Complaint Review: Designing Spaces

Shari Almas Marine with BrandStar (Brand Star) contacted my company about a show called Designing Spaces (The Balancing Act is another), allegedly to appear on Lifetime Television.   I receive calls periodically, typically from FL, attempting to convince me to participate financially in a segment or segments to promote my business, brand, etc.  "Building A Dream Home" was another recent one, only located in Tampa, FL.  These people seem VERY nice and likeable...like the lure of the Angler Fish.  However…

PROCEED WITH CAUTION - Scams like this pray on the perceived PR value and your ego to get you to pay for production time, content, etc. without any guarantee of actually going on air.  You are often asked to submit a deposit to hold your spot or pay for certain production fees up front.  You may have to send product samples as well.  You may even be required to travel for a photo shoot/ filming.  This business model is not necessarily illegal, it is just highly unethical, as they do not promise/ guarantee any air time of any segment, if you read the small print of your agreement.   You may actually end up with a good promotional segment...perhaps for another PR use, but the original intent is of its production may never materialize.  Brandstar may actually pitch segments to Lifetime or other, to get their segments on air, but typically there is no real intent to do so or success.  (There may even be other types of perceived value included like posting your website on theirs, sending out national press releases as part of your “campaign”.)  At this point, your money, product samples, and TIME are gone.  While you first think to write this off to "we tried, but failed", a more accurate description may be that you have been taken from the word GO.  Don't walk away from these "opportunities"; RUN!

THE RECENT PLAYERS - Jessica Starkoff-Fox, the "producer" originally mentioned by Shari in my first discussion, FYI has a background as an Emergency Medical Technician...no education, nor experience in production in public profiles, i.e. linkedin.  She's been at Brandstar for 8 Months as of 11/15/2015.  Her Linkedin details:  Lynn University Bachelor's degree, Criminal Justice and Corrections, Double Minor: Emergency and Disaster Management & Psychology, Florida Medical Training Institute.  Emergency Medical Technician ( Nationally Certified ) - Does this sound like a Producer to you?!

Shari has an equally unimpressive, non-related background:  Florida State University, Associate of Arts, Family and Child Sciences.   

Shari scheduled a teleconference/ appointment with Josh Adams, quoted in my meeting invite as Senior Producer for Designing Spaces... His profile on Linkedin shows nothing like this, but he has production experience as he listed it.  He lists his current job in a private filming company (Provisional Productions) that has a low-budget, informational website.)

TYPICAL M.O. OF QUESTIONABLE ETHICS - A Rep contacts you by phone and sends to your email info with impressive legitimate links (Lifetime TV's site, etc.) to get you excited and appear convincing, especially with big names of other companies like Owens Corning.  (There are show segments as the website is Lifetime TV’s site, but again, this is NOT necessarily produced by Brandstar is affiliated studios.  This is part of the deception.   In my email there was another link is to a studio production company (O2 Studios) who may be a legit studio, perhaps an outsourced studio of Brandstar. In fact, the nicer the studio, the more real this scam appears.)   The Rep sets a time to speak with her "Producer".  (In my case, this originally was Jessica, but the conf call was scheduled with Josh Adams, misrepresented as an employee of Designing Spaces, a Senior Producer of which he is not (He works for Provisional Productions). This is how Shari represented him: "Josh Adams, Senior Producer for Designing Spaces, the signature home improvement show on Lifetime Television.")   Lastly, the real selling kicks in to gain financial commitment.

Some of the companies in the past wanted me to send samples of the product for "pre-production".  This may even happen before other payments are due.  This is a small way to get your time/ money involved.  You will later have to figure out how to get your product(s) returned.  You may end up paying a deposit, perhaps taking a trip to FL or LA, etc.

I recommend NOT participating in PR like this without vetting this and ALL similar opportunities carefully.

ANOTHER RED FLAG:  Shari contacted me on my personal cell phone, which immediately sent up a RED FLAG.   Jessica was vague when I inquired about this.  She claimed that she got the information from her "research team"...but of course, there was no other info provided from this team as to why my business was selected to participate.  They had no idea who my target audience was or why the show would be a fit other than it “reaches a lot of people”, etc.  Shari nor Jessica were among the better “Reps” I had been contacted by in the past.  Very likeable, and I can see how folks can easily get sucked into potential PR traps.

The phone number that contacted me was (954) 975-8147 in Pompano Beach, Florida.

The phone number on Shari's email:  954.571.5221 - a company called Quorum Productions, not the company listed on her Linkedin Profile, but was on her signature address.   There is no mention of this other organization.  Again... Be careful!  Lot's of bling, glitz, and good looking graphics, etc.  but all for show, in my opinion.  No Pun!

BE AWARE!  Once, again be vigilant, cautious, and smart about how you approach things like this.  In fact, if you are planning for your company, stay the course and do not allow Weapons Of Mass Distraction to blow up your plan’s execution.  You owe it to your business and your people!  I hope my message here helps my fellow business owners now and in the future.