LOL Roberta!

That commercial drives me to drink - it's a  horrific example staging and/or decorating. I wonder how many actual stagers laugh (and ones like me that flinch...) at that absurd demonstration on how to treat a focal point.

Dane, thanks for the post. I just thought the staging on the commercial  was creepy. Haverhill is obviously much creepier than I thought*.

* All opinions expressed in this comment are my own personal feelings. Freedom of speech protects my right to say the Haverhill commercial is an example of pitifully uninspired and even pointless decorating, not staging.

~Michelle

Hi Kimberly,

I know you work for Haverhill, and are a contributing and contientious AR member.

However, Haverhill is NOT Kimberly Uksik. And what Haverhill's commercials promotes is not even close the reality of starting a successful business in the staging industry.

I am especially annoyed because I know this misrepresentation of the easy money that is to be had  if you complete the Haverhill program is targeted towards primarily women who are dreaming of a way to improvetheir financial situation, only to find the real world of staging is not paved with gold and that the opportunities they may get will  most likely NOT come from Haverhill and  only be found after diligent marketing and lots more investment than just their credentials originally cost.

If I had been a rose-colored glasses type of woman looking at the Haverhill Institute for a better life for my family when I endeavored to become a stager, I'd be warming my hands over a 10 gallon drum in the park with the homeless, wondering where Child Protective Services have taken my kids, in all likelihood. Especially if I had to live up to the Haverhills's Terms and Conditions, which I feel are HUGELY slanted away from the realm of possibility to complete in 6 alloted months, of course, to Haverhill's satisfaction.

Haverhill seems to gloss over what happens if they don't hire you, stating that if you don't pass, you simply get your tuition back $1000-ish, less $250 in fees and it seems pretty obvious to anybody with a lick of sense that they are not hiring a whole lot of people. Googling Haverhill Staging Scam is a great way to find out how many people have figured this out, unfortunately in retrospect, paying about $1000 for this life lesson, when they were lead to believe they were paying for education and a fair shot at a new career.

But if you are smart enough to finally figure out you are not ever going to get hired, and you ask for your money back, you get $750 for your trouble and the six months of your life you have invested (wasted) in the "opportunity".

And if you DO get hired, and you find you don't like working for Haverhill (is that even a possibility not to love working for them???)  and you "quit" you cannot stage on your own or with another company for TWO YEARS!

You know, it costs a lot of money to introduce your business professionally to the outside world today if Haverhill does not hire you (which is obviously the most likely scenario that occurs) , and you have to go out on your own. I was not alone as I have partners, and I had resources to accomplish this goal and a reality-based expectation on our return for investment. Our expenses for start  up (not including inventory) are nearing $25,000,  in 18 months and I would have  loved another $10,000.  

Haverhill has lots of damage-control issues to sort out, clearly. The main hook is employment and a nice salary, quickly, and it will cost you only about a grand to break into this lucrative staging field. But the actual possibility of that happening to you once you pay up is highly unlikely. This is why people are coming out in droves against Haverhill, and why I personally dislike their approach. It sullies this industry completely and totally.

And I don't like that.

And I have every right to say that.

Sorry if it shocks you.

And sorry to  the tiny handful of actual Haverhill Stagers who might also find my opinion"negative," compared  to the thousands and thousands whom have paid for training with employment possibilites. Employment is "possible" for HS grads, but not very. In fact, it's improbable.  It's wrong, Kimberly, for Haverhill do what they are doing. And it's right to warn people by encouraging them to investigate Haverhill thoroughly and form their own opinions as to the ethics of the company of which you have aligned yourself.

Plus, that commercial is atrocious. So unless you staged the commercial, or created or perpetuated the "scam" as hundreds of former students are calling it, I don't understand your disappointment with a few astute observations and opinions.

I noticed you condemn AR stagers for voicing concerns and opinions about Haverhill, but you yourself have not defended your employer, their marketing tactics, or rebutted the article in any way. Perhaps you just forgot to do that.

Michelle

Hi Kimberly,

The policies of Haverhill are constantly changing. I don't know how you keep up with them. But at least they are changing.

But a complete refund has not always been the case, am I correct? And if you QUIT yourassociation Haverhill, did you not sign a two-year no-compete clause?

And so if Haverhill has nothing to hide with regard to the legitimacy of their job offer just what are the stats on how many have enrolled vs. how many have actually been hired?

We should certainly all work together to  promote a strong image of ethical staging and training policies in our industry.Haverhill may be experiencing nothing growing pains, but if that is the case, then why is the commercial running constantly? Shouldn't they pair back to catch their breath and re-strategize? Or do they not care about their student's experiences & overall image, and only about getting that tuition?

I don't want to debate it either. But someone has to warn people that the suggested promise is pretty much a mirage of employment with Haverhill. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.Unless, of course, stats bear out that indeed, Haverhill hires a reasonable percentage of the people who are paying for an education AND an opportunity. IF NOT, they need to drop that hook from their advertising, and become a regular staging school.

I do not envy you, being the primary person who has to constantly wipe the internet doodie off the Haverhill Brand. I know you are doing your best, Kimberly. It's not you, it's them.

~Michelle