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After stepping down as CEO in December, Avon AVP +4.03% chairman Andrea Jung will resign at the end of the year, as the company still struggles to recover from a number of major missteps at home and abroad.

AVON EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN ANDREA JUNG TO STEP DOWN FROM BOARD AT YEAR END AFTER SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION - October 5, 2012

Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) today announced that Andrea Jung has informed the Board of Directors that she will step down as Executive Chairman and Board member, effective December 31, 2012 after a successful transition to new leadership under CEO Sheri McCoy.

AMBIT ENERGY PLACED ON 2012 INFORMATION WEEK 500 LIST OF TOP TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS ACROSS AMERICA - October 2, 2012

Ambit Energy, a leading national retail energy provider based in Dallas, was recognized on the 2012 InformationWeek 500 List of Top Technology Innovators, an annual listing of the nation’s most innovative users of business technology.

BLYTH, INC. ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE WITH VISALUS FOUNDERS - October 1, 2012

Founders Reaffirm Long-Term Commitment and Defer Blyth Buyout Until 2014

IS MLM A BAD WORD? - September 27, 2012

Ever been confused about how a “home business” works? Of course you have, so have we. Most people have heard the term MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) and usually at the end of that the word, “scheme” is added – giving the whole business model a bad name.

VISALUS CANCELS PLANNED IPO - September 26, 2012

Troy-based ViSalus Inc., a weight management and energy drink direct-sales company, has canceled its planned initial public offering, citing uncertain market conditions, The Associated Press reported.

IT AIN'T OVER: THEIR SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO CUT CLUTTER MAKE MILLIONS - September 26, 2012

Growing up as the oldest of four, Karen Eschebach knew that if she wanted to keep something out of the hands of her younger siblings, everything had to have its place.

SEARCH ON FOR STRONG WOMEN - September 25, 2012

Tupperware Brands Philippines, the country’s premier direct selling company, is in search of 10 confident women who have proven that they can make a difference in people’s lives.

NEWAYS ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE PROMOTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES - September 24, 2012

Neways is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Crump as the company’s new chief administrative officer (CAO). With this change, all back-office functions within Neways report directly to Crump, including legal, regulatory, human resources, quality, operations, and information technology.

KEY SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTS ABOUT SOME LARGE DIRECT SELLING MARKETS - PERU - September 24, 2012

A recent survey from CAPEVEDI gives some great insight into the world of Direct Selling in Peru.

NU SKIN ANNOUNCES CHINA EXPANSION PLANS - September 21, 2012

Following its Greater China leadership conference, Nu Skin (China) announces initial details of its five-year business development plan for mainland China.

THE MARY KAY FOUNDATION DONATES $3 MILLION TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS - September 20, 2012

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay FoundationSM awarded $3 million in grants to 150 domestic violence shelters in all 50 states.

AVON ELECTS CHARLES H. NOSKI TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS - September 18, 2012

Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Charles H. Noski to the board, effective immediately. Mr. Noski's election increases Avon's Board to 12 Directors.

AMBIT ENERGY HOSTS MORE THAN 9,000 FOR 6TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE - September 6, 2012

No. 1 “Fastest Growing Private Company” on the prestigious Inc. 500 list for 2010 and national retail energy leader, held its 6th Annual Conference, “Ambition 2012: Take Charge.” More than 9,000 Independent Consultants representing 32 states from Alaska to New York filled both the Hilton Anatole and the American Airlines Center over a span of five days starting on August 29.

AVON HELLO GREEN TOMORROW MAKES $1 MILLION CONTRIBUTION - September 5, 2012

The Avon Hello Green Tomorrow project, a global fundraising and mobilization program of Avon Products, Inc. [NYSE: AVP], has awarded a total of $1 million to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to help end deforestation.

AMWAY CORP. CO-FOUNDER RICH DEVOS RECUPERATING AT HOME AFTER 'MILD STROKE' - September 5, 2012

Amway Corp. co-founder and Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos is “in good condition and recuperating at home” after suffering a mild stroke last month, according to a statement released by the corporation today.

PYRAMID SCHEMES STILL ALIVE AND WELL - September 1, 2012

Just as ancient Egypt's pyramids were the final resting places of the Pharaohs, today's Internet pyramid schemes are where some folks' investments go to die.

AMWAY BREAKS GROUND ON $38 MILLION NUTRILITE BOTANICAL CONCENTRATE MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN QUINCY, WASHINGTON - August 29, 2012

Direct-selling giant Amway executives met today with elected officials, and area business and community leaders, to break ground on a $38 million botanical concentrate manufacturing plant in Quincy, Washington.

AVON TAPS PAULA ABDUL TO COLLABORATE ON AN EXCLUSIVE HOLIDAY ACCESSORY COLLECTION - August 22, 2012

Avon Products, Inc. today announced a partnership with internationally renowned choreographer, dancer, songwriter, performer, designer, actor and businesswoman Paula Abdul.

