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Report: #1143935

Complaint Review: Innovate Industries - Sarasota Florida

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  • Reported By: looking out for kids that don't know any better — Bradenton Florida
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  • Innovate Industries 1235 Sarasota Center Blvd Sarasota, Florida USA

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These companies are one-in-the same.  Innovate Industries is located in Clearwater, and Sharper Advertising is located in Sarasota, both are supposedly owned by the same guy: Nick Hooge.  I responded to a job listing for an entry-level management training program to get in on the 'ground floor' of a burgeoning business.  Within 24 hours I received a phone call from the HR Manager at Innovate Industries stating they were interested in speaking with me.  I answered a few questions over the phone and stated that I wasn't interested in a commisson-only sales job.  She said I sounded like the perfect candidate and asked if I could come in to the office for an interview.

 

The next day, I go to the address where the interview is to be conducted.  I walk through the door to find a sparsely-furnished office, With one desk with a receptionist and about a half-dozen people that I assume were responding to the same ad as I.  Nick came out to get me, and we go back to his office.  He starts telling me that although I said I was not interested in a commission-only position, that's all he had at the time (so why did they have advertisements for entry-level managers?)  He starts giving me his spiel about how they are a marketing company that big business outsources to, to increase their sales.  He said currently they were looking for people to go door-to-door to sell Verizon FiOs Services, and that I would be supplied with leads from people that were looking for this service.  I don't know about you, but I get a letter in the mail from Verizon about once a month with great offers on switching to Verizon from Comcast.  Not sure why Verizon needs this sort of help.

 

Anyways,  Nick goes on about how he just started 5 months ago in the same position as I did, and now he is the owner of his own business.  In fact, if you look at his facebook page, he is calling himself the President of Innovate Industries.  He says "I don't usually tell people this, but I feel compelled to let you know that I will make 6 figures this year."  So in just one year Nick goes from being a door-to-door sales person to making  six figures a year, and the president of his own company??  All the while he is telling me this, he keeps glancing at his monitor...he was clearly reading from a script.  After you interview with him, you go on a ride-along with one of his flunkies.  I did this and went to a gentleman's house who lived right next to a Verizon Substation.  The home owner said that he can't even get Verizon while living right. next. door.  to a substation.  The rep I was with said he would 'update the database' and let Verizon know.     This company doesn't offer any benefits.  Not medical, dental, 401K, they also won't reimburse you for mileage as you drive around town.  They are part of the Smart Circle pyramid scheme system.  If you are on Craigslist, Indeed.com, or Careerbuilder, Look out for them.  They will often have vague advertisements stating they need : account managers, entrly-level sales, junior marketers, public-relations people, ARE YOU A SUPERSTAR?  DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?  ARE YOU JUICED?  They are only looking for door-to-door sales person to generate money that will go into THEIR pockets.

 

You can view the 'president's websites at innovateindustries.net and sharperadvertisinginc.com

 

 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 05/04/2014 08:21 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/innovate-industries/sarasota-florida/innovate-industries-sharper-advertising-multi-level-marketing-scheme-sarasota-florida-1143935. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
4Author
3Consumer
2Employee/Owner

#9 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Innovate Industries IS a SCAM!!!

AUTHOR: Scott Olson - ()

POSTED: Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Everyone, don't let "Nick the Owner" and "Caitlynn the worthless receptionist at the Clearwater location" fool you, this company is a complete SCAM!!!  They place their little lame ads on Craigslist every day, two-three times a day hoping to find a sucker to work for them-ie working door to door at 100% commissions.

I talked to Caitlynn on the phone about the position, and she is a complete moron and you can tell she is desperate for a job and has to resort to lying to applicants all day about their scam.  Caitlynn's other main job is to post phony job reviews about the company since all the REAL ones tell of how absolutley horrible this place is.  Caitlynn, you should be ashamed of yourself doing what you do there.  Go work at Taco Bell or some where and make an honest living for the first time in your life.

