Directly on the top is a banner claiming that this business grew from a pitch on Shark Tank. Somehow, someone came onto ABC's wildly successful investment show and convinced a millionaire that. Life has been a bit of a whirlwind this week for Minneapolis entrepreneur Amber Leong, who reeled in a $750,000 investment on ABC’s “Shark Tank” for her fledgling business.

5 investors took the plunge into the Shark Tank and walked away with some record breaking numbers for their idea.

Her Fashion Box founder Kath Purkis. Picture: TwitterSource:Twitter

A failed fashion industry start-up that once scored a $200,000 deal on Shark Tank has been dealt a final blow after copping a massive fine for exploiting young workers.

Her Fashion Box and its sole director Kath Purkis have been fined a total of $329,133 by the Federal Circuit Court in Sydney for underpaying three workers more than $40,000 between 2013 and 2015.

The court found one was unlawfully classified as an “unpaid intern” when she was in fact a part-time employee. The graphic designer worked two days per week for nearly six months before receiving a one-off “Christmas bonus” of $1000.

The three workers, who were underpaid a total of $40,543 for their entitlements including minimum hourly rates, overtime, public holiday pay and annual leave between 2013 and 2015, have now been back paid in full.

Her Fashion Box Pty Ltd has been fined $274,278 and Ms Purkis a further $54,855.

The company ceased trading in 2017 and has unsecured debts of $200,000. Ms Purkis told the court she had no income or property and is currently financially supported by her partner.

“There is no doubt that the penalties are substantial,” Judge Nicholas Manousaridis said on Thursday. “Unfortunately, the conduct constitutes serious and sustained contraventions of important provisions of the Fair Work Act.”

Judge Manousaridis said the underpayments were significant and deliberate and that Ms Purkis was aware she was not paying her workers the amounts they were entitled to. He said a substantial penalty was required as a deterrent for others.

“The penalty should be set at a level that, having regard to the other circumstances of the case, should signal to employers who might be tempted not to inquire into their legal obligations as employers or not to comply with their legal obligations, particularly in relation to inexperienced workers, that there is a significant risk of being exposed to the imposition of a pecuniary penalty if they are to succumb to such temptation,” Judge Manousaridis said.

Ms Purkis appeared on Shark Tank in 2016. Picture: TwitterSource:Twitter

She scored a $200,000 investment for her business.Source:Supplied

She was a finalist in the 2015 Telstra Business Women Awards.Source:Supplied

The Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal action in 2017. Picture: TwitterSource:Twitter

The court found ‘serious and sustained contraventions’ of the law. Picture: TwitterSource:Twitter

Ms Purkis was also fined for failing to produce documents. Picture: TwitterSource:Twitter

The court found the “unpaid intern” was underpaid $6913. She gave evidence that by late 2014 she was running out of money and, expecting to begin full-time work with Her Fashion Box, resigned from her part-time waitressing job.

Another graphic designer was underpaid $15,511 over a period of two years of full-time work. That employee gave evidence that he struggled to afford basic living expenses and there were days he could not afford lunch and had to borrow money from his mother.

A third employee, a full-time brand partnerships manager, was underpaid a total of $18,119 over a 12-month period.

The court also found Her Fashion Box breached the law by failing to comply with four Notices to Produce documents or records issued by Fair Work inspectors, who investigated the company after receiving complaints from the young workers.

According to court documents, when contacted by Fair Work inspectors who asked her if she had ever heard of the Ombudsman before, Ms Purkis said she had done “a lot of reading … in particular in relation to internships”.

She later said she had “read about how (the FWO) speak to company owners and they get them to improve processes and different things like that” and that she had “read cases where people have said they were an intern and they weren’t an intern”.

The Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal action in 2017.

“Business operators cannot avoid paying lawful entitlements to their employees simply by labelling them as interns,” Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said in a statement.

“Australia’s workplace laws are clear — if people are performing productive work for a company, they are legally entitled to be paid minimum award rates.”

Ms Parker said unpaid placements were lawful “where they are part of a vocational placement related to a course of study”.

“However, the law prohibits the exploitation of workers when they are fulfilling the role of an actual employee,” she said.

“Business operators who try to exploit young workers as a source of free labour risk facing enforcement action from the Fair Work Ombudsman. Any workers with concerns should contact us.”

Her Fashion Box sold online subscription boxes containing fashion accessories and beauty products.

In 2016, Ms Purkis appeared on Channel 10’s Shark Tank where she secured a $200,000 investment from judges Janine Allis and Andrew Banks in exchange for 16 per cent of her business.

