Copperfox

Remember when Copperfox Model Horses began work on releasing their own British Breed models via Kickstarter? Well, it has recently been brought to my attention (thank you Marina for your blog post!) that Breyer has threatened Copperfox's parent company, Utterly Horses, with an ultimatum: either shut down the model horse project, or stop being supplied with Breyer merchandise (Utterly Horses supplies Britain with models from many different manufacturers). You can read more about the debacle HERE. 

Fortunately, Utterly Horses is standing up to Breyer, and will release the models anyways, despite being stripped of their Breyer-selling rights.

However, I don't tolerate bullies, and that's exactly what Breyer is doing right now: using their size and name to bully a start-up model horse manufacturer. I think it would be lovely for Breyer to hear from us in the model horse hobby, the people who are the most serious about our plastic ponies.

Please email Breyer at breyerwebstore@reevesintl.com, or call them at (800) 413-3348, and explain (politely but firmly) that this kind of behavior is wrong and intolerable. I'll write a sample email here that you may use in its entirety or modify as you see fit. Individually-written letters are best, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day!


Subject: Please reinstate supply and relationship with Utterly Horses

Dear Breyer,

I am a longtime model horse collector and artist, and I am deeply disturbed by your dealings with Utterly Horses regarding their Copperfox Model Horses line. From the Utterly Horses webpage: "At the beginning of this year, we were refused product and given an ultimatum by Breyer, our main supplier of models for over 18 years. We were told to stop our Copperfox project to enable Utterly Horses to continue to stock Breyer products or the alternative being that no further Breyer products (nor information) would be supplied to Utterly Horses. Breyer's reason for stopping supply to Utterly Horses was that we are now seen as a competitor as we are manufacturing our Copperfox range - a range that currently consists of 3 moulds."

This bullying behavior is despicable and intolerable. We in the model horse hobby recognize that competition is a good thing for business, a good thing for the hobby, and a good thing for Breyer. The introduction of a new model horse line is exciting for all of us in the model horse hobby, and will expand and breathe new life into this hobby. The introduction of this new line will not hurt Breyer's stance as the largest and best-known manufacturer of model horses.

In fact, friendly competition will likely increase Breyer's sales as interest for the hobby grows with the introduction of these new models. (And if you and Utterly Horses supplied and sold each others' horses, your sales would likely increase even more.)

Using bullying tactics to try and shut down a competitor is dirty and wrong, and sends a very unfriendly signal to us model horse hobbyists and artists who keep Breyer, and the whole model horse hobby, alive.

We, the model horse hobby, ask that you apologize for your bullying actions and reinstate supply and relationship with Utterly Horses.

Sincerely,




Also, please share (or link) this around the hobby! I believe that Breyer might be willing to listen if a good chunk of the hobby contacts them about this matter.

Bonus picture of Par. He says "Hey Breyer, don't be a bully!"