[Social Talk] Me Too Goods

[Social Talk] Me Too Goods

The purpose of business is to make a profit that means they try to gain revenues that exceed the expenditure of operating the business. So that business do their endeavor to invent new technology, produce novel goods and form a business strategy. Nowadays, business strategy is magnified main point of business.

There is a strategy named ‘Me too goods’ in Korea. ‘Me too goods’ means that copies the best products to gain benefit. Many markets were formed by these processing. However Me too goods is different imitation goods. Imitation goods even copy the brand, but although me too goods copy many part of a real goods, me too goods use their own brand symbol and name.

Apple made a new type of smartphone; IPhone on 2007, and tablet computer; IPad on 2010. When IPhone was invented, other companies that produce cellphone judged that IPhone is a strange behavior of Apple, but IPhone dominated the market in advance. After companies observed Apple’s rapid growth, they started to invent new smartphones. The second successful smartphone is Galaxy series of Samsung. Apple’s IPhone series and Samsung’s Galaxy Series dominate the smartphone market at present.
In Korea, candle market is tiny. Candle makers also have small scale, and no their own products. By the way, Yankee Candle is famous maker in the world, but there are many similar goods in Korea. Almost goods are not imports. This fact means other candle products are ‘Me too goods.’

There is other case. U.S has the biggest cosmetic market that recorded 35 billion dollar. Korean cosmetic market was 10th biggest in the world. There is a cosmetic maker named ‘Amore Pacific’ launched a new cosmetic ‘Iope Aircushion.’, but Lancome of French cosmetic company copied it named ‘Miracle Cushion.’ This goods affect Amore Pacific to get damage. Amore Pacific is continuing to go to court.

There are many debates between imitation and ‘me too’, but it is same that they affect originator goods reputation. Some people insist it is a kind of business strategy to survive the market. Other people assert what is different both imitation and me too. Personally, I think me too goods have their own benefits such as to prevent monopolistic market, decrease cost, and make a new kind of goods market, but it can make a cons such as to fall the refutation of original brand, get a free ride in the market, and reduce to develop new goods.