Seems like a simple question.
But is it?
The Illusion of Choice:
I didn’t choose either answer. Instead, my response was:
■ A master class in a restrained, pragmatic response to #WalmartBirkinDupe.
Axel Dumas called fakes “detestable” while acknowledging the grey area surrounding copycat products.
A measured response. A strategic one.
Because the real issue isn’t binary.
Three Key Biases at Play:
■ Anchoring Bias
→ Framing the debate as compliment vs. theft locks thinking into a narrow framework.
■ False Dichotomy Bias
→ Market dynamics are rarely either/or. The Walmart Birkin isn’t just about legality or ethics—it’s a signal of shifting consumer values.
■ Status Quo Bias
→ The luxury industry’s resistance to examining why dupes thrive reveals an unwillingness to adapt.
The Questions We Should Be Asking
■ Why do these products find market success?
■ What does their existence reveal about luxury’s accessibility gap?
■ How are consumer values evolving beyond traditional luxury markers?
My Two Cents:
The Bigger Picture……
The Walmart Birkin isn’t just a product—it’s a symptom of:
■ Shifting consumer values
■ Blurred lines between aspiration and accessibility
■ A legacy industry struggling with relevance
■ Supply chain transparency challenges
■ The sustainability paradox in luxury
Strategic Implications:
■ Instead of debating right or wrong, leaders should ask:
➝ What market signals are we missing?
➝ What unmet consumer needs are these products fulfilling?
➝ How should we rethink accessibility, exclusivity, and authenticity?
Every “dupe” represents an unaddressed gap in consumer expectations, price positioning, or perceived value, unmet demand?
The Next Step:
Before making strategic decisions, ask yourself:
■ Are you really choosing, or are you working within pre-constructed limitations?
The most dangerous biases?
The ones we fail to recognize.
My Penny’s Worth x My Two Cents; where insights come to scale.
Your business decisions might seem clear-cut—but are you seeing the full picture, or just the frame you’ve been given? Or are you tap dancing within the bounds of popular narratives dancing to algorithmic beats?
