Woolworths accused of copying baby carrier design: An ethical issue

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Management
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1
MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Business ethics ensures that there should be existence of certain trust levels between
the consumers and the market participants within the business (Crane and Matten 2016). The
business ethics concepts are mostly aware of the rising concerns regarding the social causes,
corporate responsibility and the environment. The business could go beyond the moral values
regarding the right and wrong that is what the companies must do legally rather maintaining
the competitive business among the business (Trevino and Nelson 2016). Woolworths is
considered as one of the major leading business in Australia but they are accused in this
article for not following the business ethics. Woolworths are expected to follow the business
strategies for maintaining their reputation in the business market (Pearson 2017). This is one
of the essential business ethics that is copying ideas or steal any body’s product ideas without
their concern is considered as the violation of business ethics. This can be considered as
business idea theft; this is so because in spite of becoming the small business or large
business, every business should follow the business ethics. The ideas should not be copied
without the concern of the owner and the violation of business ethics will not allow the
business to achieve their desired goals in the long run process (Barry 2016).
The essay is based on a news article that was published on 10th January 2019 in
Timeslive.co. This article states that Woolworths behaved in the most unethical manner by
selling the baby carrier that is copied from another business without their concern
(Timeslive.co.za 2019). This study will also recommend how the issue could be resolved by
Woolworths and the moral values the business should follow.
Summarizing the arguments made in the article including relevant background and
considering any legal or sanction implications
This is found out in most of the cases that Woolworth mostly brags about the ethical

2
MANAGEMENT
trade but they mostly behaved in the unethical manner. In this article it have been stated that
Shannon McLaughlin, the founder of the Cape Town-based Ubuntu Baba has accused
Woolworths for copying the designs, colour and names of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 of her baby
carriers. Not only this she has accused Woolworth of copying her baby carrier’s design but
also selling them at two third low prices than their price. As per her allegations Woolworths
was able to provide the baby carriers at such a low price as they have made the product from
the cheaper fabric in China. Shannon was informed by providing the screenshot that
Woolworths was selling the same design baby carrier that made her accuse Woolworths. She
has asked explanations from Woolworths regarding the baby carrier and this was so as her
business was affected and fearing her business loss she has taken steps against the
Woolworths business. Although Woolworths has taken steps for solving the issue it has
apologised for raising such problem for her business and two days later the issue raised, the
retailer of Woolworths business apologised for such problem and also taken back their baby
carriers and stop selling of such products in the business market (Sowetanlive.co.za 2019).
Woolworth also assured that those who have already bought the baby carrier from them
would offer them with the refund process.
McLaughlin also said that she will be in discussion with Woolworths regarding what
will be done with all the carriers of Woolworths. McLaughlin also stated that there were other
businesses in their market that have faced same issues with Woolworths, but was unable to
open up as they are considered as the small business in the business market. McLaughlin has
suggested opening up if they have faced same issues in spite of becoming the small business.
McLaughlin has asked Woolworths to provide the media statement related to what they have
done wrong and how they are going to rectify their fault. On Wednesday Woolworth
apologised by giving media statement and they have said that by mistake they have opted
such striking similarities between the Stage1 and Stage 2 career and the same name was