Ms Purkis did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Boogie Box Fitness Before Shark Tank

Dede Barbanti-Parra and Kathy Lamm are both from California. Dede Barbanti-Parra states that after giving birth to her third child, she waited over two hundred pounds and she also separated from her husband. She states that it was a very bad time in her life, because she also needed a way to support her children. This is why she took all her training in dancing and martial arts as a choreographer, and put all her expertise into Boogie Box Fitness.

Kathy Lamm states that she was introduced to Dede Barbanti-Parra by a mutual acquaintance and she immediately fell in love with what she put together by herself. Kathy Lamm states that she wanted to get Boogie Box Fitness out and introduce it to the rest of the world. Kathy Lamm also states that they want to show the world that if two moms can fulfill their dreams and provide for their children, then anybody can do it.

Dede Barbanti-Parra and Kathy Lamm need an investment from the Sharks, in order to be able to bring Boogie Box Fitness to the homes of people that want to become fit. Boogie Box Fitness comes in the form of DVDs, which all have fitness programs on them. You can follow said fitness programs, in order to get yourself in shape and feel good about yourself.

Boogie Box Fitness On Shark Tank

“Dede Barbanti-Parra, Kathy Lamm and several other women walk towards the Sharks, stand in front of them and wait for Kathy Lamm to start the music”

“After Kathy Lamm starts the music, all of the women start the dance in front of the Sharks, showing them what Boogie Box Fitness is all about”

“All of the Sharks seem to enjoy the dance and start clapping at the end”

Dede Barbanti-Parra starts introducing herself to the Sharks and tells them that she is the creator and CEO of Boogie Box Fitness. After that, Kathy Lamm introduces herself and tells the Sharks that she is Dede’s business partner and chief operating officer of Boogie Box Fitness. Kathy Lamm states that they are seeking an investment of seven hundred thousand dollars, in order to be able to launch their Boogie Box Fitness DVD line. In exchange for the seven hundred thousand dollars, the Sharks would get a seventy percent stake in the Boogie Box Fitness DVD business.

Dede Barbanti-Parra continues the presentation and states that their dance at the beginning was just a small example of what Boogie Box Fitness stands for. She continues by saying that it is a fusion of hip hop, Latin dance, kickboxing and hardcore resistance training. This means that you get twice the exercise in only half the time.

“Kevin O’Leary states towards Dede-Barbanti-Parra that the Boogie Box Fitness program does not look very easy to do”

“Dede Barbanti-Parra asks Kevin O’Leary to join her on the stage, to which Kevin O’Leary complies and walks towards her”

Kevin O’Leary says that he is a fit guy and that he has been on his bike in the morning, while the other Sharks have been doing nothing at all.

Dede Barbanti-Parra tells Kevin O’Leary to squeeze his abs and pretend that he is holding weights in his hand, after which he tells him to pull his elbows out and back in.

“Robert Herjavec states that Dede Barbanti-Parra looks so much better when she does it”

“Barbara Corcoran starts laughing out loud”

“Daymond John states that Kevin O’Leary is built like a God, Buda to be exact”

“Kevin Harrington and Barbara Corcoran start laughing out loud”

“Kevin O’Leary sits back down and asks Kathy Lamm if they have any sales right now”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that they do not have any Boogie Box Fitness DVD sales at this moment; however, the other part of their business is to certify fitness instructors, teaching life classes, doing workshops for their students, and they do have sales in that part of their business. They have been growing that part of their business over the course of a year.

“Robert Herjavec asks Kathy Lamm if they are only going to sell the Boogie Box Fitness DVDs”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that they do only sell Boogie Box Fitness DVDs, and that the reason they have chosen to only focus on DVDs is because they believe that eighty to ninety percent of their overall revenue is going to come from DVD sales.

“Robert Herjavec asks how much revenue Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra are making with the other part of their business”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that they have made fifteen thousand dollars over the course of a year, with the other part of their business.

“Daymond John asks Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra how many followers they currently have, due to the fact that Boogie Box Fitness is another dance platform”

Kathy Lamm states that they can prove that they have a following, by showing one of the members they currently brought with them to Shark Tank. Kathy Lamm states that this woman lost a hundred pounds, just by doing the Boogie Box Fitness exercises.

“All of the Sharks are amazed by the fact that the woman was able to lose a hundred pounds in the course of a year”

Kevin O’Leary states that he wants to talk about money. He states that Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra are asking for a huge sum of seven hundred thousand dollars, and he asks them how he is going to receive that kind of money back.

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that, conservatively, they are anticipating a sale of one million DVDs over the course of three years.

“Kevin O’Leary interrupts Kathy Lamm and states that other fitness platforms have spent a lot of money on infomercials and commercials”

Kathy Lamm states that they are going to use a portion of the seven hundred thousand dollars to make Boogie Box Fitness known to the world.

