How can I keep ideas secret?

[ndvdual3]

My mother's friend own a furniture shop and larger furniture chains keep hearing her ideas through her clients and stealing them. In America you can't put a patent on furniture so does anyone have any ideas what she can do?

[twiglet4frog]

Dont tell any of her clients the ideas she is having!!

[ndvdual3]

She has to!  How do you think she sells her furniture?!  She tells her clients about what would look good in their homes (which she is paid to do) and then instead of buying the furniture from her (which she sells at a good price) the clients go to more upscale furniture stores and use their furniture for her ideas instead.

[ursula62]

Perhaps she should charge for the consultation then?

She could refund the price of the consultation if they purchase the furniture from her.