Frequently Asked Questions

PlacementScout FAQ’s

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What
is product placement?

Ever notice in a movie or TV show when a
leading character drinks a Red Bull, or squirts Heinz ketchup on his burger, or
flips through a Victoria’s Secret catalog while eating a whole tub of Ben &
Jerry’s ice cream? That’s no accidental coincidence for the products in
question; it’s the result of a rapidly emerging, highly effective trend in
brand marketing and promotion called product placement.

Product placement is the process of getting
your products into films, television productions and prominent televised live
events.

What
kind of productions/events do you work with?

Virtually any type of professionally produced
entertainment industry production including feature films, television shows (scripted,
reality and live), independent (“indie”) films, student films, and some theater
productions. We even work with live events that are publicly televised and
events that attract decision makers and/or celebrities. For example: concerts,
red carpet events, celebrity mixers, publicity events, launch parties, and any
event where giveaways are needed or products are helpful and effective.

What
kinds of products do you help place?

Pretty much anything. Food products,
clothing, electronics, jewelry, accessories, tools, furniture, you name it.
Anything you see on-screen from baby bottles to blue jeans to wheel chairs to
wheelbarrows - whatever a production company may need, we’re happy to help
with.

Which
types of production professionals typically look for products that you place?

Most often we work
with prop masters, wardrobe/costume designers, set/art directors, production
assistants, event planners/coordinators, and venue managers.

INFORMATION FOR MARKETERS:

Why
should I use PlacementScout?

That’s simple. Imagine hundreds of thousands
or even millions of people seeing your product onscreen, in the hands of top
stars and celebrities -- and what that could do to drive brand recognition and
demand for your product! PlacementScout showcases your products to our
extensive network of entertainment industry pro’s who choose products to use in
their TV shows and films.

And here’s another good reason: While there
are a few other companies that do product placements, most specialize in expensive
placement deals for huge, well-established name brands like Coca-Cola,
Budweiser and Ford. PlacementScout specializes in helping companies with
limited marketing budgets and new, up-and-coming brands and products get the
same product placement benefits.

What
does it cost to subscribe to your service?

It is a flat fee of $499 per month. We can
even facilitate shipping for you with FedEx and direct courier/messaging
services, but you do have to pay for the shipping and delivery. If your
products must be stored during transit or while in use, the storage fees are
your responsibility. PlacementScout can not be liable for any of the products
we help place, so if any insurance is required for your products, these costs
are also your responsibility.

How
long does it typically take from subscription to placement?

This is entirely dependent on when a
production needs a product like yours. It may happen very fast, in just days,
or may take weeks or months. In some cases, it’s possible that there just may
not be a need for a product like yours at all during the period of time it is
featured in our catalog. 

Do
you promote my products to production companies? How?

PlacementScout matches your product to
production companies that are looking for products in your (a) category, (b)
genre or (c) brand demographic. We do this by featuring your products in our
online marketplace, and by giving production pro’s easy search access to
quickly find exactly the types of products they need when they need them.

How
do you handle competing products?

We are open to any companies that wish to
offer their products for placement, so there may be other products that compete
with yours. However, productions are only allowed to accept one of the
competing products.  They are able to choose
which product is the best fit for their production’s script, their budget if
there is a cost involved, and the timeframe they require for delivery in order
to meet their shooting schedule.

How do I know my products will be seen by the right
people?

Because we come from the entertainment
industry, we have an extensive network of contacts among the entertainment
industry pro’s who choose which products will be used in TV shows and films.
Shooting schedules are tight, and finding the right products in a timely manner
is critical to their success. They trust PlacementScout to give them fast
access to exactly the products they need for any production.

How will I know when a production company is interested
in my product(s)?

PlacementScout will notify you by email when
a production company is interested in your category of products, your
demographic, and your brand preferences.

How do production companies know to look for products
through PlacementScout?

As industry veterans ourselves, we have an
extensive network of contacts among entertainment industry pro’s including prop
masters, wardrobe masters, set designers, production assistants, event
planners, event coordinators and venue managers who choose which products will
be used in TV shows and films. We also actively promote our services to
production companies and trade organizations.

In addition we provide a unique social
networking service that allows production pro’s to share information and
experiences with each other through PlacementScout, which makes our website a
top destination and resource they rely on.

Will I know what the film or TV show that wants my
product is about?

Absolutely! We require that the production
provides you with an outline of the plot and the script for the scene(s) in
which your products will be used before deciding if you want to take advantage
of the placement opportunity.

How
will I know how my product will be used?

You will have the opportunity to review in
advance an excerpt of the script for the scene(s) in which your products will
be used. PlacementScout also requires the production to list the main crew
attached to the production (such as director, producers, etc.), and the lead
actor(s) so you can be 100% comfortable that the production and people involved
are aligned with the image you want to portray for your brand and products.

