Marolf: Knockoffs harm brands when copying technology rather than aesthetics
Gérald Marolf · 20Product: On Running's CPO on How to Create Emotion Through Product | Why 99% of Products Fail and How to Create Cults Around Products | The Biggest Product Mistakes On Have Made & Lessons Learned with Gérald Marolf · Dec 19, 2025 · at 42:01
Gerald Marolf is Chief Product Officer at On Running. He is discussing the distinction between competitors copying product aesthetics versus functional innovations.
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“Imitation sucks on innovation. Imitation is great flattery if it's purely sort of Mocking and aesthetic or whatever, what Skechers is doing to some extent is like, it's not great, but then also, but when it comes to innovation, I think it really sucks.”
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