Meraki Rose? Anybody have info?
Hi,
I've just attended an interview in Glasgow for a Junior Marketing Associate role. Met with the Managing Director Yanis Johnstone, who was very pleasant.
Interview went really well, and I now have been invited to a trial day from 8.30am - 18.00ish unpaid for a sort of trial run, to see if I fit the company. I asked him what my day-to-day job would be, and he sort of skirted the issue, and said within 13 months you could earn about £100000 for sitting behind a desk (He did emphasise that this wasn't easy, otherwise everyone would do it).
My real worry is that the job would involve me being one of those annoying people in shopping complexes that advertise products. If that is the case, I'd rather not continue. Does anyone have any info?
Jamie
I've just attended an interview in Glasgow for a Junior Marketing Associate role. Met with the Managing Director Yanis Johnstone, who was very pleasant.
Interview went really well, and I now have been invited to a trial day from 8.30am - 18.00ish unpaid for a sort of trial run, to see if I fit the company. I asked him what my day-to-day job would be, and he sort of skirted the issue, and said within 13 months you could earn about £100000 for sitting behind a desk (He did emphasise that this wasn't easy, otherwise everyone would do it).
My real worry is that the job would involve me being one of those annoying people in shopping complexes that advertise products. If that is the case, I'd rather not continue. Does anyone have any info?
Jamie
Scroll to see replies
I haven't had personal experience with them so I can't say for sure but a bit of googling makes them sound a lot like those companies which promise you the earth within 6 months of training but actually make you struggle with commission-based earnings only for a long time and it's difficult to actually get anywhere substantial. But maybe I'm wrong and someone who's actually worked for them will come along!
Thanks for the reply.
That's what I'm worrying about.
That's what I'm worrying about.
Hi, did you attend the trial day or find out any further information on Meraki Rose? My girlfriend is an a similar position and I'm slightly skeptical as a result of their sparse online presence and lack of overall clarity. The company seems to be run by people without any genuine industry experience or formal qualifications and I know that they have been quick to skirt round any direct questioning regarding job roles. I'm certainly not impressed.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Hi, I attended a observation day with meraki rose, it was awful, they took me all the way to Falkirk, then sat me in a cafe Nero while the went to work, I can confirm that it is standing in the streets selling things, not only did I not learn anything from the observational day, but I got told off like I was a child, for sitting and talking with someone in cafe Nero after being left to my own devices for over 1 hour. After being left alone for over 2 1/2 hours in cafe Nero, i just left without informing any of them.
I personally would avoid them.
I personally would avoid them.
Original post by S.Loo💁🏼
Hi, I attended a observation day with meraki rose, it was awful, they took me all the way to Falkirk, then sat me in a cafe Nero while the went to work, I can confirm that it is standing in the streets selling things, not only did I not learn anything from the observational day, but I got told off like I was a child, for sitting and talking with someone in cafe Nero after being left to my own devices for over 1 hour. After being left alone for over 2 1/2 hours in cafe Nero, i just left without informing any of them.
I personally would avoid them.
I personally would avoid them.
Thanks for the reply
Jamie
My girlfriend went for a interview in Falkirk too. Her story is the exact same as S.Loo. She stayed till the end but yeah can confirm its selling stuff in the street. Very unprofessional company in regards to detailing any sort of role/description of the job required. Stay away if you don't like sales.
Hi, I hope I will be able to offer a little clarity and information in regards to Meraki Rose.
Meraki Rose is an event marketing firm, which means we run pop up events throughout Glasgow on behalf of some of the UK’s biggest brands. Pop up events are growing increasingly popular and offer customers the opportunity to ask questions and interact face to face with brands. Because of this our pop up events have helped our clients to form stronger connections with their customers which has in turn, allowed them to develop a positive market reputation and achieve nationwide success. To further help our clients spread their brand message to an even greater audience, we regularly advertise for new sales and marketing associates/contractors.
As some of you have already mentioned the Meraki Rose interview process is a little different from a traditional job interview, however there is good reason for this. Working on a pop up event can at times be incredibly challenging and we believe it’s vital to be able to offer applicants the opportunity to experience the day to day realities of the job. This is why we invite applicants back for a second ‘hands on’ interview or observation day where they can spend time at one of our event locations and get a feel for what we do. We think it’s really important to do this as, whilst our industry can offer a huge range of benefits, in order to make the most of these benefits applicants must be able to fit in with our culture and understand the true demands of our work.
