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| PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS! Research all business opportunities thoroughly, and never blow off other people's bad experiences. Ask around (and listen!). The Scams101 Message Board is a good place to start. What's that? You've found a Biz Op and you're wondering if it's endorsed by FIB?... Not unless it's listed in MaaMaw's Magnificent Toolbox. |
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FIB - Scams 101
Re: LogoWear Direct
Posted By: Dennis Bevers In Response To: Re: LogoWear Direct (clarence)
Date: Friday, November 13, 2009, at 2:25 a.m.(pst)
>> I've recieved a booklet in the mail about joining the team and
>> becoming a rep.
>> The person proclaims the he is Brian Thomas and i'm wondering if that
>> is his correct name or am i'm being scammed? I would like an honest answer
>> from someone out there that has knowledge about this company.>> Thanks
>> clarenceClarence,
I have no personal knowledge of this company, other than what I have learned from online postings, and the glaring "smoke and mirrors" I saw in their original brochure they distributed 2 to 4 years ago. I have no way of knowing if you have the original or a newer mailer.
The original was 28 or more pages and begin with how the writer had discovered a hidden 20 Billion industry and he no longer needed his job which paid him 6-figures annually - He wound up signing up his boss, yadda yadda...
The "smoke and mirrors" included lots of incomplete numbers and dollars of orders that gave you no way of calculating your income from a sale in either dollars or percentage.
As for the $20 Billion industry - he was citing the numbers for the entire promotional advertising industry (numbers drawn from PPAI and ASI, two large organizations within the promo industry that support both the suppliers and distributors). Cut out all the coffee mugs, screen printed t-shirts, calendars, paper goods, clocks & watches, golf balls and accessories, food gifts, specialty items, and much more, and you have single category of the industry - embroidered apparel - that is far less than $7 Billion to work with. Still a large number, so why use the $20 Billion that covers far more than the secret market he is promoting.
As for Brian Thomas and his true identity - I don't have a clue. Neither the brochure I received nor the LWD website gave any names or titles of officers within the company - which I found a bit strange in itself. What company brochure or flyer that lists the CEO, President, and or other people within the company don't provide titles or departments.
As for the graphics printed on the merchandise racks - that's strictly for the brochure and website - The employees don't need to see it, the customers aren't touring the warehouse, so why spend the money on it.
The people embroidered apparel suppliers I have met and know within the promotional industry aren't losing sleep over the claim, 'fast becoming one of the largest suppliers in the industry', as they aren't even aware of him as a competitor. He hasn't taken the industry by storm and doesn't seem to be putting a dent in their sales volume.
Search for embroidered apparel on the internet, without the LWD name, and you likely won't find his company coming up high in the search engine listings.
And searching specifically for LWD direct will lead to many discussions like this with the vast majority of those who tried the business on the "less than successful" side of the equation.
Most of the LWD dealer websites I clicked on the last time I look at the search engines went to "404 non-working" addresses. Seems more are former dealers than current.
With 25 years in the promotional advertising industry, I've come across many competing firms, but this one flies below the radar, except for their direct mail recruiting efforts.
Dennis Bevers
Here's a list of helpful criteria to use for evaluating any bizopp your may be considering.
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