As far as the practice of "tiering" by a merchant, consider that The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy are owned by the same corporate entity. Thus they provide the high end, mid-level and low end of very similar product lines all at the same time...oh, Lord, how the money rolls in!

But the concerns, as I have seen it, are an almost predatory saturation of the marketplace and possible misrepresentation of the "genuine-ness" of articles. Like buying Kentucky Bourbon made in Bolivia or the classic "Schmolex" watch from the episode of Seinfeld.

If your competitor has the capital to buy out all of the retail space that opens up around you, what can you do? If his signs are bigger and yours recedes in the background what options do you have? Try to get some kind of zoning ordinances limiting such things...not easy.

I do think that everything should be very prominently labeled as to place of origin and materials.

Best

AA