I cancelled my interview and Caitlynn and other idiots at the company then start calling and emailing you and harrassing you about cancelling the interview.  It's like WTF???  AVOID THIS COMPANY!!!  Sure the state will have them shut down in no time anway.

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#8 UPDATE EX-employee responds

This company is a SCAM!!!

AUTHOR: Scott Olson - ()

POSTED: Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Everyone, don't let "Nick the Owner" and "Caitlynn the worthless receptionist at the Clearwater location" fool you, this company is a complete SCAM!!!  They place their little lame ads on Craigslist every day, two-three times a day hoping to find a sucker to work for them-ie working door to door at 100% commissions.

I talked to Caitlynn on the phone about the position, and she is a complete moron and you can tell she is desperate for a job and has to resort to lying to applicants all day about their scam.  Caitlynn's other main job is to post phony job reviews about the company since all the REAL ones tell of how absolutley horrible this place is.  Caitlynn, you should be ashamed of yourself doing what you do there.  Go work at Taco Bell or some where and make an honest living for the first time in your life.

I cancelled my interview and Caitlynn and other idiots at the company then start calling and emailing you and harrassing you about cancelling the interview.  It's like WTF???  AVOID THIS COMPANY!!!  Sure the state will have them shut down in no time anway.

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#7 Author of original report

If you have nothing to hide.

AUTHOR: Concerned for the little guy - ()

POSTED: Monday, June 16, 2014

 Then you won't mind answering these questions:  

 

Why do you advertise for so many positions like junior marketers, public relations, account managers, and several other positions, but only offer door-to-door sales?

Why do you have to spam message boards constantly for openings?  If you say it's because your constantly expanding,  then why do you operate out of a bare-bones office that looks like it was set up yesterday?

If your 'company' has such great relationships with it's clients, why not list then on your website?

Is innovate Industries an affiliate of Smart Circle?

Do you offer benefits?  

Is your weekly salary actually a draw against commission? If so,  why not state that in your ads?

If 'your' 'company' -and I see that term loosely, has nothing to hide then the answers to these questions shouldn't be too hard.

 

 

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#6 UPDATE Employee

Great Company!

AUTHOR: cait916 - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, June 10, 2014

I’ve been working here for a long time and I love it. I don’t know what that guy is talking about but that stuff is not true. My job is awesome and this company helps a lot of people with a satisfying career. We are marketers for big clients and they take care of us really well. I think it’s sad that people who need a job might not check it out because of things that one guy wrote that aren’t true. I’ve been here for over a year and love it. This is a great company.

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#5 Author of original report

Put your money where your mouth is.

AUTHOR: Concerned for the little guy - ()

POSTED: Monday, June 09, 2014

Ok. so you say you will answer any questions at any time?  Here you go:

 

!.) Are Innovate Industries and Sharper Advertising part of the Smart Circle Affiliate Network?

2.)Why do'your' company's ads list openings  for non-existent titles?  For example: Entry-Level Managers, Junior Marketers, Public Relations, Account Managers, and the always vague 'looking for sports-minded people.'  Also, if your company (and I use that term loosely), is on the  'up and up' why does innovate need to spam job search boards daily? If the company is such a great place to work, then turnover should'nt be such a huge problem.

3) Since you are the 'owner' or 'president' of these two 'advertising' companies, I'm assuming you must have an MBA or at the least a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Advertising.  What is your degree in?

4.) Do you reimburse your employees for mileage for going door-to-door selling Verizon FiOs?

5.) What is the percentage YOU get from the sales that the reps make.

 

Finally, you don't have any kind of relationship with Verizon.  Smart Circle does.  The vendor goes to Smart Circle wanting to increase their marketshare in a certain area.  Smart Circle then has one of it's afiliates in that area work it. 

