I had signed up to be a vendor at the "USA Home and Family Show" in Jacksonville, FL. This was to take place on July 6th and 7th, at the "Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center" (904-633-6100). The promoter of the event was Niccam Promotions: 28870 US Hwy 19 N #403, Clearwater, FL 33761. This address happens to match a few other reports on usacomplaints.com for a company called "Quality Resources". Quite a coincidence. (I have also found the street address listed in advertisment as being in Palm Harbor, FL 34683). But the actual street address only exists in Clearwater.
Niccam Promotions was said to have been owned by Eric T. Bell and/or Liza D. Bell. The phone number was (past tense) 727-812-9331. They had (again, past tense) a website: usahomeandfamilyshow.com.
This was to be an event with over 200 vendors of various products that the paying public would walk around to view for 2 days.in this type of show, vendors like myself pay a fee (months ahead of time) to reserve a spot at the event. You have probably guessed by now that the promoters took everyone's money, then promptly cancelled the show and disappeared. The Prime Osborn Convention Center told us that Liza D Bell cancelled the event in February, explaining that her husband (Eric T Bell) had just been diagnosed with colon cancer. The convention center was nice enough to refund Niccam Promotions their original payment for reserving the venue, which usually doesn't happen. But Niccam Promotions did not notify us of the cancellation, did not refund our money, and is nowhere to be found.
They apparently did this in Tampa, FL, as well. I contacted the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa (800-345-3247), who said no such event took place there, even though Niccam Promotions had listed it as an event they were doing in June.
It appears they actually had this event in Orlando in November at the Orange County Convention Center (407-685-9800). Upon contacting the Convention Center, we were told that it did take place, but that many vendors had complained of low public attendance. This usually indicates very little spent on marketing by the promoters — one way to increase their income. This event was listed as having Erik Bell as the owner of Niccam (note the "k" instead of "c").
Today is 6/21/07 — I have only discovered all of this info in the past 2 days. Still searching for more. I will update this again when I have more.
0 comments