Janet Bernasconi says:

Hi Sarah,

Great information. I did just as you posted. I have had a few encounters with important people and made sure the make the most of it to help my business. I made sure to add it to my press page which sure does help.
Just wanted to thank you for your valuable advice. I just hope that I get more celebrities to shop at my website.
Have a great day,
Janet Bernasconi
Janets Creative Pillows

EC (Lisa) Stewart says:

What about in the event that I *think* it’s a real celeb (like Michael Moore) but don’t know because it’s such a common name?

Or, how about when I watch a video with Elvira Kurtz and she’s wearing a very similar Bacchus pendant but I can’t get a great look because well, she’s standing on stage and the video is quite bitmapped?

Should I just call them up and ask, “Hey are you thee Michael Moore?” or “Hey Elvira, I love your standup, are you wearing my pendant?”

Lisa
@ecstewart

Shirley Green says:

I would respect their privacy and NOT publicize unless they send a “testimonial”. Then I would ask (so you have it in writing) if I could pulicize on my website.

Jullian Kramer-Johnson says:

I take it this happened to you recently Sarah? Either way, yes, what Lisa said…it would have to be a stand out artist with a very unique name before I made that call! The last thing you’d want to do is brag that a celeb purchased from you and their PR people come back and deny the claim. Alternatively if their attorney sends a cease a dismiss order regarding using their name and likeness to promote your product.

Unless the celeb purchases from you “in person” and you’re able to take a snap shot with them in your establishment, it’s pretty cheesy to go off an Internet sale or use copy written photos from the website to create a one-sheet about the sale. Restaurateurs have the best angle on this approach, except instead of sending out a press release, they frame the pictures for patrons to see…

Lee Romano Sequeira says:

This was a perfect post, since we just had a popular female celebrity purchase our instant breast lift tape from our site (knew it was her by her Beverly Hills address, thanks to GOOGLE).

Problem is, since it’s a personal matter (lifting the “girls”) I wonder if we should even post a photo of her on the product page, or simply state that ‘Ms. XXXX shopped at GoodtoBeYou’ — thoughts please?

Thanks!
~ Lee
@goodtobeyou

Keren says:

Lee –

I feel that it would NOT be a good idea to advertise something with personal nature like that without clear permission. Good way to make enemies! I wouldn’t use her name at all, unless it’s something you say to people you meet in person “so and so bought my product”. A one sheet seems completely inappropriate.

And to everyone –

Unless someone is an A or B lister celeb, I am not so sure that they have assistants buying stuff for them. I am not sure that I agree with Sarah that they are “up for grabs” if they purchase from the website. Something does feel not quite right with that approach. But unless they buy something personal (like a breast lift…) I think it’s ok to advertise it even though I haven’t personally done it when that happened.

I really doubt any lawyers would go after you if you said something like “so and so bought my bracelet”. They got better things to do, and besides if they just take it down.

Keren –
kerenjewelry.com

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