 

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#4 Author of original report

Just be honest. That's all anyone is asking

AUTHOR: Concerned for the little guy - ()

POSTED: Saturday, June 07, 2014

What an extremely vague repsonse, but that's what you guys are good at.  You didn't answer any points in my report.  Only offered a phone number.  If your company is so legitimate, why do you spam message boards constantly for openings that don't exist such as: Entry Level Managers, Public Relations, Junior Marketers, Account Managers and so forth?  Why don't you just advertise that you need door-to-door sales for Verizon.  You know why?  Becuase hardly anyone would take that position.   What are your educational credentials?  I would imagine since you are the owner and president of a marketing compnay you should have at least a bachelor's in Marketing and Advertising or an MBA in same field.

You see, a company that operated with ethics and integrity would adverstise for what they have openings for, let the interviewee know up front that the 'guaranteed' weekly salary is which is actually a draw against commission, that you will not reimburse them for mileage, and that they will have to complete a 1099.  Again, all of this is legitimate business practices, but you won't advertise this.  Also, I hate to tell you,  no one is going to own their own business in under a year. 

Why are your ads, Next Global Stage Solutions, and Sharper Adverstising all the same?    How come you won't tell people that your company is actually a Smart Circle Affiliate.  Anyone that has worked under you can google Smart Circle and see the same processes you employ  outlined at hundreds of other affiliates.  Smart Circle alone has over 400 complaints on them here.

Fortunately, I have a real job.  I will tell you how I found it.

1.) I found an ad on Indeed.com for a position that I had a skill set for.

2.) I applied to that position

3.) I got a response about a week later from the recruiter

4.) when I interviewed with them, lo and behold it was for the position they actually advertised for.

5.) We went over my resume' in detail, and addressed concerns.

6.) they actually have a website that has information about them, how long they've been in business, awards they've won, biographies on their President, CFO, CEO, Marketing Executive, and Senior Management.  Not some vague description about being the industry's 'leading event marketing and acquisitions firm' 

7.) They have benefits, 401k, profit sharing, tuition reimbursement.

 

Put your answers in writing right here, for everyone to see.  What is there to hide?

 

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#3 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Dont believe everything you read online

AUTHOR: Nick - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, June 03, 2014

It’s amazing what some people will say when personal opinions are formed from less than sufficient information. The individual who wrote the above review got everything wrong. At Innovate we love our team and do what ever we can to see that all employees are successful. What one misinformed and opinionated person failed to realize is, our fortune 100 client’s would never jeopardize their reputation by doing business with a company that wasn’t 100% on point with ethical, legitimate, honest and professional practices. We are proud to represent our clients well they are thrilled to have us on board.

 

I am an open book and I love speaking with people who are serious about exploring a real career. My personal cell phone number is 727-515-5679. I will answer anyone’s question at any time. 

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#2 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Dont listen to one person's wrongful rant. Find out for yourself

AUTHOR: Nick - ()

POSTED: Friday, May 30, 2014

It’s amazing what some people will say when personal opinions are formed from less than sufficient information. The individual who wrote the above review got everything wrong. At Innovate we love our team and do what ever we can to see that all employees are successful. What one misinformed and opinionated person failed to realize is, our fortune 100 client’s would never jeopardize their reputation by doing business with a company that wasn’t 100% on point with ethical, legitimate, honest and professional practices. We are proud to represent our clients well they are happy to have us on board.

 

I am an open book and I love speaking with people who are serious about exploring a real career. My personal cell phone number is 727-515-5679. I will answer anyone’s question at any time. 

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#1 Author of original report

Innovate Industries, Sharper Advertising, Premium Advertising

AUTHOR: I've heard of them too! - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, May 13, 2014

This company has gone through three name changes in recent time.  Innovate Industries, Sharper Advertising, and Premium Advertising.  The address for these jokers is 1235 Sarasota Center Blvd.  If you see any job postings under the names of these companies,  double check the address, and if it's the same one as I've listed, flat-out turn them down.  Ask them what 'JUICE' means. 

 

 

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