Carl Hansen & Søn, in collaboration with the Danish Rights Alliance, has taken a stand against counterfeiting, a growing global issue. Every month, up to 1000 websites and marketplaces selling replicas of the company’s iconic chairs are shut down – and the number is increasing.
Carl Hansen & Søn is just one of many companies being subjected to intellectual property theft by a wide range of unscrupulous manufacturers around the world. The iconic CH24 Wishbone Chair and the CH07 Shell Chair, in particular, are increasingly subjected to plagiarism. Behind the attractive prices of the replicas, however, there are a number of factors that buyers compromise on – often without knowing the full picture of the nature and creation of the products.
Many customers are unaware of what is jeopardised by acquiring a counterfeit product, and 19% of Danes are even considering investing in one. This is according to research conducted by the Danish Rights Alliance – an advocacy organisation that fights to protect the rights of creative industries. Maria Fredenslund, CEO of the Danish Rights Alliance, says: “Counterfeit goods are not only a challenge for Danish design companies – they also cheat consumers of the quality, safety and ethics that genuine design represents. We are working hard to combat illegal websites selling counterfeit goods, but educating consumers is just as important as, according to our research, almost one in five Danes are considering buying copies in the future. It’s a problem we can only solve together. That’s why we are proud to stand together with Carl Hansen & Søn in the fight against counterfeiters and for consumer education.”
Five good reasons to buy originals over copies?
1. DON’T SUPPORT CRIME
Buying a counterfeit product is theft. It’s as simple as that. Carl Hansen & Søn, as well as our designers, devote enormous resources to developing and manufacturing products for future generations to enjoy. Not only is it illegal to import, sell, or give away a counterfeit product in the EU, you also risk supporting the criminal organisations behind the production of the counterfeit products who, in many cases, are also involved in drug and human trafficking.
2. CHOOSE SUSTAINABILITY
When you choose a Carl Hansen & Søn product, you are also choosing sustainability. All our raw wood is FSC-certified and/or comes from sustainable forestry. We use no harmful chemicals, and our products can be repaired and thus passed on from generation to generation, which is impossible with copies as opposed to originals. We also make use of all the wood – right down to the smallest grain of dust. Surplus wood from our furniture manufacture is used to produce smaller accessories like cutting boards and sawdust is used to produce heat for our own factory and more than 400 households in Gelsted on Funen.
3. WE ENSURE YOUR SAFETY
Carl Hansen & Søn products are free of harmful substances and are tested for stability by Danish Technological Institute, thus offering consumers security and peace of mind. For counterfeit goods manufacturers, profit is all that counts and they are happy to use cheap but harmful substances. Copiers do not have to worry about their reputation or quality, as the original producers and consumers are the ones that suffer the consequences.
4. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES
At Carl Hansen & Søn, we take pride in creating good working environments for our employees, both in Denmark and in Vietnam, where we were named one of Vietnam’s best workplaces in 2023. Counterfeit goods are often produced without any standards for or control of working conditions and hygiene. This puts workers in a vulnerable position and increases the risk of exploitation.
5. KEEP GOOD JOBS AND APPRENTICESHIPS
Counterfeit goods mean huge revenue losses for innovative companies like Carl Hansen & Søn – and fewer good jobs and apprenticeships. We employ 550 people in Gelsted on Funen, where we also continuously train cabinetmakers and upholsterers. In addition, we have hired approximately 300 more employees in Vietnam. These jobs are put under pressure and are subject to unfair competition when copiers steal our ideas and designs.
