KAYAK KILLS BOB SCHMIDT - GOOD GUY
May 2008 – There is an online Eulogy going on for one of the top leader good guys..... killed in a kayaking accident. Bob was top tier in several companies over the years the latest being Xango. Sign up here (no email capture don't have to listen to message) http://www.thankyoubobschmidt.com/default.aspx
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. – Up and to the Right…Again!
By ROD COOK
A reputable Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) company, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) has announced their first quarter results ended March 31, 2008. Net income for the first quarter of 2008 increased 8% to $15.9 million from $14.7 million for the prior year’s first quarter. In addition, membership revenues have increased 5% to $109.1 million from $103.9 million for the same period last year.
XANGO WORLDWIDE TV LAUNCHED
LEHI, UT –– Establishing the market's first-ever online televised series, XanGo, LLC distributor leaders and top executives hosted "Online INVASION 2.0" on XanGo.TV, a 30-minute magazine-style program of major announcements and distributor motivation. The second in a series of online broadcast mobilization events, Online INVASION 2.0 attracted 150,000 viewers from over 23 international markets. Details on the launch of the company's upcoming brand, GLIMPSE, Intuitive Skin Care were released. During the program, viewers clicked interactive buttons to get "swag" specials and cases of the new popular XanGo® Singles. For more details see www.xango.tv April 2008
THE U.S. NIH PRAISES MORINGA
The National Institutes of Health just praised the Moringa tree. Each year Earth Day organizers choose a mystery plant that has sources of potentially important medicines. This year’s mystery plant is Zija’s Moringa. In fact, perhaps like no other single species, this plant has the potential to help reverse multiple major environmental problems and provide for many unmet human needs. Zija is a fast growing Network Marketing Company in Utah started by Kenny Brailsford former founder of Natures Sunshine and Enrich. April 2008 http://nihrecord.od.nih.gov/newsletters/2008/03_21_2008/story4.htm
Mary Kay Philanthropy in Dallas
The Dallas Business Journal recently published their annual list of the top Dallas companies according to philanthropic donations. Mary Kay cosmetics came in second with $7 million in donations.
Pre-Paid Legal = GREAT
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Mississippi judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Pre paid legal… against Barry W. Gilmer, an attorney in Madison, Mississippi, claiming Gilmer solicited people through newspaper advertisements to discuss possible litigation against Pre-Paid Legal. The court ruled the company could not prove it was damaged by Gilmer’s actions.
Mississippi is a breeding ground for corrupt class action suits filed by ambulance chasing lawyer… because usually they get big judgments against companies.
Pre paid has for all good purposes beat two Class Action Suits in Mississippi accusing it of cheating consumers because it was a Pyramid Scheme… That is good means your honest legit MLM Company could have been next… IN Mississippi,
What is great about the PPL suit is they sued this Class Action ambulance chaser IN Miss… He will sure think twice about running his Ads… we need more proactive legal action like that against Anti – MLMers that lie about our good industry from companies with money… 3-2008
NUSKIN China
Nu Skin has received approval to commence direct selling activities in all 18 districts in Beijing and four additional districts in Shanghai, thereby allowing it to operate a direct sales model in all 12 Shanghai districts. 3-2008
Tastefully Simple
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports this in a story about Tastefully Simple (A Gourmet home party MLM) The Company’s income rose to $120 million last year, a compound growth rate of 60% over prior years. This year’s sales are project to reach $143 million.
That’s a lot of good eating!!!!! 3-2008
Tomboy Tools
Tomboy Tools, a fairly new MLM home party plan based on tools for women, is selling pink hammers, sending $3 from each hammer sold to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 3-2008
Stuart Johnson Video Plus A National Hero
VideoPlus recently acquired Success Magazine and plans to re-launch the magazine in March, targeting an audience of professionals between 30 and 55. Our congratulations to Stuart Johnson.........Owner of Video Plus, for his picking the reins of the almost 80 year old magazine...... A little know fact is that Richard Poe ex editor and WatchDog Editor Rod Cook of the DRA tried buying it several years ago. They both congratulate Stuart Johnson. 2-2008 Video Plus
AVON Will Work with Suze Orman to Help Women
Avon announced a partnership with Suze Orman, who will work with the company to advance their mission to provide financial empowerment to women. She will serve as a Special Personal Finance Advisor to the Avon Representatives to offer money management advice and strategies for success.
Shocking Home Party News!
