To her more than one million social media followers, The Apprentice winner Karishma Vijay provides daily updates on all aspects of her 鈥榗haotic life鈥�.
From her excitement about her forthcoming wedding and new product launches to behind-the-scenes chat about The Apprentice and her flourishing relationship with Lord Sugar, nothing appears off limits.
She proudly took to social media to reveal Kishkin had clocked up 拢250k in sales in just 72 hours (as reported by 老九品茶Cloud) after the 29-year-old was crowned the winner of series 20 of The Apprentice.
However, her business has been less forthcoming in providing updates when responding to complaints from a growing number of unhappy customers.
Most of the complaints have focused on the quality of Kishkin鈥檚 customer service – described as 鈥榓wful鈥� and 鈥榯errible鈥� by some – as well as the length of delivery times.
Many customers have reported significant issues with their orders, unreliable tracking information, processing delays and items not arriving as expected.
Several people have complained about the quality of the company鈥檚 customer service, claiming their emails and messages have been ignored.
Out of Kishkin鈥檚 80 reviews on the online platform Trustpilot, 62 per cent gave the company the lowest possible one-star rating, compared with 20 per cent who awarded it five stars.
Across all 80 reviews, Kishkin received an average score of 2.2, which Trustpilot describes as 鈥榩oor鈥�.
One-star reviews
Sarah Swindell was one of those to post a one-star review.
鈥淭errible customer service,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淧laced my order. Got an email saying two weeks. Fine. One month later. Nothing. It took forever to get a response to emails but I finally got a refund. Terrible communication and unable to fulfil orders.鈥�
Tommy Fallon also posted a one-star review three days ago.
鈥淧laced an order a month ago and despite getting an email to say it was sent out on April 21st, it’s still not arrived,鈥� he said. 鈥淎wful service and I’ll be asking for my money back.鈥�
Sarah Mends went as far as saying people should boycott Kishkin after giving the company a one-star rating.
鈥淭ook my money, haven鈥檛 sent order (been over a month) and they aren鈥檛 responding to my emails,鈥� she wrote.
Helen Mair reported a similar experience and said the lack of updates was at odds with Vijay鈥檚 high profile on social media.
鈥淥ver a month now since I placed my order and paid,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淣o goods received. No reply to emails or social media. However, she does have the time to flaunt on social media how great she is. Totally disappointed in someone I followed and trusted.鈥�
JG gave a one-star review and claimed: 鈥淟ike everyone else I expected better. Showing off on Instagram that they received 拢250,000 in orders in the first week after winning The Apprentice鈥owever what they don鈥檛 show off about is that they actually have no products to sell.
鈥淲hen I ordered I was told two weeks but nothing, so I looked on tracking and it says at least the end of May, no emails, no contact! Absolutely dreadful鈥 asked for a full refund and have an email saying they will refund鈥et鈥檚 see what happens! I think Lord Sugar may have some regrets in the future.鈥�
Someone calling themselves TJ gave a one-star review and wrote: 鈥淟earn to run a business before getting ahead of yourself and buying a Porsche mate! Give me my money back.鈥�
Sam Kooner gave a two-star review following their negative experience.
鈥淚 was very excited to order this product but whilst the communication has been regular it鈥檚 absolutely shocking and disappointing how long my order has taken to be delivered,鈥� Kooner wrote.
鈥淚t will take a lot for me to order again. It shouldn鈥檛 matter how much of an increase there is in orders – don鈥檛 allow orders until stock is ready for dispatch?鈥�
Five-star reviews
However, not everyone was unhappy, with 20 per cent of people giving five-star ratings on Trustpilot.
Karishma Vijay, winner of The Apprentice
They included Claire Berry, who posted yesterday. She wrote: 鈥淎part from the long delivery time, which I sort of expected with the BBC programme the company featured on. I received update emails on progress and a money off code as an apology for delay. I am delighted with the products 鈥� and I have placed a second order.鈥�
Someone called Tania branded a number of the reviews as 鈥榝ake鈥�, adding: 鈥淒on鈥檛 knock a genuine and engaging businesswoman.鈥�
Samantha Knott gave a five-star review and wrote: 鈥淟ike some of the other reviews say there was a delay in getting product but only about two weeks and given it鈥檚 a start-up I don鈥檛 mind. Fab quality product is the most important thing – I鈥檓 happy to wait for it.鈥�
Veteran reviewer Kate, who has written a total of 57 reviews on Trustpilot, gave Kishkin five stars after what she described as an 鈥榚xcellent鈥� experience.
鈥淥rdered April 17. Update on April 28. Arrived by Royal Mail today (May 5),鈥� she wrote. 鈥淐onfirmation of order straight away. Advised due to popularity there may be a delay but please be patient. Cannot relate to the negative reviews at all. Well done Karishma. I wish you every success. I very much suspect I will be ordering again.鈥�
老九品茶Cloud contacted Kishkin and The Apprentice star鈥檚 PR representative, Andrew Bloch, for a comment but has not currently received a response from either.
According to Companies House, Michael Ray was appointed secretary at Kishkin on April 29. He has worked for Lord Sugar for over 30 years in various capacities and is currently group finance director.