We want to be as transparent as possible with applicants at all times, which is why after the second stage interview we invite applicants back to the office so that we can discuss the observation day and assess whether our company is the best fit for them and can accommodate their future goals. As mentioned in a previous comment many of our applicants are attracted to our business because of the development opportunities we can offer. Like in any job/career/contract, progression is not easy, however with the right attitude and a commitment to learning and development it is possible to do exceptionally well in our industry.
I hope this has gone some way to help clarify what it is Meraki Rose do and has simplified some of our processes.
Meraki Rose is an event marketing firm, which means we run pop up events throughout Glasgow on behalf of some of the UK’s biggest brands. Pop up events are growing increasingly popular and offer customers the opportunity to ask questions and interact face to face with brands. Because of this our pop up events have helped our clients to form stronger connections with their customers which has in turn, allowed them to develop a positive market reputation and achieve nationwide success. To further help our clients spread their brand message to an even greater audience, we regularly advertise for new sales and marketing associates/contractors.
As some of you have already mentioned the Meraki Rose interview process is a little different from a traditional job interview, however there is good reason for this. Working on a pop up event can at times be incredibly challenging and we believe it’s vital to be able to offer applicants the opportunity to experience the day to day realities of the job. This is why we invite applicants back for a second ‘hands on’ interview or observation day where they can spend time at one of our event locations and get a feel for what we do. We think it’s really important to do this as, whilst our industry can offer a huge range of benefits, in order to make the most of these benefits applicants must be able to fit in with our culture and understand the true demands of our work.
We want to be as transparent as possible with applicants at all times, which is why after the second stage interview we invite applicants back to the office so that we can discuss the observation day and assess whether our company is the best fit for them and can accommodate their future goals. As mentioned in a previous comment many of our applicants are attracted to our business because of the development opportunities we can offer. Like in any job/career/contract, progression is not easy, however with the right attitude and a commitment to learning and development it is possible to do exceptionally well in our industry.
I hope this has gone some way to help clarify what it is Meraki Rose do and has simplified some of our processes.
The only reason Meraki Rose thought to respond to these comments is because they are having severe difficulty recruiting people to do their jobs. I was a lucky one who found this thread before I accepted the trial day. People should not have to rely on the Internet to give them insightful information before a job - it's the company's responsibility to give this information. Please, keep re-posting your job-roles on job websites, you'll never find anyone.
please please please PLEASE avoid this company at all costs!
I recently went for an interview, was invited back for an observation day the next day from 8.30am - 6.00pm - I sat in a McDonalds in a run down area for 8 hours, leaving the place ONCE! they are selling Vanquis credit cards to extremely vulnerable people. it is purely commission and no wage whatsoever. you don't get paid for any training. you could be busting your ass for 8 hours and not receiving a penny! AVOID!
I recently went for an interview, was invited back for an observation day the next day from 8.30am - 6.00pm - I sat in a McDonalds in a run down area for 8 hours, leaving the place ONCE! they are selling Vanquis credit cards to extremely vulnerable people. it is purely commission and no wage whatsoever. you don't get paid for any training. you could be busting your ass for 8 hours and not receiving a penny! AVOID!
Many thanks Ryan, as I think some forms of sales are among the most exploitative of all industries, with it's staff are promoting the companies products, however because they may not hit targets the company effectively is utilizing their services for free. Believe in hard graft, however employer has to show me my money, and whilst I do not mind a flexible working regime it's vital to have structure or you have chaos and I couldn't imagine working in that type of environment.
Thanks again buddy, and I wish your good lady good luck in her future pursuits.
Regards
DJ
Thanks again buddy, and I wish your good lady good luck in her future pursuits.
Regards
DJ
I just got a call from them there, I went through this with a company called Glasgow Actell Interactive who advertise as a events company but are really a sales company. After that awful boring day I now look into any jobs that call me. I'm so glad for you honesty s.loo saved me taking a day off work and losing out on money.
I had an awful experience with Meraki Rose, I was looking into this industry as part of an entrepreneurship course I was doing. xlesley92 mentioned Glasgow Interactive. I actually found that company to be really good they were a right friendly bunch and paid a daily wage as well as commission which I suppose is better than commission only. Definitely seems like a tough industry but from experience Meraki Rose is to be avoided at all costs.
