Mail offers lure harm as BBB logs mail order scams rise
Kimberly Aline of Westlake received a final notice claiming a prize from Merchandise Clearinghouse and paid 14.73 for delivery only to get a clock shaped gadget and a small two year warranty for 5. The BBB reports hundreds of complaints about free vacation offers with hidden fees and unreachable phones, plus risqué prizes and touring scams.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kimberly Aline
Westlake
Aline
Better Business Bureau
BBB
California
Florida
Sue McConnell
Greater Cleveland
McConnell
Las Vegas
Dr Fad nurtures parents of invention in fad fairs
Washington entrepreneur Ken Hakuta known as Dr Fad built his Wacky Wallwalkers fortune from a 1982 rubber spider toy. He funds annual Fad Fairs to help hopeful inventors, with this year’s event in New York City costing about 40000 for Sheraton Centre space. He runs Tradex and promotes toy ideas while calling his work a full time hobby.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hakuta
New York City
Sheraton Centre
Japan
Hakata
Harvard Business School
Tradex
Fad Marketing Tips From Ken Hakuta and Crew
Ken Hakuta outlines steps to launch a fad idea with a heart check, local selling, and careful licensing. He notes the short life cycle of impulse products and the role of media attention in fad success. Joe Bastardi and Panda Products showcase Tornado-in-a-Bottle and Take a Bow as examples of rapid, marketable novelties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bastardi
State College
Andrew and
Sondra Sebastian Sr
Panda Products
Panda
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ponderosa Park
Salem
Ohio
Tammy Toporowski
Cleveland
BEB
Toporowski
By Debra L. Wallace
Scripps
Howard News Service
Deanetta Wininger
Mobil
Wininger
Gail Jamin
Mobil Oil Marketing and Refining
Jamin
PET
Karen D. Schiely
Dr. Fad
Bob Batz Jr
Ken Hakuta
Washington
Hakuta’s
USA
Ken
FACS
Joe Bastardi
Sebastian
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