HERBALIFE SHORTS' PROBLEMS COULD BE GREAT BUYING OPPORTUNITY FOR LONGS - August 21, 2012

When a company's share price dives lower and stays lower based mainly on the silence of anyone including David Einhorn, you have to wonder why, especially when it's a company that has growing cash flow and growing earnings combined with large company share buybacks which have resulted in an even faster growing EPS.

FEDS HALT ALLEGED $600 MILLION ZEEKREWARDS PONZI SCHEME - August 18, 2012

How It Happened And What's Next.  On Friday, August 17, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed an emergency action in a North Carolina federal court, alleging that ZeekRewards and its founder, Paul R. Burks, were involved in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY RELEASES STATEMENT REITERATING ITS LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH NU SKIN ENTERPRISES - August 17, 2012

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) reiterated its research relationship with Stanford University and announced that Stanford today issued the following release, which stated, "The Department of Dermatology in the Stanford School of Medicine has had a long-standing research-based relationship with Nu Skin Enterprises.

BLYTH UNIT VISALUS FILES FOR IPO - August 16, 2012

Nutritional supplements seller ViSalus Inc filed to raise up to $175 million in an initial public offering and plans to use the proceeds to pay a special dividend, sending shares of majority stockholder Blyth Inc to a four-year high.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SCAM OPERATIONS ON THE RISE - August 14, 2012

Deceptive door-to-door sales tactics are used year-round to sell all sorts of products and services: home improvement projects, security systems and monitoring, miracle cleaning products and even groceries.

US SEC SAYS SHUTS ZEEKREWARDS.COM $600 MILLION PONZI SCHEME - August 18, 2012

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it shut down a $600 million online Ponzi scheme on the verge of collapse and won a court ordered emergency asset freeze to protect some of the more than 1 million investors it had attracted.

INVESTORS IN LEXINGTON PONZI SCHEME CONFUSED, UPSET - August 17, 2012

The Securities and Exchange Commission has shut down what they call a $600 million dollar online pyramid operation and Ponzi scheme allegedly headed by a Lexington businessman.

SEC SHUTS DOWN ZEEKREWARDS AS SCAM - August 17, 2012

The Securities and Exchange Commission said it has shut down ZeekRewards.com, a $600 million online Ponzi and pyramid scheme that was on the verge of collapse and had raised money from more than one million customers.

WHY MARY KAY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING - July 27, 2012

In my Investigative Fund article, "The Pink Pyramid Scheme," which appeared as the cover story of the August issue of Harper's, cosmetics direct sales giant Mary Kay claimed "it employs multiple sales directors who earn more than $1 million a year." But the figure that surprised me more was this: of the 600,000 Mary Kay consultants currently working in the United States, only 300 of them are making a six-figure income — off the commissions they earn when the women on their sales teams buy products.

DIRECT SELLING COS BANK ON E-COMMERCE TO GENERATE BIZ - July 27, 2012

Taking a cue from the boom in the e-commerce industry in India, direct selling companies have also started leveraging the power of the online platform to sell their products to their business owners.

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES' CEO DISCUSSES Q2 2012 RESULTS - EARNINGS TRANSCRIPT - July 26, 2012

Nu Skin Enterprises Inc (NUS) Q2 2012 Earnings Call July 26, 2012 12:00 PM ET…

COTY TEAMS UP WITH LG IN SOUTH KOREA - July 26, 2012

Coty Inc. and LG Household & Health Care have created Coty Korea, a joint venture established to expand the presence of both companies in the Korean cosmetics market.

FEW CONSUMERS KNOW HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT - July 25, 2012

Despite the amount of information available on weight management, a new study by HealthFocus® International shows that a wide disconnect continues to hamper weight loss efforts.

AMWAY INDIA: DONNING THE WAR PAINT - July 23, 2012

Amway India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of $10.9 billion Amway Corporation, USA, is looking to beef up its presence in India.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY TO COMPLY WITH GMPS? - July 19, 2012

On Monday, July 16, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) filed an injunction against New York–based supplement manufacturer Kabco Pharmaceuticals Inc. for repeatedly violating supplement good manufacturing practices (GMPs).

INVESTMENT SCAM VICTIMS SET UP PANEL TO SEEK JUSTICE - July 18, 2012

PETALING JAYA: More than 100 people have come together to seek justice after falling victim to an investment scam by an international company based in Shah Alam.

DIRECT SELLING COMPANY EXPANDS TO BEAUTY SUPPLEMENTS - July 15, 2012

DIRECT SELLING brand Avon, is expanding into new territory in the country, focusing on not just making women feel beautiful from the outside with its existing cosmetic and apparel lines, but also from the inside

AVON CUT TO SELL FROM HOLD BY S&P - July 12, 2012

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Avon Products Inc. AVP +3.34%, the largest direct seller of beauty products, was cut to sell from hold by S&P Capital on Thursday ahead of the company's second-quarter release in late July.