(edited 8 years ago)
Having worked for what I believe is Meraki Rose's parent company (Penmex) I can assure you it's a pyramid scheme in everything but name. You're essentially 'self-employed' which in this instance means they don't have an obligation to offer you a wage outside of commission. The business development scheme or whatever Meraki has chosen to call it is just a way for you to get an increase in this commission through meeting sales targets. As for the Vanquis account it is a card with rates which are between 20 and 50 times higher than a bank or decent company and is aimed at those who cannot afford anything else. On a moral level I'd advise you to stay away and on a personal level it's a rubbish job with absolutely no guarantees except for long, boring hours outside amongst a public who hate you. Also, they do this stupid thing in the morning at like 7am called 'Atmosphere' (well Penmex did) where they play loud music and make you high-five and use terms like 'smash it' like we were drunk children.
The term “brainwashed” comes to mind when I think about the time I spent working for Meraki Rose. It’s sad because there are some genuinely lovely folk (some however are full of self importance) who work for the company but I experienced many, many tears and upset over the reality of the “job”, not just from me but from the team leaders who clearly feel trapped there. I can confirm that this job is literally standing in shopping centres/the street being one of those people that we all do our best to avoid. They expect you to attend “Atmosphere” every morning at 7:45, where you are basically told off like a child for sitting on the floor, resting against walls or sneaking a peek at the time on your phone, or having a sip of water. This goes on for about an hour or so, where you’re also being “taught” how to manipulate innocent members of the public into signing up for **** and donating to charities that they would never go out of their own way to do. I understand this is the point of direct marketing but using the “5 step conversation” to brainwash people doesn’t sit well with me.
Once you’re out at these “marketing events”, you have to pay for all of your own travel expenses no matter how far the distance is, no costs are covered whatsoever. I must have wasted between £800-1000 during the time I worked here because not only do they want you working from 7:45am, they then expect you to use your own precious little spare time to socialise after hours, which is fun for the first week or two, but “networking” every single ****ing day quickly becomes a tedious chore, and if you don’t attend you will be chastised for it. You’re also expected to work Monday – Saturday, I was out from 6:30am-9pm every single day, everyone was constantly exhausted and stressed out trying to hit their targets for the day and no one seemed to care.
At the first interview stage and during the second one, “if you’re lucky enough to make it that far” (one of the “fear of loss” tactics they will use to try scare you into taking this job), you will see a business plan which tells you that you will earn up to hundreds of pounds a week. This is an absolute goddamn lie; these people fail to tell you that it is 100% commission based, as I said above, no expenses whatsoever. They don’t tell you this at the interview because they know people won’t want the job. Also, they will try make you feel special during these interviews by insinuating that you’re the only candidate for the job. Meraki Rose will hire anyone with a pulse, as they have such high staff turnover they need anyone they can get through the door. All of the jobs advertised on websites such as indeed, total jobs etc. give different job titles, e.g. Trainee Sales Assistant, Junior Marketing Assistant at Entry Level, Graduate Management Trainee, and they all imply that they are salaried positions as they have £18000-£20000 a year in the vacancies. Bull****, everyone does the same job, no one is treated differently and everyone starts out the exact same: at the very bottom of the **** heap.
In conclusion, if being treated like a dog for next to no pay sounds good to you, then apply today to work at Meraki Rose, I guarantee that you’ll get the job regardless of how little effort you put into the interview. If you are daft enough to take the job, you’ll find that snippets of this review will be read out to you during your induction day and you’ll be told it’s from a disgruntled ex-employee who didn’t deserve the job and business opportunity anyway. This ex-employee now has a real job, works 9-5pm Monday to Friday with a proper salary, and is still trying to reverse the mess that this rip off company made to their bank account. Trust me, it’s not bloody worth the hassle. I wish I had taken the above advice before accepting my first interview invite.
Ps. You will also be offered the opportunity to go on "really amazing exciting" business trips, if you want to sleep on a random person’s floor in a sleeping bag for 6 nights then by all means go for it!!
TL;DR: Avoid at all costs, noone wants to be "that guy" selling stuff on the street. You deserve better than that.
