I was browsing around how other online retailers sell curved glass coffee table, and I was amused how many "brands" just stick their name on this "china made", 80 years old design, curved glass coffee table, and call it their own product. We all tend to think whatever comes from Italy must be good and special. The truth is, there are businessmen in Italy also, and all they care about is how to make money, and if they can increase a value of something just by sing "it's from Italy, they will do so. You can see that, miniforms have done just that: go on the miniforms website (http://www.miniforms.com) click products > coffee table > curvo. What amuses me, is that www.umodern.com even has a name of the designer (from miniforms) next to the products (Designed by I. Bardini). So Mr. Bardini is charging roughly $400 extra for his his plagiarized design.

I was really thinking for a while that I would take that same approach that all these brands are taking and BS people that my tables are "Italian designed and made" and sell them with 90% profit margin, but that just would not be me :). I am more of an Ikea guy, who likes to give people value, great value if possible. I believe this is how you can build faithful customer base and win in the long run.