I’ve worked in PR, so I get PR.
I understand the importance of word-of-mouth marketing and the value of honest, peer-to-peer product reviews. I’ll never take money in exchange for a review; there’s nothing more fishy to a consumer than the whiff of a “bought” reviewer.
Whether you represent a company or work for an agency, you can get your product reviewed or your destination/property visited by sending an email to andrea@mommygearest.com and letting me know what the destination or product is and the age(s) for which it’s intended. I love Canadian products but do not limit reviews to only Canadian-made products; they should, however, be readily available in Canada (meaning that a $15 product doesn’t cost $10 in shipping). I travel globally for press trips almost without limitation.
You can get (paid) promotional profile for your product through advertising, by sponsoring a post or running a contest. Just shoot me an email and let me know what you have in mind and we can create something customized just for you.
Anything that I post on this blog, positive and negative, are actively promoted through my Twitter feed (@MommyGearest) and Facebook page and could also appear on any of my other active social channels.
CASL
Thanks to the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation, as of July 1, 2014, you spammers won’t be able to inundate my inbox anymore. While I still want to hear about relevant products, services, travel and events that are appropriate for Mommy Gearest and its audience, I DO NOT wish to be contacted by: crowd-funding organizations (like Kickstarter, Fundzinger, Cool Tech Co., etc.); people who want me to open a dirty file or click on a phishing link; and anyone trying to sell me anything. If you do, I will report you.
The fine print
Reviews are conducted with my family, unless otherwise noted (“guest review”) and agreed to in advance. I’m merely a self-described product expert, but I certainly don’t pretend to be a nutritionist, pediatrician, nurse practitioner, sleep doula, lactation consultant, dietitian, retail analyst or the like. I’m a mom (an opinionated one) who loves to write and help inform parents’ decision-making; that’s it. Please don’t substitute my opinions with advice from a professional.
I will always indicate if a product has been supplied; if I don’t note this, you can safely assume that I’ve personally purchased the product. Products/services must be provided to Mommy Gearest. Mommy Gearest will not, under any circumstances, be responsible for shipping/handling, import duty charges, GST/HST or other taxes for any item received, and all items should be provided as marketing samples. Please note that if I accept a package with COD charges, I will provide you with the customs label and payment receipt; a review will not be posted until I receive a cheque issued for the total amount, and your product(s) will not be returned.
Providing a product/service for review does not, at any time, guarantee a positive rating. In fact, Mommy Gearest strives to provide honest reviews and will not be held legally responsible for what may or may not be considered a negative review. This site is intended to help parents rather than promote brands. I will not consider a “do-over” if your product gets a negative review, so please don’t ask.
I do not guarantee that posts will be published within a specific amount of time. Reviews could take up to 12 weeks or longer to appear, based on various factors.
Giveaways are sponsored by either the product/service provider or a PR agency. Prizes and shipping costs are the sole responsibility of the sponsor. I will not host a contest that isn’t open to Canadians (they can be open to any other country around the world but MUST include Canadians.) Winners must not be expected to cover the costs of any shipping, import duty charges, GST/HST or other taxes; moreover, Mommy Gearest cannot be held responsible for reimbursing these charges should they occur.