Retail's "Believe It or Not!"

Do you own a Proda bag or a Rolox watch? If you do, you are in good company. Americans (and the rest of the world) are clamoring for counterfeit items. They give us all the bling, without the bucks. Here in New York City, shop-a-holics in search of fake designer bags, clothing and accessories head straight to Canal Street, the city's counterfeit one-stop shopping district to indulge themselves in deceptive decadence. But iIn China, knockoff lovers might soon have an entire mall at which to ponder the benefits of a "Coached" bag, a pair of "Poma" or "Adidos" sneakers, and even a pair of "A & G" designer jeans. (Don’t tell Dominico Dolce.) That's according to the Mirror UK, (article by Hannah Wood 01/05/09), which has photos of some of the faux food and knock-off retailers that have already set up shop at the mall, located in Nanjing, just a stone’s throw east of Shanghai. They include a McDonald’s look-a-like dyslexic restaurant called McDnoald’s, a Starbucks-style coffee shop called Bucksstar Coffee, KLG Chicken and a wannabe Pizza Hut, called Pizza Huh. Given that China banned dog, and monkey meat during the Olympics, I'd be suspicious of consumables from imposter food chains, but then again, how hard would it be to replicate Pizza Hut's operations? The Pizza Huh version couldn't possibly be much worse. Pizza, Huh? It’s just the kind of blasé question Doug Heffernan might ask Carrie in an episode of “The King of Queens.”

After the spate of recalls that drove the Chinese economy into a tailspin last year, those charming Chinese have crowned themselves as the kings of counterfeitering, with the building of a new shopping center dedicated entirely to fake brands. Corrupt City officials are under pressure to ban the soon-to-be opened mall after pictures of the fake stores were leaked, causing uproar amongst angry consumers (tourists mostly) who feared they'd be ripped off. "Not every shopper is brand conscious, so a lot of people will walk into these stores thinking they are getting the real thing," said an angry shopper in a local newspaper.” The whole idea of this mall is plain dishonest.” (No kidding?) Some fakes are done light-heartedly, to be funny, but these stores look so much like the real thing people are going to feel cheated," the shopper added.

Lest readers think I’m just making light, counterfeiting is deplorable. For further illumination on this very subject please check out my post “Chanel for $4.99” on 08/27/07.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Comments

[Ron Knoth]

Dear Jen,

I will devote myself to your site this evening. Yes, www.retaildesigndiva.com is always a pleasure to contribute to. Editor, Jessie Bove, and bloggist, Heather Strang are extraordinary!!! (Insert heart pounds)

I don't mean to be abrupt, but I'm strapped for time at present. I'm a full-time college professor at LIM (Laboratory INstitute of Merchandising) in NY City, where I teach in the Department of Visual Merchandising. My semester starts in a few day! Yikes!

Time permitting please let me invite you to visit my site www.thebespokenfor.net I would love to get your feedback.

Congratulations on receiveing a paid sponsor/advertisor. That's a wonderful accomplishment.

I will call you tomorrow to "officially" introduce myself.

Sincerely, Ron Knoth

[Jen Boone]

I love your blogs!I have my own site that is centered around retail. I just got my first sponser "Dreamworthygifts". Its an amazing store!

I hope you dont mind that I added your blog post including your link back to my page. You can check it out at
www.jenboone.ning.com
Its listed under the group..Retail..its more than just a store.

Thanks,
Jen Boone
574-306-2164
www.igroops.com/members/jenslife