Comments on: Trade secrets and sewing contractors

By: jess

jess — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:57:56 +0000

Yes, continuing education is what it is all about. I have learned so much since being a member of the forum, which has only been a few weeks, but I’ve been reading the blog for longer than that. And I am so grateful to have your book, too, Kathleen. It makes me feel so much more confident about taking the leap to have my sewing contracted out. But, back to the idea of continuing education…I try to learn something new everyday, if I don’t then I am not advancing myself and my business. I have been investing in myself and my business for 5 years now, and don’t regret any of it, even the mistakes, because it has all led up to the point where I am at now, which is finally feeling ready to make my business happen. Had I not had the resource of the FI site, I don’t think I would feel this way yet. But, I think that what is important for anyone, at any stage in their life, is to realize that there is ALWAYS more to learn. Educating yourself in some way, everyday, is the best thing people can do to improve their life, society and the world around us.

By: Lisa NYC

Lisa NYC — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:30:51 +0000

Kathleen wrote:
If a client presumes I need paper to keep me ethical, I’ll know that is true about them. You project what you are. If someone thinks people are out to screw them, it usually means they’ll do it themselves given half the opportunity.

Ain’t that the truth! LOL. Love the post, Kathleen!

and PLEASE let us know when the subscription-based venue is available…just what I need for my continuing education!

With friendship,
Lisa

By: j.

j. — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:18:30 +0000

I do not normally comment to say that I like a post, but I’m doing it for this one.
Tangentially, you can only make [gentleman's] agreements with people who share your values.

I can only echo what you’ve written on the subject. The majority of people who seek out a standard NDA before they talk to a contractor (in any manufacturing area, not just this one) have never done business in that area; they have no business plan prepared; the lawyer is often their first stop, because they’re starting their research at the wrong point. (The majority, but not all; and this is highly unscientific because it’s based on my experience.)

In a sense, this type of entrepreneur has no values; not because they’re morally bankrupt or anything, but because they’ve done nothing to try to identify those values, and they think the lawyer will be the one to fill that vacuum. Sometimes the lawyer can do that; but very often, the lawyer can’t (and even if the lawyer has expertise in that very subject area, they don’t want to be held responsible for that one time when somebody doesn’t live up to industry expectations).

Going off on a bit of a tangent on behalf of the battered NDA, there are situations where getting that NDA signed actually has value, and not for actually enforcing. For example, if the Great Idea is going to be the subject of a patent application (even in apparel!), being able to prove that a disclosure to a contractor prior to the filing of a patent application was not a public disclosure may protect the validity of the patent down the road. Sure, one might be able to prove confidentiality by having experts testify about common practices, and whether the contractor in question abided by them; but it’s cheaper to prove that the NDA was signed.

By: andrea

andrea — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:51:38 +0000

Well written, Kathleen! I loved the depth that you explored the topic. It’s true that we all need to contribute to our own continuing education, and there is a cost for doing so. Thankfully we don’t have to keep going back to college for degree after degree (one more personal growth and adjustment class would send me over the edge). In my opinion, continuing education is way worth it…you learn from people who are ahead of you and practicing.

Thanks for the post, and let us know when your subscription blog memberships will be available for purchase!