuine Philly pride here.
Go Birds 🦅💚