Complaint Review: Rachel Florio PR - Ridgefield Connecticut

I have had the opportunity to work with Rachel Florio PR and I have to say I am so grateful to such a true professional. Rachel Florio came to me after much research, and with numerous interviews with PR firms..I knew I wanted Rachel Florio to represent me and my product. I have had prior experience with another PR firm and was looking for someone to help take my product "to the next level" and I was confident that Rachel was the professional who was going to be able to do that for me. Rachel was emailed and called several times by myself before I had decided Rachel would be "the" publicist to represent our product. During my interviews with Rachel, she mentioned that she will work hard to get my product out there and get it visible. She has done that and more! Rachel gave me press within the first 24 hours I worked with her. She has placed our product in numerous visible blogs, celebrity placements, websites, major print media as well as television. She is an energetic, hard-working, upbeat, and confident women. She believes in you and your product. She is your cheerleader. She wants you to succeed! Rachel evaluated our website and spend a great deal of time making sure our website was professional and ready for our retail endeavors. Since working with Rachel, I have had increase in sales, and wholesale orders. Let me stress that Rachel is not a sales representative that will make customers buy your product ..she is a publicist that WILL get your product out there, she WILL give your product credibility and visibility. She WILL help take your product to that next level. If you need a sales rep, you will have to find one! I have only good things to say about Rachel Florio as she has always been very professional, prompt to return emails and phone calls, (my numerous questions), a true hard-working mother/professional who goes above and beyond for her clients. A highly regarded individual. You will not be disappointed.

In my opinion, Rachel Florio did nothing for me but take my money and run. I hired her to help with PR of my company. Here is how she "worked" for me; 1. She analyzed my product and told me that she thought it was great and just needed some of her PR behind it to be a big hit. She also represents herself to be a baby trend expert, she knows the market place well and this product would sell. 2. She specifically told me on several occasions to anticipate the following sales performance; the first month of her services I would be sending out a lot of sample products but should not expect any significant increase in new sales or press from these efforts. The second month I would start to see an impact I should realize sales that would cover half of your cost to me. The third month my sales would increase to the point of you paying for herself. 3. The first month of our engagement she appeared to be working on my behalf. I sent out over 15 samples and received reviews on several blogs and websites. However, I did not receive any print media or any other type of PR. In addition, I later learned that some of these "requested" for samples were never even opened and were even returned to me, in the exact condition they were sent.. completely unopened! After receipt of the May payment, the number of sample requests has dropped off considerably. While she had me send several gifts to new celebrity moms, it would appear all of your current clients have been, as well. My product was never being specifically requested as she had indicated. By the second week of May she completely stopped working on my account, even though she was been paid through the end of the month. 4. To date, I have not sold a single product nor has there been any substantial increase in traffic to my website. During the latter part of April there was an elevated level of communication from her with respect to the success she was having and assurances that things were moving in the right direction. Specifically, she mentioned close confirmation to a national magazine publication. Based on information and belief, these enticements were made in order to ensure payment for Mays fee. My husband and I both tried to work with her and come up with reasonable solutions. In our experience with her, she made nothing but excuses (she was sick, she was moving, she was visiting her sick mother). I have sympathy but I retained her for her services not her excuses. She was hired to do a job and completely failed to do what she said she would do. In addition she would not accomodate any reasonable requests to move forward. It was only when we said enough we are handing this over to our lawyer did she decide she was going to do what we asked.. how convenient! I was taken advantage of.. this lady can sell herself, she is quite proud of her accomplishments and is not afraid to tell you how good she is. When it came to getting me results, she wouldn't put her money where her mouth was.. I am now out $9,000 and I have nothing to show for it.. If you are considering using RACHEL FLORIO PR, think seriously before engaging her. She doesn't always deliver what she promises and when she doesn't and you question her, she will get NASTY!