TASER GOES MLM – Home parties -
What do Tupperware, Pampered Chef and Tasers all have now? Home Party Distribution! Pink Tasers for women are now being sold via home parties. Last year Taser International launched a new lightweight “Stun Gun” designed for women in pink, red, blue and leopard print designs. The pink seems to be the most popular with women at home parties. Wow these are going to be some really “electrifying” home parties say your editor.
Market America hits Half Billion in sales
Owner of Market America says, Sales are impressive. "We're doing over $500 million a year, and we'll hit a billion in about a year and a half," James Ridinger vows.
Silpada Silver Jewelry Growing
Jan 2008 – There are about 32,000 Silpada representatives nationally. Some distributors spend over 20 hours a week working on their business.
AVON DRA News - Radio
Last month on the Distributor Rights Association Radio Show...... We reported that Avon had increased profits. This week Avon announced plans to cut 2,400 staff jobs worldwide as part of its multiyear restructuring plan. We respect the CEO Andrea Jung for this not trying to cut back on Distributor Commissions to support fat corporate staffing...... Apple Inc. said late Tuesday it named Avon Products (NYSE:AVP) Chairwoman and Chief Executive Andrea Jung to its board. Jan 2008
Mary Kay Attracts Hispanics
Ms. Valdez dreams of a Mary Kay pink Cadillac. To do this all she needs to do, is build her list of conocidos. She also dreams of pumping up her bank account, build middle income security and own a house. If she can sponsor (sign up) 30 people and all of them sell $18,000 worth of skincare and cosmetics Ms. Valdez gets a free lease and insurance from Mary Kay Corporation.
Will she get the pink Cadillac, no! But she will get a Pontiac Vibe or Saturn Vue! Good solid transportation for newer distributors was a stroke of genius on Mary Kay’s part. If she misses the 18,000 target she still gets a promotion at $16,000! Great! Thanks to the LA times for the report.
Ex-Fruit of the Loom CEO promoting fruit drink
By Ameet Sachdev | Tribune staff reporter
January 13, 2008 - Bill Farley celebrated his 65th birthday in November by inviting about 100 friends to dinner at Terragusto, a North Side Italian restaurant.
At the end of the night, he had an unusual parting gift for his guests: a sample of a fruit-juice drink he has launched that claims to promote health and nutrition.
Such a marketing ploy was vintage Farley. The former chief executive of Fruit of the Loom once donned underwear in a television commercial to advertise the brand. Eight years after he was forced out of the underwear company after its bankruptcy, Farley, who resides in Chicago, is back in the public eye with a new business venture.
Internet videos and other marketing materials describe Farley as a visionary entrepreneur and portrait of success, rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful and living the high life. The handsome physical-fitness buff is doing more than selling a beverage. He's pitching people on becoming at-home distributors, a business model similar to Mary Kay or Amway.
But the picture is incomplete. For example, the marketing materials tout how Farley helped turn Fruit of the Loom into a billion-dollar brand. That's true, but he also is blamed for steering the company toward disaster. Another video promotes his connection to the Chicago White Sox. He was a part-owner of the team but has not been an investor for at least five years, according to team officials.
Farley declined to comment on the marketing or any other matter for this article. He said to speak would be premature because his company is privately held and still in its start-up phase.
Some people in the Chicago business community defend Farley's business track record. Bill Smithburg, the former CEO of the Quaker Oats food company who knows something about beverages, also invested in Farley's start-up company.
"You just don't invest in something because the guy's a friend," said Smithburg, who while at Quaker built Gatorade into a mega brand. "Bill's a talented and experienced entrepreneur. He's very motivating."
John Ray, the former general counsel at Fruit of the Loom, only said, "Bill's a clever guy and certainly no stranger to risk." Several others who have had business dealings with Farley declined to comment.
Health conscious
Farley aims to capitalize on growing consumer interest in healthier foods. The market for both organic and natural products is booming. Between 2004 and 2006, sales of natural food and beverages -- including organics -- increased 33 percent, according to a report last fall by Mintel International, a consumer research outfit.
Farley's interest in diet and health is not just motivated by profit. He has always taken great care of his body by eating a low-fat diet and exercising regularly.
"Even when he was traveling, he'd find a [fitness] facility someplace and work out for an hour and a half a day," said Jack Albertine, the former vice chairman of Fruit of the Loom.
