In a time where different items can be interpreted as the same / similar, it can be confusing to know what is genuine. Some retailers can put a spin on things to dumbfound customers – not blatant lying, of course, but more of a misleading interpretation to make products more desirable than they are. It’s all part of the marketing machine that we see every day.
Of course, there are plenty of companies who tell it like it is, choosing to state the facts and ignore the confusing jargon. A clear objective is more trustworthy, and many companies have grown because of their transparency.
And “transparency” is a crucial word. The ability of customers to focus on the straightforward way a company works can only be beneficial. If a business lays all its cards on the table, customers are less likely to be disappointed. Any part of a business can occasionally fail, whether that’s due to a lack of employees at a particular time, a technical failure or an excusable human error. We all make mistakes, but there’s no excuse for blatant ambiguity.
A lot of models have heard of showcase agencies. Even a “man on the street” is familiar with the term. You may know already by this blog’s title that a showcase agency is very different from a reputable modelling employment agency.
If you’re not sure about what they are, the main difference between a showcase agency and a modelling employment agency is:
A showcase agency (aka photo agency) can sometimes claim to have work opportunities for would-be models. They will charge models for photos, but can have no intention of using them to find models work. Simply, they are not employment agencies, and they are not permitted by law to find models work. If they say otherwise, they are being dishonest.
An employment modelling agency has professional staff and real job openings from credible clients. Employment agencies are legally allowed to charge admin fees. Only modelling employment agencies are legally permitted to find work for their models.
We’re very clear when we say we do not – and have never – charged models for photos. We don’t ask for professional photos either when applying with us. Leave that for the showcase agencies with false promises. You can read more about our photo submission procedure in our recent blog.
We’re inspected by the government, and are regulated by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Showcase agencies have no such protocol or obligations.
Showcase agencies can also be hard to contact – once they have charged “would-be models” a fee.
We’re always available during office hours to be contacted – even if you haven’t registered with us yet. It’s good to ease one’s doubts, so we’ll be more than happy to answer queries you may have.
