Quick Little Follow-Up :-)

Trollhound is nothing if not fair. To everyone. We are truly happy that everyone has an opinion, and I encourage everyone to proudly share your opinion. But remember - opinions, as much as everyone loves to share them, do not automatically translate to absolute fact. :-)

Because I have a strong personal commitment to treating everyone with absolute fairness - including Trollbeads, Pandora, and my new friend, Pia - I am sharing another bit of information in follow-up to the April 21 posting.

I heard back from Pia (about the postings on April 21 and March 24), and it seems that she is truly blessed by living in Denmark. (Trust me that there are times that I wish I could just up and move there, myself!) Retailers that sell both Trollbeads and Pandora outside of the US are not currently living under the same fears, directives and sanctions that are being forced on US retailers. No, I’m afraid that this appears to be the “brainchild” of Pandora's US representatives.

Pia’s words to me were very sweet and considerate. I want to share them with you so that everyone can experience her true kindness. As before, I posting her words without editing. (Just as an FYI, I am choosing to not post Pia's comments by using the generally-accepted method of "moderating comments" because she included her email address in the text. It would certainly be unfair to her to do that.) :-)

uh I'm so sorry! :-S that's really arwfull! I kinda got a little upset because it's not true in Denmark, I didn't thought about how it could be in other countries... In Denmark we are really lucky, I can understand from your newest blog. I'd really hope you too were that lucky!and the Troll"d"eads were a
mistyping, not on purpose ;)Kindest regards, Pia

(Note: Pia, I did not think you made the "Troll-d-eads" reference intentionally. It was just that, given the circumstances, it struck my funny bone square in the nose!)

I wish the US distributors of Pandora would follow the lead of the rest of the world and to just leave “well-enough alone.” Or, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I still stand firmly behind my previously-spoken words that refer to the feud that is brewing between Trollbeads and Pandora. Yes, this is currently a US issue. However, there is a particular global initiative that has me keeping a keen and cautious eye focused directly on Pandora and their future plans.

And by "future plans," this time I do mean to imply this as having an impact on all Pandora retailers … and not only on US-based retailers. It might be recommended that Pandora revisit their plans and options, because there are those of us who are aware of future plans and we are watching closely. Yes, I am intentionally speaking in riddles, and I am not divulging it directly, because I remain hopeful that a review of "future plans" might result in a better destiny.

Time has a way of revealing all truths, and once in the past, they become fact. Only the future can be changed. The simplest of words for retailers, distributors and retail production: if you have happy customers, they return and purchase more. If you have unhappy customers, they leave and purchase elsewhere.

So far, Trollbeads has taken and stuck to the highest of high roads. In the US, Pandora is choosing to blaze their own haphazard trail; and it is not painting a pretty picture since they are trampling all over others in the process.

I always offer the kindest of thoughts and prayers to everyone, but in this particular situation, I am directly addressing the fans and admirers of both Trollbeads and Pandora. Let’s all keep encouraging them both by pushing them to the places we want them to be.

We need to stand firmly behind both Trollbeads - AND - Pandora and reminding them that peaceful coexistence is what will keep their customers the happiest.

I Wish It Was True ... I Really Really Do ... [Trollbeads vs. Pandora, Part II]

Earlier today, I received a "comment" from a reader who identified herself as Pia. Pia wrote because she has concerns about my posting on the Trollbeads vs. Pandora situation; and she asked me to "correct the misunderstanding" that I had posted. While I would happily write directly to her to explain why I cannot do that, she chose to comment “anonymously,” without providing her email address.

That left me in a dilemma, with only a few options: I could simply publish her comments; I could ignore or disregard her comments; or I could create a posting to address her comments.

Of these options, “ignoring” didn’t strike me as the most favored response. And I choose to not "publish" her comment as an attachment to that posting, because, while I do respect that everyone has their choices, opinions and options, for this particular situation, that didn’t feel appropriate.

Therefore, I’m choosing to create a posting to respond to Pia’s concerns.

The comment is quoted below, with absolutely no editing; although my sense of humor causes me to be amused at the “Freudian slip” when referring to Trollbeads as “Trolldeads":

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NO!! that is NOT true!! Pandora is not trying to force retailers to drop Trollbeads. They have just made an initiave that "forces" retailers to make a choice aboyt what kind of customer they wants to be; Gold, Silver or White. If you are a gold-member (the best) it means among other things, that you are REQUIRED TO HAVE a certain percent of pandoras selection, I think it is 75 or 80%. But IT DOESN'T mean that your are not allowed to sell Trolldeads! I know, because I work in a "Gold"-retailer and we still sell Trollbeads :) So I really hope that you'll correct the missunderstanding.

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At this point, I insert a big heavy “sigh.” It is not at all that simple, Pia. Don't I wish it was all just a "big misunderstanding."

As happy as it would make me to have actually had that posting be a nice work of fiction or speculation, Pia, I regret that this is truly not a simple matter of opinion or interpretation. There is a heavy battle occurring right now between the two companies … and there are some seriously “bad things” being forced upon Pandora retailers who will not drop their Trollbeads accounts. The situation is fact.

Unfortunately, this was shared as factual knowledge and not speculation. While I will never share the exact sources, the knowledge is out there for anyone who cares to research a bit. The knowledge is verifiable, consistent, and is conveyed through sources that include attorneys, sales representatives, “repping companies,” and, yes, retailers. The intention of my posting was not because I wanted to either feed or create any conspiracy theory. It is shared as fact. I am hoping that by speaking out loud about the situation, customers who didn’t know about it will find a way to express their own concerns to Pandora. As customers, we each can have a love for products created by either or both companies; and in fact, we consider the overall product selections to be dramatically different from each other. Pandora’s offerings and Trollbeads’ offerings are as different as the minds of the creative geniuses who actually design the products at each company.

Differences are what define us as unique. Choices and options create a balance in the world. If either Trollbeads or Pandora had a monopoly on the industry, it’s the customers would suffer the most. Our choices would be neither as colorful nor as intriguing. If a company has no competition, there is no impetus or motivation to move further along any creative path.

If the retailer/store where you work has not been exposed to the dark underbelly of this latest dirty secret in the industry, well, I am positively thrilled for you, your store’s “gold-account status,” and your faith. Perhaps you will be rewarded and not be exposed, because I cannot state for fact that this is happening to every dual product retailer. Your store is fortunate to be among the very few that I know of as having not received that directive.

There are retailers who would give their “eye teeth” to uncover the strategy of avoiding the “make-a-choice” situation. And these retailers include “gold-level” Pandora retailers who have had documented outstandingly high Pandora sales. That has not protected their accounts; and some of these same retailers have been forced to “make a choice.” And then, due to their refusal, they have truly “lost their Pandora accounts.” Pandora does not show consideration about past or current sales volume; and does not care if the retailer is “gold, silver, white” – or red, green, pink, black, or copper.

I have personally been a customer of Trollbeads’ and Pandora’s products in the past, and this situation really ticks me off.

My original post was not speculation. It is highly unfortunate, but it is fact.