His fitness obsession extended to Fruit of the Loom and other firms in his private holding company, Farley Industries. He installed exercise facilities at factories. He lectured managers on healthy lifestyles and sometimes led them in aerobics.
He acquired Fruit of the Loom as part of a leveraged buyout of Chicago-based Northwest Industries in 1985. The $1.4 billion transaction represented the peak of Farley's rapid transformation from encyclopedia salesman to investment banker to captain of industry.
In 1985, Forbes magazine listed him as one of the richest Americans, no small achievement for the son of a postal worker from Pawtucket, R.I., who bought his first company in 1976. At his zenith he owned homes in Aspen, Colo., and Kennebunkport, Maine, in addition to his lavish apartment on Lake Shore Drive, where he hosted parties for celebrities, athletes and politicians, including President Bill Clinton. Farley even entertained White House ambitions of his own.
Empire unraveled
During the bankruptcy proceedings, Fruit of the Loom sued Farley in connection with several multimillion-dollar loans the company had secured for him. Ray oversaw the litigation against Farley. Farley later defaulted on a settlement of the dispute, in which he had agreed to a number of payments and other remedies, including the delivery of a $2 million promissory note, according to court documents.
Zrii and Bill Farley Owner
Bill Farley and his Liam Ventures Inc. promoting a new fruit drink named Zrii the MLM Company name is also Zrii. Zrii has attracted a lot of attention but has some shadows behind it.
In 2005, A quasi government agency “The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC)” had to take over the under funded pension fund ran by Liam Ventures owned by Bill Farley. The floundering pension fund covered about 4,400 workers and retirees at companies controlled by Liam Ventures. The PBGC reported retirement plans were only 22 percent funded, and had a shortage of $136 million. Liam Ventures showed on the books it failed to make $31 million in required contributions required by law.
Executive Bill Farley bought the underwear company “Fruit of the Loom” in 1985 during Bill Farley’s high flying days. Some sources note this was the height of Farley’s growth from encyclopedia salesman into an investment banker and being noted as a “captain of industry.”
In the 1990’s “Fruit of the Loom” started loosing millions of dollars. In 1999 the Board of Directors of Company dismissed Bill Farley and filed bankruptcy shortly there after. The “Oracle of Omaha” Warren Buffet said in a letter in 2002 that Fruit of the Loom was a victim of too much debt and poor management. Later Fruit of the Loom sued Farley over loans the company had helped him secure. They reached a settlement with Bill Farley. Then Farley defaulted on the court settlement by failing to deliver $2 million as promised.
In 2004, Farley bought Body Wise International Inc. Body Wise located in California that sells/sold nutritional. Body Wise had been a major MLM – Network Marketing major name in years past. In January of 2005 Body Wise settled with the FTC for making deceptive claims for a dietary supplement. Body Wise had to pay $1.58 million to the State of California and $2 million dollars to the FTC. The FTC started its investigation long before Farley took over the company.
Bill Farley got Deepak Chopra (a health guru) to whip up Zrii a vitamin C fruit drink containing turmeric and ginger. The new company Zrii was born. The Chopra Center has endorsed Zrii (both company and drink.
Editorial Note: WatchDog Reporters have related that at Body Wise Farley cut commissions to Distributors and word is he is suing distributors for leaving Body Wise. Not good, especially if you read the first paragraph about under funded pension plans! We pray for the sake of Zrii Distributors and long term residual income that Farley has changed his spots!
Sources: Chicago Tribune
MLM WatchDog Reporters
Traditional Travel Agents Foaming From Mouth
There is a frantic attack by traditional travel agents frantic about MLM – Network Marketing “Card Mills” that sell quasi travel agent cards. The major target in the MLM Market is YTB or Your Travel Biz. Magazines and websites ran by full time travel agencies are foaming at the mouth for killing off travel agents cards for those who have earned less than $5000 in one year selling travel. Yes the threshold for getting a full fledged travel agent card is selling over $80-200k in the prior year and have generated over $5k in commissions. The cards that are being attacked are ones that are issued without earning commissions. However in defense of those cards they do get you some good discounts at a variety of places, if you have nerve to try using them.
Editors Note: Your Editor has had a Quasi TA card for over 10 years.
The major current controversy in the travel trade press (the newspapers and newsletters published for travel professionals) is about the alleged "card mills" that charge $400 and up for an ID identifying the bearer as a travel agent. Some of these card-issuing companies also engage in what is called "MLM" -- multilevel marketing -- which pays a commission (and promises the sky) to a card purchaser who persuades other people to purchase an ID from them.
