Hello,its a long and boring story
Platypus Outdoors Group is aware of a current campaign by one of our local competitors.
These people have engaged in such childish activities as, making a fake Facebook page, spreading a letter from a supplier and contacting media outlets anonymously.
We believe that if you are going to say something, say it face to face, or at least not from a dodgy Facebook account.
So here it is direct to you, from us.
A Couple of years ago Platypus in the course of supplying Op urgent requirements for the Australian Defence Force, we ordered and used US Defence ACU cut garments.
In order to make these items ASODS compliant; at the request of the client we made the following changes:
-We added an epaulette to accommodate a rank slide
-We changed the sizing label to make sizing system internationally recognised CM/Inches
We utilised a couple of different suppliers and manufactured some in-house ourselves.
This was primarily due to shortage of Multicam fabric supply, due to the introduction of OCP for US forces in Afghanistan.
With these changes we called this cut of uniform, Barracks.
We never claimed IP on this cut of uniform.
We refused to engage in similar activities as other local companies like sourcing “Multicammo” Pattern or the like from China.
We have not supplied Defence some sub-par, air soft brand from China and claimed it is Milspec. We supplied a Milspec garment, made alterations and added a label to ensure uniformity.
We only use original licensed Multicam fabric, purchased from Duro Textiles, that is no trade secret. There are a number of companies selling counterfeit Multicam down here to government agencies and have been passing it off as legitimate for a long time.
There are a number of companies selling counterfeit Multicam down here to government agencies and have been passing it off as legitimate for a long time.
We could just as easily, as the people that have sprouted this childish jaunt, out a number of companies that are supplying inferior products, but won’t.
Let it be known, that this project occurred well and truly prior to the ADF requirement for the Australian Multicam Pattern.
We were under no contractual obligation to supply an Australian made garment.
Nor was this a Government Tender.
Nor did we claim it was manufactured in Australia or the US.
Nor was it a Berry Compliant item/s.
This is not non-competitive practice.
The long and the short of it is, there was a shortfall and a requirement. We delivered as required.
We adapted and over came to ensure that our end user was able to do their job.
At present, there is a US company claiming fraud on our part, this is being driven by a former Platypus Outdoors Group employee, attempting to gain exclusivity of that brand.
We are not fighting for the rights to build nor represent this brand in Australia.
This same former employee was actually responsible for project managing this particular job and overseeing supply of purchase order.
BDC
CEO Platypus Outdoors Group