LaurelSpring
February 20th, 2009, 08:01 AM
I havent seen this posted yet so I thought I would post it. If it has already been posted then please remove. I dont know if its appropriate to post either. I use and like my hairzings and I was impressed that they provide employment for impoverished women in other nations. I just thought I would pass this along for consideration if you plan on buying something like this.
=HAIRZING VS. EZCOMBS=
-A Message from the Owners to our Valued Customers-
An interesting thing happened to our business recently, one of our products
was copied by an infomercial / telemarketing company and it is being blasted
across TV in those ads you never quite seem to believe. Perhaps you have
seen it, right after the electronic nose tweezer and the handy-dandy mop
that doubles as a toilet plunger. EZCombs flashes on the screen and you
think---“wow, what a cool product. It looks simple to use and
comfortable.”
And you would be right---if you were talking about the _ORIGINAL_ product:
HairZing Double Combs, They are just so crassly copied.
The two products LOOK the same (they were smart enough to copy our visual
appearance) but that is the end of favorable comparisons. However, we make
differant sizes for different women.
We smile when we think about how they must have dissected HairZing Double
Combs and kicked out all the best elements to save money. Conversation was
probably like this:
___“Strong combs? Nah—we don’t need it let’s offer something really cheesy
that will bend quickly out of shape.” They'd say, “We can save lots if we
don’t wrap the beaded mesh __about the combs spines for strength. If we just
loop them through the decorative stones on top---by the time they break
after a few stretches---we’ll be long gone. Let’s lie and say “one size fits
all”. Women with waist length curly hair won’t even question this, nor will
women with short fine hair. Hey-- it works with pantyhose…..”_
Welcome to our personal episode of the Twilight Zone, complete with clone
products and manical clowns. One day you are running a growing company
executing on all cylinders, and the next a piece of clone JUNK is
masquerading as the innovative product you designed in your basement….poured
your heart, soul and bank account into.
One thing TV ads can do is visually teach people how our original double
combes.
Unfortunately the majority of women who try the cheap knock off will be
sorely disappointed and believe the entire concept won’t work for them. That
means we have a lot of “re-education” ahead of us. Women are already
complaining “Never believe anything you see on TV….”
To add insult to injury, one of the core missions in HairZing has been to
create a socially responsible supply chain by never using sweatshops, or
large factory labor. However—you guessed it-- EZComb knockoffs are produced
with the cheapest labor imaginable.
HairZing is made in women’s collectives in Kenya, and small family
businesses and by female entrepreneurs in rural Asia. We funded and
micro-financed the groups making our products, but we do not employ them
since we are trying to teach business skills and entrepreneurship.
HairZing is made in areas where there are no jobs for women. In Kenya the
women live without electricity and running water. In Asia most women in
rural areas are forced to leave the region (and their children) to work in
the grotesque dormitory factories that are the mainstay of business in
Southern China. Due to the long hours and extreme distances---those women
rarely see their children during the year. In fact, most only get to spend
time with their families once a year during the Chinese New Year
celebration.
We will NEVER use factory labor.
I hear “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” but sort of like Seth
Meyers on SNL, I find myself asking incredulously “REALLY? Being knocked off
by a sleazy company who pretends they created this product and lies to
customers is a blessing in disguise? REALLY? “
_Just to set the record straight:_
1) We designed and created HairZing. It is frigging amazing.
2) We have grown word-of-mouth virally since we began.
3) Our quality is superior and even comes with a full one year guarantee.
When was the last time someone offered that on a fully hand beaded hair
accessory?
4) We NEVER work with sweatshops or large factories----why would we want to
sell products that sucked the life and soul out of the workers in the
process?
5) We respect our customers and strive to be truthful to them at all times.
6) HairZing is about American ingenuity. It’s about having a good idea and
passing it along to others.
7) HairZing is about enabling people to feel good about themselves and
working with people who take pride in what they do.
8) It’s about making a quality product that works.
9) It’s about taking a dream and making it happen. It’s about trying to do
the right thing….just because.
Can innovation and motivation trump heinous business practices and money?
Stay tuned…..and cross your fingers.
