I was contacted this past March by Aqua Di Lara. They make high end swimwear, they wanted my company to be a sponsor for the Mercedes Benz Swimwear 2012 show in Miami. The cost $1500.00 Then I was to send them some jewelry and the models would wear it on the runway, according to the contract I was to receive
Sponsor brand will benefit from pre-event publicity online through web, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
Sponsor product/brand name will feature in press releases for the Event
Sponsor brand/product logo will be present on the invites.
Images from the Event will be provided
Gifts or collateral provided by Sponsor will be included in swag bags given to VIPs
Write-up on your brand/collection will be included in the press package
I went to Montreal to meet Reyhan Sofraci the top designer / owner of the company and took a look around make sure they are legit. I decided this could be a break and signed the contract with a loss or stolen clause my attorney added in. Everything went as planned the jewelry took 3months to create 12 pieces. The show was 716/11. And my jewelry has disappeared. They said it was left at a hotel while waiting for the curriers to pick it up. Aqua Di Lara went back to Montreal leaving packages containing my pieces in a hotel with no one responsible to make sure it was shipped. Now according to Aqua Di Lara the package has gone missing and the jewelry presumed taken. I sent them an invoice of $3745.00 they replied I was taking advantage of the situation, and they are a small company they could not afford the payment.
I lowered the invoice to half it came to $1872.00 my materials alone came to $1087.20 and still they are giving me a run around saying that they think they should be paying less like wholesale. There are only 12 pieces that is not considered wholesale. This whole venture the $1500 dollars, the materials plus the trip up to Montreal has brought me a price tag close to $5000.00 and all I have to show for it so far is a blip on face book a few pictures they emailed me of my jewelry on the runway that they took off the internet the same images I already had copied myself previously before complaining that I was waiting for the items outlined in the contract. I received no press releases or press package. Its now September I am still trying to get at least half of what the jewelry is worth.
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