What
if a film or TV show wants my product, but its plot or dialogue goes against
the image of my products (like with violence, sex, etc.)? Can I say no?

You can refuse to provide your product for
any reason. With PlacementScout, you are in complete control.

What happens if I turn down a product request from a
production company?

There are no ramifications or repercussions of
any kind from PlacementScout. It is entirely your prerogative to refuse. But we
can not guarantee that the production company will request your products in the
future for other productions.

Will
I get to go on set when they’re filming scenes with my products?

No, probably not. If your product requires specific
user training or safety considerations or instructions, it’s likely you will be
asked to provide this, but when, where and how that happens is up to the
production company. 

Do I get my products back after they’re done filming? How
does that work?

PlacementScout lets you choose if you want
your products back after the production, although it also depends on the nature
of the product.  If your product is
consumable (i.e. jeans, food, beverages) then return usually isn’t an option.
If your products are mechanical, or expensive, we recommend you use the easy Return
Shipments feature we offer through PlacementScout. The production company will
return your product when the production is done or the scene is finished
filming, and the agreed upon timeframe for product use has completed.

Can
PlacementScout guarantee us exposure?

We can guarantee that your products will be
featured in our online marketplace and available to the entertainment industry
professionals that visit and view our website looking for products. We can’t
guarantee that people will look at your products specifically, or choose to use
them in productions.

Do
you offer a money back guarantee if my product(s) don’t get placed?

No. While we make our best efforts to get
your products top visibility with industry pro’s, we can’t guarantee that
anyone will have need of a product like yours at any given time.

Do
you assist with delivery of our product(s) to the set?

We can facilitate shipping for you through
our website via a direct interface with FedEx and if you want same-day
delivery, use our messenger/courier service for quick on-set delivery.

Who
pays for shipping and delivering my products to the set?

As a general rule, you pay for the shipping
and return of your products.  However,
some transactions are unique, and PlacementScout offers the opportunity for
productions to pick up the transportation and shipment costs where appropriate.

Can
I get a copy of the footage that included my product(s)?

In the near future, we will be arranging for
production companies to upload copies of scenes using products placed through PlacementScout,
so as part of your subscription service you will have online access. We’ll keep
you posted!

Until then, you can request a reel of the
scene(s) featuring your product directly from the production company when
filming and editing are completed.

Is
it for free, or do I have to buy it? What is the cost?

Our current plan is that PlacementScout’s
video upload feature will be free for up to 5 accesses per month. (Have
suggestions on this feature? Let us know here [link to feedback section]) Check
back here for more details as we roll this service out. If you request a reel
directly from the production company, any costs involved are at the discretion
of the production company and beyond PlacementScout’s control.

Can
I use the footage for my own marketing campaigns, ads, website, etc?

Each production is different, and the rules
vary.  It’s up to you to obtain approval
directly from the production company and/or distributor of the media or event.  PlacementScout can only provide a mechanism to
help verify product placement in the production.

Do
you offer product placement tracking?

Not at the moment. We are planning to
introduce a premium feature that allows for accurate placement tracking through
Nielsen data at some point in the future.

What
if a production company or event producer takes my product and then doesn’t use
it?

This doesn’t often happen, but unfortunately,
there is no way to guarantee that your product will be used even if selected,
or that the film footage showing it won’t end up on the cutting room floor. Those
decisions are made by the production and are totally beyond PlacementScout’s
control.

However, to encourage proper use of PlacementScout’s
services, we encourage both brands and production companies to leave feedback
about their transactions.  PlacementScout
will also display how long a user has been a member, and all positive feedback
about the user from past transactions.

Can
our PR/Advertising agency use PlacementScout's services?

Yes. Although PlacementScout is mainly designed
to enable product marketers to manage their own product placements, we certainly
encourage your agency to use our services as an added way to find up-to-date product
placements for the products you represent. We do require that agencies have a
separate membership for each client.

How
are you different/better than your competitor(s)?

PlacementScout is the most cost effective,
easy to understand, easy to use, up to date service for placing your products
in productions. PlacementScout was designed by marketers who have years of
experience in successful product placement and individuals in the entertainment
industry who work on sets every day. We understand what the production pro’s
need, and we understand the pressure marketers are under to gain brand
visibility and recognition on tight budgets. Our service is designed to help
you reap the benefits of placing your products in productions by making it fast,
easy and cost effective for production pro’s find and use your products.

INFORMATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT PRO’S:

Why
should I use PlacementScout?