==============================================
You are receiving this email because you indicated you were interested in the
latest hair tips and product information from ZingFling . your ama-Zing hair
affair, brought to you by HairZing.
=HAIRZING VS. EZCOMBS=
-A Message from the Owners to our Valued Customers-
An interesting thing happened to our business recently, one of our products
was copied by an infomercial / telemarketing company and it is being blasted
across TV in those ads you never quite seem to believe. Perhaps you have
seen it, right after the electronic nose tweezer and the handy-dandy mop
that doubles as a toilet plunger. EZCombs flashes on the screen and you
think---“wow, what a cool product. It looks simple to use and
comfortable.”
And you would be right---if you were talking about the _ORIGINAL_ product:
HairZing Double Combs, They are just so crassly copied.
The two products LOOK the same (they were smart enough to copy our visual
appearance) but that is the end of favorable comparisons. However, we make
differant sizes for different women.
We smile when we think about how they must have dissected HairZing Double
Combs and kicked out all the best elements to save money. Conversation was
probably like this:
___“Strong combs? Nah—we don’t need it let’s offer something really cheesy
that will bend quickly out of shape.” They'd say, “We can save lots if we
don’t wrap the beaded mesh __about the combs spines for strength. If we just
loop them through the decorative stones on top---by the time they break
after a few stretches---we’ll be long gone. Let’s lie and say “one size fits
all”. Women with waist length curly hair won’t even question this, nor will
women with short fine hair. Hey-- it works with pantyhose…..”_
Welcome to our personal episode of the Twilight Zone, complete with clone
products and manical clowns. One day you are running a growing company
executing on all cylinders, and the next a piece of clone JUNK is
masquerading as the innovative product you designed in your basement….poured
your heart, soul and bank account into.
One thing TV ads can do is visually teach people how our original double
combes.
Unfortunately the majority of women who try the cheap knock off will be
sorely disappointed and believe the entire concept won’t work for them. That
means we have a lot of “re-education” ahead of us. Women are already
complaining “Never believe anything you see on TV….”
To add insult to injury, one of the core missions in HairZing has been to
create a socially responsible supply chain by never using sweatshops, or
large factory labor. However—you guessed it-- EZComb knockoffs are produced
with the cheapest labor imaginable.
HairZing is made in women’s collectives in Kenya, and small family
businesses and by female entrepreneurs in rural Asia. We funded and
micro-financed the groups making our products, but we do not employ them
since we are trying to teach business skills and entrepreneurship.
HairZing is made in areas where there are no jobs for women. In Kenya the
women live without electricity and running water. In Asia most women in
rural areas are forced to leave the region (and their children) to work in
the grotesque dormitory factories that are the mainstay of business in
Southern China. Due to the long hours and extreme distances---those women
rarely see their children during the year. In fact, most only get to spend
time with their families once a year during the Chinese New Year
celebration.
We will NEVER use factory labor.
I hear “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” but sort of like Seth
Meyers on SNL, I find myself asking incredulously “REALLY? Being knocked off
by a sleazy company who pretends they created this product and lies to
customers is a blessing in disguise? REALLY? “
_Just to set the record straight:_
1) We designed and created HairZing. It is frigging amazing.
2) We have grown word-of-mouth virally since we began.
3) Our quality is superior and even comes with a full one year guarantee.
When was the last time someone offered that on a fully hand beaded hair
accessory?
4) We NEVER work with sweatshops or large factories----why would we want to
sell products that sucked the life and soul out of the workers in the
process?
5) We respect our customers and strive to be truthful to them at all times.
6) HairZing is about American ingenuity. It’s about having a good idea and
passing it along to others.
7) HairZing is about enabling people to feel good about themselves and
working with people who take pride in what they do.
8) It’s about making a quality product that works.
9) It’s about taking a dream and making it happen. It’s about trying to do
the right thing….just because.
Can innovation and motivation trump heinous business practices and money?
Stay tuned…..and cross your fingers.
==============================================
You are receiving this email because you indicated you were interested in the
latest hair tips and product information from ZingFling . your ama-Zing hair
affair, brought to you by HairZing.