The traditional travel agents are obviously frantic about such card mills, and have implored the major travel suppliers to publicly condemn them. They recently got their wish. The giant Royal Caribbean Cruises named several specific companies whose cards they would no longer honor for travel-agent discounts, and whose bookings they would not even accept.
One of the alleged offenders prominently mentioned in the travel press is a company called YTB, which apparently has issued many thousands of such cards -- and YTB has now been cut off by Royal Caribbean Cruises. YTB, in turn, has fought back, claiming that it is an honest operator of a chain of largely home-based travel agents who receive genuine instruction, work hard to sell trips and tours, and do not simply buy ID cards. To me, its arguments relating to its own practices and results seem rather impressive.
Several other major travel suppliers have endorsed Royal Caribbean's stand and also lambasted the so-called card mills. Yet, surprisingly, Carnival Cruises -- sensing an opportunity -- has refused to take similar action against several card-issuing companies that have, apparently, produced passengers for Carnival. It would seem that a great many people become travel agents by purchasing an identity card naming them as such, and then proceed -- in some instances -- to actually sell a few trips, tours and cruises. Operating from their own living rooms as home-based agents, these successful individuals then demand to receive respect -- and discounts on their own travels.
For several weeks now, the trade press has been full of pro and con arguments, letters from aspiring travel agents and letters from veteran travel agents, arguing whether a home-based individual who has purchased a card and taken a correspondence course should then be treated like the real thing.
And so it goes. My warning remains as before. Travel suppliers (cruise lines, airlines, hotel chains, tour operators) aren't fools. They are able to identify those people who are genuine travel agents and those who have simply purchased an ID Much more than an identity card is now required to qualify people for travel discounts.
And companies that simply take $400 or $500 from you for an ID, without operating a genuine, disciplined course of instruction or actual chain of active retail agencies, are scam artists. Dealing with them, you are simply exchanging $400 or $500 for a worthless piece of cardboard.
SEC Clears USANA
Business Wire - Press Release
SEC Closes Informal Inquiry of USANA
01.11.08, 4:59 AM ET
USANA Health Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:USNA) announced today it has received a letter from the Salt Lake Regional Office of the Securities & Exchange Commission stating it has completed the informal inquiry regarding the company and is not recommending any enforcement action be taken.
USANA voluntarily disclosed the SEC's informal inquiry in March 2007, which the company believes was related to assertions appearing in the mass media. The company cooperated fully with the SEC during its inquiry.
"USANA greatly appreciates the diligence of the SEC in completing its informal inquiry, and we are pleased to put this matter behind us," said David A. Wentz, president of USANA Health Sciences Inc. "We have always been confident about the integrity of our company and take pride in our direct selling business model. All of us at USANA look forward to continuing to provide our tens of thousands of Associates and Preferred Customers worldwide with the finest nutritional products and an excellent home-based business opportunity."
About USANA
USANA develops and manufactures high quality nutritional and personal care products that are sold directly to Associates and Preferred Customers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. More information on USANA can be found at http://www.usanahealthsciences.com.
SEC USANA
AVON Stock Soars Above its Estimates
By ROD COOK
Published: February 6, 2008
“We are working hard to create a new tomorrow for AVON, and tomorrow starts today,” AVON Products, Inc.
Birth from a void in 1886, California Perfume Co. paved the way for what we know today as AVON Products, Inc. As the superb leader in Direct Sales, the company markets to women in over 100 countries through what are known as Independent AVON Representatives. Their substantial growth demonstrates true success in an industry.
Based on reports from 2006, AVON Products, Inc. is ready to move into developing countries such as China. The company feels that this implementation will boost U.S. sales, due to a market share loss to Proctor & Gamble Companies, Cover Girl®. Along with AVON’s plan to restructure, $205 million was used for job cuts and manufacturing plant closures.
With company revenues rising 17% to $3.08 billion, AVON Products, Inc.’s outlook for 2008 is something great! Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Jung stated, “AVON will likely post a ‘mid-single-digit’ revenue increase in 2008.” Therefore, AVON continues to strategically reach company goals by boosting the 2008 operating margin to 14%, which was fiscal year 2005’s position.