Once you’re out at these “marketing events”, you have to pay for all of your own travel expenses no matter how far the distance is, no costs are covered whatsoever. I must have wasted between £800-1000 during the time I worked here because not only do they want you working from 7:45am, they then expect you to use your own precious little spare time to socialise after hours, which is fun for the first week or two, but “networking” every single ****ing day quickly becomes a tedious chore, and if you don’t attend you will be chastised for it. You’re also expected to work Monday – Saturday, I was out from 6:30am-9pm every single day, everyone was constantly exhausted and stressed out trying to hit their targets for the day and no one seemed to care.
At the first interview stage and during the second one, “if you’re lucky enough to make it that far” (one of the “fear of loss” tactics they will use to try scare you into taking this job), you will see a business plan which tells you that you will earn up to hundreds of pounds a week. This is an absolute goddamn lie; these people fail to tell you that it is 100% commission based, as I said above, no expenses whatsoever. They don’t tell you this at the interview because they know people won’t want the job. Also, they will try make you feel special during these interviews by insinuating that you’re the only candidate for the job. Meraki Rose will hire anyone with a pulse, as they have such high staff turnover they need anyone they can get through the door. All of the jobs advertised on websites such as indeed, total jobs etc. give different job titles, e.g. Trainee Sales Assistant, Junior Marketing Assistant at Entry Level, Graduate Management Trainee, and they all imply that they are salaried positions as they have £18000-£20000 a year in the vacancies. Bull****, everyone does the same job, no one is treated differently and everyone starts out the exact same: at the very bottom of the **** heap.
In conclusion, if being treated like a dog for next to no pay sounds good to you, then apply today to work at Meraki Rose, I guarantee that you’ll get the job regardless of how little effort you put into the interview. If you are daft enough to take the job, you’ll find that snippets of this review will be read out to you during your induction day and you’ll be told it’s from a disgruntled ex-employee who didn’t deserve the job and business opportunity anyway. This ex-employee now has a real job, works 9-5pm Monday to Friday with a proper salary, and is still trying to reverse the mess that this rip off company made to their bank account. Trust me, it’s not bloody worth the hassle. I wish I had taken the above advice before accepting my first interview invite.
Ps. You will also be offered the opportunity to go on "really amazing exciting" business trips, if you want to sleep on a random person’s floor in a sleeping bag for 6 nights then by all means go for it!!
TL;DR: Avoid at all costs, noone wants to be "that guy" selling stuff on the street. You deserve better than that.
First of all, "Meraki Rose", I'm going to call you out on your piece of fiction here. This "Events Marketing" company is no such thing.
This company, if one can call it that, however loosely, is yet another offshoot of the world famous "Cobra Group" - Cobra have a long and rich history of setting up thousands upon thousands of individual corporations, throughout the country, to sell things people don't want or need, and sell it hard. For any readers, just google "Cobra Group UK" and you will get all the information you need.
I will provide a very quick overview - I've written many articles on this outfit over the years, the UK government are aware of their duplicitous practices, they have been in agreement for many years that it needs to stop, yet it has not made it close enough to the top of their priorities for legislation to be introduced to outlaw their practices.
Needless to say, Cobra are an American organisation. On paper, quite deliberately, they do not "own" these businesses like Meraki Rose. What these businesses do, is recruit sales people. Usually young, vulnerable people in need of money to live the dream. 98% of people who join and start working with them will never make any money, or at least, no money worth mentioning. The other 2% will sell for them, will fit their culture, and will thrive in their environment. These are the dishonest percentage. The people who would sell their gran for £5. Now, although the 98% majority will never earn money, because they will mostly quit within 3 months (usually much sooner), but they will sell while they are there, and the company will earn commissions. Now, someone mentioned that they were selling Vanquis credit cards, which is a sub prime credit card, horrendous interest rates, and aimed at the weakest, most vulnerable people in society. Meraki Rose have NO contract with Vanquis to do anything. Vanquis have a contract with the aforementioned "Cobra Group", who then subcontract Meraki Rose and hundreds and hundreds of companies of that exact nature throughout the UK, send them out to shopping service like little ant's, and ALL the commission goes directly to "Cobra Group" - The ONLY money coming in to "Meraki Rose" is the tiny % of commission which "Cobra" pass over to them. The so called "business Owners" (I prefer to call them business halfwits) then distribute any commission due to any staff who are still there who have met their targets (This will be a very small payroll run). After paying rent on their cheap offices, the rest belongs to the business owner. Cobra take the lions share.