Daymond John states that some of the top music artists cannot even sell a million copies of their CDs, and that is just music to listen to. He also states that seven hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money to invest in a company or industry that he is not familiar with. Daymond John says that he does not want to invest in Boogie Box Fitness because of these reasons and states that he is out.

“Kevin Harrington asks Kathy Lamm how much it costs to produce the infomercial”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that it will cost a hundred and seventy five thousand dollars, in order for them to be able to produce the infomercial.

“Robert Herjavec asks Kathy Lamm if there is no other way to make Boogie Box Fitness known without spending seven hundred thousand dollars”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that it is very difficult to make yourself known in the fitness industry, and that they have to go big if they want to be able to make it.

Robert Herjavec states that Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra are asking the Sharks for an investment of seven hundred thousand dollars, without the Sharks knowing if Boogie Box Fitness is going to work, or the money is gone. This means that you either get your money back as an investor, or you get nothing. Robert Herjavec states that it is a leap of faith, and that he is not willing to risk his money in that big of a leap of faith. Robert Herjavec states that he is out as well.

“Kevin O’Leary asks Kathy Lamm if the DVDs are the only model they have”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that they have lined up several producers that have also worked with their competitors. According to Kathy Lamm, the producers feel very confident at what Boogie Box Fitness is going to sell.

Kevin O’Leary states that he believes there is a crime called murdering money. If he would give them seven hundred thousand dollars, and they kill it, then he would go into money hell. Kevin O’Leary states that it is too risky of an investment for him and that he is out.

Kevin Harrington states that the Boogie Box Fitness workouts are great, but that there is no brand yet, and for that reason, he is out as well.

“Barbara Corcoran asks Kathy Lamm how they even started thinking about their business”

Kathy Lamm answers the question by saying that Dede Barbanti-Parra created Boogie Box Fitness. Dede Barbanti-Parra states that after having her third baby, she waited two hundred and four pounds. She also states that she used to be a professional dancer and choreographer, and she stopped after she had her first child.

She was not at a very happy place in her life at this moment, which made her mix all of her knowledge about dancing and martial arts, in order to lose sixty five pounds in seven months. Dede Barbanti-Parra states that her format works and it changes peoples’ bodies and their entire lives.

Barbara Corcoran states that she loves the fact that Dede Barbanti-Parra is a hundred percent genuine, and she also states that she loves the Boogie Box Fitness brand name. However, Barbara Corcoran believes that both Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra have made a big mistake by asking for too much money.

If they came in front of the Sharks and ask for a bite-sized investment, in return for a bite-sized stake in Boogie Box Fitness, a lot of the Sharks would have been interested in investing in the company. For that reason, Barbara Corcoran is out as well.

“Daymond John states that Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra wanted the perfect product immediately, which is why they asked for so much money”

At the end interview, Kathy Lamm states that Boogie Box Fitness will not die here and that they will dominate the world of fitness platforms with it.

Business In A Box Reviews

Boogie Box Fitness Now in 2018 – Update After Shark Tank Aired

Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra really needed an investment from the Sharks, in order to be able to launch their Boogie Box Fitness DVD line. They stood in front of the Sharks and asked for a big investment of seven hundred thousand dollars, and even if they offered a seventy percent stake in Boogie Box Fitness, the Sharks still didn’t bite.

At the end interview, both Kathy Lamm and Dede Barbanti-Parra stated that Boogie Box Fitness would not die and that they would dominate the world of fitness platforms, and it seems like they really did continue with their work. None of the Sharks were interested in investing in Boogie Box Fitness, due to the fact that they believed it was too risky to invest such a huge amount of money into a company that has no name or brand. There is no mention of Boogie Box Fitness being the best or worst on Shark Tank.

You can find the Boogie Box Fitness website at www.bbxinc.com, where you can see some of the success stories. It seems like Dede Barbanti-Parra has decided to rename her company in BBX Inc., and offers a number of different articles for sale. For starters, there are three different BBX Classes named Boogie Box Fitness, BBX Hardcore and BBX Kids. You can attend one of these classes in California, New Jersey, and Oregon but also in Finland, the Netherlands and Israel.

Business In A Box South Africa

The BBX Inc. website also has a web shop where you can purchase a Racer Back Tanktop for $25,00 and two different home programs for $89,99 and $239,00 each. There is also a Live event at the Universal City Walk, in which you can participate for $24,99.

Business In A Box Free Download

There are dozens of success stories on the website of BBX Inc. starting with Dede Barbanti-Parra herself. The success stories usually say that they have been able to lose a certain amount of weight in a fun and exciting way, and that they feel much better and have a much better life now. It is nice to see that you are able to read more about the individual stories and see the before and after pictures.

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