When a new product line is introduced, a company’s main focus is to attract consumers. Advertising expenses suddenly rise, but the company understands that if they make a solid investment, their rate of return will be phenomenal. This explains why AVON had spent $108 million on advertising expenses and new sales staff recruitment to introduce a line of Age Repair Night Crème and fragrances. With this investment, along with $39 million invested to train their sales representatives, the number of active sales persons increased 11%.
An aggressive and prudent decision made by AVON Products, Inc. has paid off! For example, four of AVON’s six sales regions have released growths well over 20%. In regions such as Latin America, 28% sales increase, Brazil and Colombia, 40% increase, China, 29% increase, and Central and Eastern Europe, 22% increase all prove that if a plan is implemented and followed through, success will surely come.
“We Stay at Home and Have Purse Parties!”
By ROD COOK
Published: February 8, 2008
Purse Party is a new home-based Direct Sales business that markets purses and jewelry. “We’re women,” said the party’s hostess. They create intellectual conversation relating to their families and personal lives, while enjoying “experiential marketing” examining purses. “We love to talk. We love to wear pretty things.” 85% of direct sellers are made up of women. This dazzling statistic is due to the industries flexible hours, and the time it allows to spend with their children.
Shaklee™ - Safe for You, Your Home, and Your Planet
By ROD COOK
Published: February 8, 2008
Everyone is certain that your home should be the safest and cleanest environment. It is the place where your family dwells after long days at work or school. So, why not create an atmosphere that is clean and not saturated with household products that are toxic.
“I often get business while sitting on a park bench while watching my children,” says a Representative for Shaklee™ Corp. When there is a product that is environmentally friendly, no matter if you are making a commission off of the sale or not, everyone should be willing to share. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. once stated, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
Mary Kay® in Mexico – Solid!
By ROD COOK
Published: February 8, 2008
Do “Miracles [Really] Happen?” Company officials state that “the success of the cosmetics giant result from the values set out by Ms. Ash in her book Miracles Happen.” The new $38 million distribution warehouse in Monterrey, Mexico, is twice the size of the one it replaced, which occupies 144,000 square feet, and still has room for growth.
Here is a company that has been selling the same product for many years, but has now branched into a different market. “The culture of the new market is one that is the same that Mary Kay® operates within the company,” says Paul Van der Linden, Director of Mexico Operations. With similar cultures, this has allowed Mary Kay® to implement marketing tactics to generate company success. For example, sales have jumped 80% just after five years, making Mexico the fourth largest market following the United States, China, and Russia.
This is the sign of a stable company; one that has been in existence for a period of many years and stronger today than it was yesterday. Mary Kay® in Mexico – Solid!
Tupperware® Brands Corp. Helps Adolescent Girls Develop Full Potential
By ROD COOK
Published: February 8, 2008
Living today as a teenaged girl can be quite disturbing. Many experience phases of high vulnerability that can ultimately lead to lifelong consequences. Some may say that the causes are due to a confidence crisis, or some may be uncertain. Tupperware® Brands Corp. has developed and sponsored a mentor program, SMART Girls, that is designed to encourage healthy attitudes and lifestyles.
Understanding early-prevention, the SMART Girls Mentor Program gathers a group of girls once a week for two hours to discuss life-changing topics. With the importance of self, the program stresses the need for development of personal values in relationships, and ways to ensure physical fitness and nutrition. They also engage in hands-on activities used to develop one’s mind to be ready for real-world experiences such as, filling out job applications, performing job interviews, and establishing budget statements based on salaries.
With statistics showing that the United States of America has doubled in adolescent pregnancy and birth rates of any other industrialized country, it shows the importance of having programs that educate teenaged girls about teen pregnancy. Through a program called Realityworks®, a segment is incorporated to place the girls in a real-life situation. They are given RealCare Babies that are computerized infants that require realistic care. This is a proven prevention program used to show teenaged girls the importance of teen pregnancy and parenting.
In order to survive the “Risky Years,” many teenaged girls need a prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program such as these. With the acronym meaning, “Smart Minded Active Real Teen Girls,” this is sure to be a social investment to instill confidence and character in many of tomorrow’s leaders.
NBC’s Star Ice T Supports SMART Girls
FEBRUARY 2008 - On Wednesday, January 30, 2008, legendary rapper and renowned Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star, Ice T and wife, Coco, joined Tupperware® to host the “Tupper-Bowl” Party. This history making event was initiated to raise funds for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club of America, as well as to celebrate an implausible football season for Superbowl XLII Champions, the New York Giants.
