I'll start by saying this, I worked in with Jeremy Yaksich for some time. In fact long enough to know that if he replies to this report, It will mostly state how I obviously 'wasn't cut out for it' or the business 'wasn't for me'.
That being said, I'm going to openly warn anyone who is thinking of applying, or has been approached by them in any manner. Alternative ADvertising is an independent MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) company associated with Smart Circle, aka... DSMAX. (If you don't know who DSMAX is, do a quick google search, I'm confident you can find out very quickly).
Simply put, this is a Door to Door sales company that pays 100% commission. They will force you to sign an independent distributor agreement stating that you are not an employee, and are therefore not entitled to any of the rights of an employee under the Canadian Government (ie, disability, a T4, unemployment insurance, workplace grievances like wages, sexual harassment etc...).
Now that you know what they do, I will now tell you how they operate. Alternative ADvertising (all of Smart Circle in generally really) prey on recent college and university graduates looking to start their careers. They advertise 'Entry Level Sports Marketing Positions' due to their 'expanding client base'.
Just so we're clear... the only sports marketing you will be doing is peddling golf course coupons or discount Toronto Marlie tickets door to door, or business to business. They may even make you go business to business peddling posters or walking around homes until 9PM for window companies.
They will also claim to work with companies like Kaneff Golf, New York Yankees, Pizza Hut... etc. Alternative Advertising does not represent any of these clients. Smart Circle, the organization that supplies Jeremy with his coupons, signed and manages those clients. Alternative Advertising is just the office that sells them. Especially the clients that are not located in toronto. those are handled by other offices that have no affiliation with Alternative Advertising whatsoever.
Alternative Advertising will also have an 'Account Manager' break down their Management Training Program' during their 'Second Interview'. This consists mainly of you following one of their salespeople door to door for a whole day. The management training program is where most people, like myself, were drawn into this business.
They claim that if you work hard and put the time in, training and hiring people under yourself to do sales, in a year you could be in brad's position running an office. I'm going to be clear and say that they are 100% right here. But I stress the COULD. I will say that in my own eyes, i've seen 1 out of hundreds of people that i've witnessed gone through bond, open their own physical office. Some make it to assistant management, but they are constantly hiring new people because the turnover at Bond is unheard of. They will say this is because their business is designed to weed out the weak. However, it is truly designed to break people down and obey everything the 'system' tells them to, as well as ignore everything outside of the 'business', like family, friends, and loved ones.
This is common in many MLM's and cults.
Those who do open an office, are subject to the never ending game of recruiting a young, impressionable salesforce to finance their business. Alternative Advertising will claim that the average owner nets a six figure income, however that is untrue. The average owner in Smart Circle will earn 35-40k working 80 hours a week
( If you would like a source for this check out www.groups.msn.com/dsmaxtheaftermath there you will find many ex DSMAX'ers and managers disclosing the real facts about the business)
Jeremy himself will admit to paying himself a modest salary, and funneling the rest into his business ($25, 000-$40, 000 to monster, careerbuilder, etc) due to the high cost of recruitment.
In Closing I will say this, if you are thinking of applying here, I would recommend you didn't, if you must though, be sure you know what your getting into. Ask the right questions, ask where they get those financial figures from, ask how many offices have failed in the history of the company, show the 'Independent Distributor Agreement' to a family member or friend before signing it. And whatever you do, DO NOT be pressured into working there. Make up your own mind.
If you already work at Alternative Advertising as a 'leader' and aren't completely brainwashed, ask yourself this. Has anything you've done so far made your life any better? At all? And why is it that whenever something bad happens, it is always the individuals fault, never brad, never the company?
think about it. That's all I ask.
Seeing.clear
toronto, Ontario
Canada
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