Official Joint Statement: Outcome of Ubuntu Baba / Woolworths discussions
* In honour of being transparent, the below was written by the Woolworths lawyers and approved by me.
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We are pleased to announce that Ubuntu Baba and Woolworths have reached a positive and amicable resolution.
As a primarily private label business and given this recent experience, Woolworths will be putting into place additional measures to avoid a similar incident arising in the future. Some examples of these enhanced measures include an Intellectual Property e-learning module to ensure enterprise-wide reach of training, increasing Intellectual Property training to Woolworths employees and all relevant suppliers, and to explore additional systems functionality to support these measures.
In addition, Woolworths will not be retaining any profits from the sale of its baby carriers and instead, will donate a large portion of those proceeds to a credible institution with a view to educating, supporting and developing SMEs in South Africa. The remaining proceeds will be paid to Ubuntu Baba.
The concerns raised by Ubuntu Baba around Woolworths instructions for the baby carriers are being resolved in conjunction with Ubuntu Baba and credible international experts appointed by Woolworths.
As mentioned in previous communications, Woolworths will donate the baby carriers to parents in under-resourced communities.
Finally, investigations into the matter have confirmed that the two Woolworths employees referenced in Ubuntu Baba’s blog, purchased the Ubuntu Baba baby carriers as legitimate mothers-to-be, who work for Woolworths but in completely unrelated departments.
Both Ubuntu Baba and Woolworths are committed to ensuring that entrepreneurs and small businesses are uplifted and supported. We hope that the learnings and positive outcomes of this incident will be used to drive continued SME development in South Africa.
8 Comments
Mokolotedi
In love with the idea….
Adelaide
Well done, this is great
Theresa
Well done, Woolworths. You managed to absolve yourselves very nicely of all responsibility with your pretty gestures. Until next time.
Caitlin
My thoughts exactly!!!!
Nickie
This is so great nice one
Good idea
Deb Zed
Will the additional instructions – I would imagine as to the safe use of the Woolworths product – be formulated prior to and included as explicit training when the knock-off carriers are given to under-resourced moms?
Lelanie
Too bad they’re still at it with other small businesses. https://superlatte.com/woolworths-cafe/?fbclid=IwAR04Enx3D1dM-tiP_FOUipcNYW3uM-do-b9-bw8oci_l56tqmh1laDjYZPo
Andrew Perkin
WW are relentless.
They will settle (with a bit of a fight, mind you) the odd case that makes the papers or social media, knowing they are unashamedly reaming other small businesses around the country.
Vote with your money. Stop supporting them! I’ve closed my account, and I wish others would get over their convenience and perceived better quality, and shop elsewhere.