If they are marketing these jobs as "Event Marketing" then that is false advertising for one, simple reason, which has been glossed over here. They do not market anything at any events. Infact, no respectable event would let these cretinous bottom feeders anywhere near it. They PAY money to have a stand in a shopping centre. A shopping centre is not an event. It's questionable why shopping centres let these outfits operate, but I guess money talks.
I suppose shopping centres are a step up for them, because in years gone by, they used to go round door to door in council estates selling their wares. At least now they can keep dry.
There is only one meaningful piece of advice in regard to "Meraki Rose" and every other member organisation within the Cobra Group, and that is to run a mile from it. Don't go near them. Don't give them your information. Just forget about them and keep looking until you find a real job - there are no opportunities here, except for Meraki Rose, or whatever they call themselves next week, to take advantage of you in a well rehearsed, if unpolished scam.
This company, if one can call it that, however loosely, is yet another offshoot of the world famous "Cobra Group" - Cobra have a long and rich history of setting up thousands upon thousands of individual corporations, throughout the country, to sell things people don't want or need, and sell it hard. For any readers, just google "Cobra Group UK" and you will get all the information you need.
I will provide a very quick overview - I've written many articles on this outfit over the years, the UK government are aware of their duplicitous practices, they have been in agreement for many years that it needs to stop, yet it has not made it close enough to the top of their priorities for legislation to be introduced to outlaw their practices.
Needless to say, Cobra are an American organisation. On paper, quite deliberately, they do not "own" these businesses like Meraki Rose. What these businesses do, is recruit sales people. Usually young, vulnerable people in need of money to live the dream. 98% of people who join and start working with them will never make any money, or at least, no money worth mentioning. The other 2% will sell for them, will fit their culture, and will thrive in their environment. These are the dishonest percentage. The people who would sell their gran for £5. Now, although the 98% majority will never earn money, because they will mostly quit within 3 months (usually much sooner), but they will sell while they are there, and the company will earn commissions. Now, someone mentioned that they were selling Vanquis credit cards, which is a sub prime credit card, horrendous interest rates, and aimed at the weakest, most vulnerable people in society. Meraki Rose have NO contract with Vanquis to do anything. Vanquis have a contract with the aforementioned "Cobra Group", who then subcontract Meraki Rose and hundreds and hundreds of companies of that exact nature throughout the UK, send them out to shopping service like little ant's, and ALL the commission goes directly to "Cobra Group" - The ONLY money coming in to "Meraki Rose" is the tiny % of commission which "Cobra" pass over to them. The so called "business Owners" (I prefer to call them business halfwits) then distribute any commission due to any staff who are still there who have met their targets (This will be a very small payroll run). After paying rent on their cheap offices, the rest belongs to the business owner. Cobra take the lions share.
If they are marketing these jobs as "Event Marketing" then that is false advertising for one, simple reason, which has been glossed over here. They do not market anything at any events. Infact, no respectable event would let these cretinous bottom feeders anywhere near it. They PAY money to have a stand in a shopping centre. A shopping centre is not an event. It's questionable why shopping centres let these outfits operate, but I guess money talks.
I suppose shopping centres are a step up for them, because in years gone by, they used to go round door to door in council estates selling their wares. At least now they can keep dry.
There is only one meaningful piece of advice in regard to "Meraki Rose" and every other member organisation within the Cobra Group, and that is to run a mile from it. Don't go near them. Don't give them your information. Just forget about them and keep looking until you find a real job - there are no opportunities here, except for Meraki Rose, or whatever they call themselves next week, to take advantage of you in a well rehearsed, if unpolished scam.
I worked for a similar company like this. I agree, it's like being brainwashed. these people let you hear exactly what you want to hear in the interview stage - then once you're hired and manage to get yourself 'promoted' to a team leader, they teach you the exact technique they used on you 3 months earlier. pretty sad to be honest, everyone at the business seem so nice and genuine.. then you later find out it was all an act and every single conversation you've had with co-workers leading up to that point was all scripted. also the pay is REALLY bad, considering the amount you fork out on travelling to and from "events" everyday. avoid these companies.
I'm looking to go into the events industry and applied for a job with Actell Interactive. I've just had a call from them asking for me to go for a short interview tomorrow. The role was advertised as "Events/Sales/Promotions Assistant'. Am I applying for a job where I stand outside tube station trying to sell stuff? ... Cause I don't wanna do that!
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