26/07/2022
What does a small enterprise such as ours contribute to the economy, and how do we protect our intellectual property? Small local businesses contribute a lot to our economy in ways we seldom recognise: Self-employment gives others opportunities in the formal work place, supporting other businesses by being active (think fuel, consumables, accountants, advertisers, etc), taxes paid and job creation. While we work at our own little businesses to secure a better future for ourselves, we give the government substantial relief. What brought this train of thought about, is a tendency from our prospective clients to pick our brains for the perfect picnic event, take a detailed quote prepared by us on our own time and at our own cost, and then they simply take all that hard work and put together their own picnics. We know, because we check social media platforms and to follow up on intellectual property shared, and then being abused by so-called clients. So, what to do about it? We have been giving as little details as possible on our quotes, but we also have to remain true to our work ethics and what we stand for. The alternative is to start charging for quotes, and drop the "free no-obligations" quoting system. It would seem unfair towards the clients who don't do the dishonorable thing, but in all fairness towards our business, 4 out of 5 clients are not doing the right thing. We'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter, and appreciate any advise from likeminded entrepreneurs. Have a great evening, and we hope the weather works in your favour for your next picnic.