DaveinHackensack

Crocs: Successful Brand or Victim of Cheap Imitations?

Heelys may or may not be a fad, but that company has at least patented its key differentiator -- and successfully defended its patents against an imitator.

Crocs: Successful Brand or Victim of Cheap Imitations?

Jason Kelly,

I had read that passage in the S-1 filing as well, but after reading it I still didn't understand *why* Crocs hadn't sought a patent on Croslite. Do you understand why they haven't? They haven't been shy about patenting their footwear designs. I could be wrong, but I suspect that they are unable to patent Croslite because it's not materially different enough from other resin-based materials to warrant a patent. This might explain why the knockoffs I saw in my local CVS feel just like the real Crocs I have.

Crocs: Successful Brand or Victim of Cheap Imitations?

A few thoughts on this, as my Crocs Islanders are drying in the back of my car after I washed them earlier today.

First, the bearish points:

1) I felt a pair of knockoffs selling for under $10 at my local CVS ("Doggers"). The material feels just like Croslite.

2) Checking the company's SEC filings, I found that Crocs has not attempted to patent the Croslite material. Why not? Are they unable to do so?

Now the bullish point:

1) The new marketing campaign aimed toward women looks savvy. My girlfriend subscribes to Vegetarian Magazine, and there was a clever full page Crocs add in the recent issue, showing off one of the new high-heeled shoes. The tagline: "Hard to believe the parents were ugly".

Crocs: On the Down Escalator

Well said, Boca T. I don't own CROX but I may consider buying at these levels.