The owner of the car parked outside Woolies is someone fighting for all small business owners in South Africa!
A businesswoman who designed a baby carrier for new mothers says that Woolworths is now selling a product that is very similar in design, colour and even name, and South Africans are supporting her.
Shannon McLaughlin – the owner of Ubuntu Baba baby carrier – wrote a heartbreaking and scathing blog after finding out that the local retail giant Woolworths “blatantly copied” her idea.
“I’ve just found out that Woolworths has shamelessly copied the complete design and concept of the baby carrier that I have put my heart and soul into for the last 4 years of my life.
Not only have they copied my ‘Stage 1’ and ‘Stage 2’ names, and used my colours but Woolworths have also designated Google Ad keywords to divert potential customers,” the small business owner explained.
Following several failed attempts to contact Woolworths via email, McLaughlin took to social media to tackle the retailer and since posting her blog, hundreds and thousand of South Africans have publicly voiced their support for her business.
One supporter went as far as to park their luxury SUV outside a branch of Woolworths with the words “Stop Killing SMEs” (small and medium enterprises) on the back window.
When the power of social media reaches the real world… spotted at my local Woolies.
The message is loud and clear: Hey @WOOLWORTHS_SA, RESPECT South Africans, HELP entrepreneurs & STOP killing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises!!!#BeBetter #UbuntuBabaWoolies pic.twitter.com/BGzoDoHPgd
— Brent Lindeque (@BrentLindeque) January 8, 2019
The photo was shared and retweeted across social media until later in the day when Marnus Broodryk – author, entrepreneur and former shark tank member – revealed that it was in fact his car that was parked there.
“Yes, it was my car that was parked at Rivonia Village since this morning. But it wasn’t (only) my message. It is the message of every single small business owner in this country. It is the plea from every entrepreneur trying to create a success against all odds. And of course, it was in support of Ubuntu Baba.
Everyone agrees that SME’s are the solution to many problems in our country. Entrepreneurs are the only hope in restoring economic growth. Everyone wants us to succeed, but no one has our backs.
And that’s fine… We’re used to it. You don’t need to support us but don’t try and intentionally kill us. What transpired in the last 24 hours is nothing new but at least this time it went viral and people could see what small business owners face on a daily basis.
Personally and through sme.africa, we will continue the fight for SME’s. The message is clear: support small business South Africa, and if you are too pathetic to do that, just don’t try and kill it.
Entrepreneurs, the journey continue. Onwards and upwards.
Ps. Shout out to Brent Lindeque & Good Things Guy for sharing the story.”
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I see that Woolworths have removed the baby carrier from their online store and a Google search will only result in the original Ubuntu Baba article being shown.
SME’s are the future of our beloved country. The true rescue plan for tomorrow and the only way out of the financial crisis !!!
Let us all work together for a brighter future and stop reversing back to a racial based privileged system by penalizing level 2 suppliers. We are working together!!!