We are industry pro’s just like you who
understand the pressures you face to cut costs and meet tight schedules. We
specialize in:

helping you lower production costs with free
product placements

introducing you to hip and new up-and-coming brands
that are realistic for your audience

giving you fast access to decision makers for
quick turnaround time that agrees with today’s accelerated production schedules

What
kind of product providers subscribe to PlacementScout’s services?

We are open to virtually any kind of product.
At any given point in time we expect to have all manner of consumer-oriented
products, such as food and beverage items, clothing, makeup, jewelry and
accessories, as well as household goods, appliances, electronics, mechanical
items, tools, furniture -- whatever you may need.

What
does it cost to subscribe to your service?

It is a flat $499.00 monthly fee. Normally,
the marketers that provide their products for placement pay for shipping costs,
but in some circumstances you may need to cover FedEx, messenger/courier
services, storage and/or possible insurance for expensive items.

 Are all PlacementScout products free to me?

We specialize in free product placement, and
encourage our brand marketer subscribers to make their products available for
free. However, there may be instances when a small fee is required for product
usage.

Do
we always have to allow script review before we can get products?

Yes. We commit to our product marketers that
they will have the right to review the script for the scene(s) in advance in
order to ensure that they are comfortable that the way their products will be
used, portrayed and seen is consistent with their brand image and target
demographic audience.

How
is PlacementScout different than an agency?

PlacementScout lets you take immediate
control of your product placements. 
There are no intermediaries or high-powered agents to chase down.  You have access directly to the brands that
your production needs.  You get immediate
feedback from the brands interested in your script and crew’s reputation.

Who
handles shipping/delivery logistics? Who pays for it?

PlacementScout was designed to be a one-stop
solution for sourcing and shipping of products. 
Usually the brand will pay for shipping products. We make it easy for
them to get their products delivered to your set quickly by providing
interfaces right through the PlacementScout website to FedEx and direct
courier/messenger services for same day deliveries.

How
long does it take to receive product(s)?

We encourage our brand marketers to use the
FedEx and courier/messenger services through our website to expedite delivery
and track their shipments online. FedEx is usually overnight or 2-day except
for very large and heavy items, and our local messenger/couriers are typically
same day delivery.

Can
I track the product from the supplier company to my set?

Yes. We provide easy access to tracking info
on PlacementScout’s “Track my Shipments” section. Our integrated FedEx and
messenger/courier tracking service lets you know exactly where your products
are and when they will arrive.

Can
we keep the product(s)?

We generally let the brand choose if they
want their products back after the production, depending on the nature of the
product.  If the product is consumable
(jeans, food, beverage, etc.) then typically no return would be requested, and
any leftover product would be yours to dispose of. If products are difficult to
replace, or expensive, we recommend the brand chose the “Return Shipment”
feature to arrange return transport through PlacementScout.

Our brand marketers understand that your
production company will not return their product until the production is
completed or the filming of the scene is completed, and/or until he agreed upon
time for product usage has elapsed.

If
we have to ship product(s) back who handles the shipping?

PlacementScout allows for either the brand marketer
or the production company to pay for the shipping. We provide easy access to
tracking info on PlacementScout’s “Track my Shipments” section.

Do
we only deal with PlacementScout to receive the product?

No, you use PlacementScout to request
products, agree on terms, get the product shipped, track the product, return
the product, leave and request feedback from the brand.

Does
PlacementScout guarantee the products it places with me?

No, we can not guarantee or warrant any
products placed through our service. That is the responsibility of the product
supplier. However, it’s very important to us that we maintain our good
reputation as a source of products for placement. If you experience significant
problems with product(s) from any given supplier, we request that you notify us
so that we can determine if we want to continue to represent that product
through PlacementScout.

What
happens if we get a product on set and it’s broken or doesn’t work?

You would contact the brand marketer directly
to request that replacement product be shipped immediately. We would facilitate
the expedited shipment to your set.

What
if a product we get through PlacementScout causes injury or damage? 

PlacementScout can not take any responsibility
for injuries or damages caused by products placed through our service. You will
have to address these problems directly with the product supplier and/or
through their insurance carrier.

What
if I want to use my own courier/messenger?

No problem! That is entirely up to you. With PlacementScout,
you’re in control.

What
if my production company won't let me email and or distribute the script
electronically?

We can provide FedEx or courier/messenger
services for a printed copy of your script to be delivered directly to the
decision maker at the brand.

How
are you different/better than your competitor(s)?

PlacementScout is the most effective, easy to
understand, up to date, low cost alternative for free product placements in
productions. PlacementScout was designed by individuals in the entertainment
industry who work on sets every day.  We
understand what you need, and the pressure you’re under. Our service is
designed to make your job easier by meeting your needs quickly and cost
effectively.