SimplySiti issues clarification after accused of copying competitor packaging

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Malaysian singer and songwriter, Siti Nurhaliza has released a statement on her Instagram after her beauty brand Simplysiti's facial wipes were called out for copying a competitor’s packaging design. The singer said that Simplysiti has taken full note of the statement issued by competitor, Kayman Beauty, about allegations of similarities for the facial wipes.

Calling it a misunderstanding, she denied any intention to replicate any product or packaging design as the cleaning tissue is manufactured through the original equipment manufacturer or OEM. “We are sorry for the misunderstanding that happened. We respect other beauty brands and embrace healthy competition in the industry," she added.

A quick check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has found that SimplySiti’s was founded in March 2010, whereas Kayman beauty was founded in 2017. Both beauty brands' facial wipes had a black packaging and bore the same plant logo, indicating the presence of aloe vera and green tea.

simplysiti kaymanbeauty

The clarification statement came a day Kayman Beauty's owner, Nabella Anuar tweeted that she was sad that her hard work has been copied by another company. "The product is being sold in drugstores now while small beauty brand owners like me are struggling to survive," she added in the tweet. Currently, the tweet has garnered more than 2,900 retweets and has more than 6,400 likes on the time of writing.

https://twitter.com/NabellaAnuar/status/1462819014879563783

While Nabella did not explicitly mention the singer's brand, netizens were quick to respond and show their support for the owner. "They used the same designs in the label? Send a LOD first, demand compensation, and ask them to stop using the same design. If no reply, proceed with legal actions," said one user. Others warned Kayman's founder that if the brand wanted to go against another company or person with influence who has deep pockets, the brand has to be ready financially as well.

On the other end, netizens were quick to support the singer as well. One user said she will always support SimplySiti's products and asked to #spreadlovenothate. Whereas another user called out the singer's decision to release the statement as being "very professional". MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to both brands for a statement regarding this issue.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian pop singer is no stranger to controversy online having been called out online earlier this year for breaking COVID-19 restrictions in Malaysia during her newborn baby’s tahnik ceremony

Netizens were unhappy with the fact that the ceremony, which involves touching the lips of a newborn baby with honey or dried dates to commemorate the birth, was attended by a well-known religious preacher who lived out of state and so was thought to have travelled for the event at a time where interstate travel was restricted.

Others called her out for holding such a ceremony in the first place amidst social distancing.

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