SOUTH AFRICA'S AVON LADIES GE THE SCENT OF A BETTER LIFE - July 5, 2012

JOHANNESBURG: ''Avon calling'' was first heard in rural New York, and became part of the rhythm of middle England; less well known is the popularity of the door-to-door make-up-selling company in South Africa and its social impact on impoverished women.

HERBALIFE TO SET UP PRODUCTION UNIT IN INDIA - July 5, 2012

Direct selling company Herbalife India is planning to set up a manufacturing facility for its nutritional products in the country.

AMWAY WORKING WITH CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON PROJECT THAT WILL FEED 500,000 CHILDREN A DAY - July 3, 2012

ADA, MI -- Amway is doing some very high-profile charity work in China.

VALLEY WORKS: DIRECT SELLING - July 3, 2012

FRESNO, California (KFSN) -- Sixteen-million people in this country are involved in the industry that sells you everything from make-up to household products. The Direct Selling Association says it saw a five percent increase in business last year.

SWEDEN'S ORIFLAME IN TALKS TO BUY INDIAN HEALTH DRINK MAKER - June 30, 2012

NEW DELHI: Oriflame, a company whose products have long graced dressing tables, may be about to move on to the dining tables in Indian homes.

MANAGING MILLENNIALS: WHY GEN Y WILL BE RUNNING THE COUNTRY BY 2020 [INFOGRAPHIC] - June 28, 2012

In just eight short years, 46% of the U.S. workforce will be comprised of millennials. Whether you’re frightened or excited by the prospect, the fact remains that young adults born between 1976 and 2001 will be running this country.

GENERATION Y WANTS PRODUCTS FOR EVERYDAY HEALTH MAINTENANCE - June 27, 2012

According to the most recent NMI Health and Wellness Study, Generation Y consumers (those born between 1977 and 2002) believe in the benefits of, and are willing to pay a premium for, functional foods.

MARY KAY EXPANDS IN INDIA - June 27, 2012

Mary Kay Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd., India previously has announced it anticipates investing approximately $20 million in India during the five years since inception in India and also has announced and additional investment of $10 million last year to continue building its presence there.

NOBODY THREW A PARTY BETTER THAN EARL TUPPER - June 27, 2012

Charlene Rosman, an 80-year-old grandmother in Tucson, Ariz., remembers a Tupperware party she attended in the late 1950s. "At the time, Tupperware parties were a national phenomenon," she told IBD.

WHY BABY BOOMERS ARE THE INNOVATORS OF THE FUTURE - June 26, 2012

Baby Boomers are starting companies at a faster pace than ever before, according to a March report by the Kauffman Foundation and younger workers lack the disposable income and job prospects they once had.

SORRY, MARKETERS, YOU'RE DOING TWITTER WRONG [REPORT] - June 26, 2012

Most marketers are tweeting too much on the wrong days, not using hashtags enough and almost never do the one thing that will dramatically boost their retweets — ask for them — according to a new study looking at how marketers use Twitter from Buddy Media. 6/26/12

TUPPERWARE TO INCREASE SALES FORCE, THINKS OUT OF BOX - June 21, 2012

One of the popular direct selling companies providing premium food-storage containers in India, Tupperware, in a marked departure from its print-led marketing strategy launched a new campaign ‘She Can, You Can’, its first ever television commercial in 16 years of existence in India.

AMWAY JOINS SELLERS LOBBYING AGAINST DISTRIBUTOR-PROTECTION RULE - June 21, 2012

For years so-called multilevel or direct-selling marketers, which enlist individuals to flog vitamins, cosmetics, and weight-loss supplements to their friends and acquaintances, have drawn criticism from consumer advocates who liken the businesses to illegal pyramid schemes.

VISALUS: THE SOCIAL NETWORK MEETS NETWORK MARKETING - June 20, 2012

If you build it they will come. It's not just a line from Field of Dreams. It's the truth. People want something to believe in and give them identity.

MARKETERS, MEET MOMS ON SOCIAL NETWORKS - June 20, 2012

eMarketer forecasts 82% of mom internet users will be on a social network in 2012

REPORT SHOWS INCREASING GROWTH OF ETHNIC BEAUTY MARKET - June 19, 2012

There is good reason to be optimistic about the market for health and beauty care products targeted to minorities, according to Ethnic Hair, Skin, and Cosmetic Products in the U.S., a newly report from Packaged Facts.

HOW UGLY CAN THINGS GET FOR AVON? - June 19, 2012

Shares of Avon Products (NYS: AVP) hit a 52-week low on Monday. Let's take a look at how it got there and see whether cloudy skies are still in the forecast.

FDA TO ISSUE REVISED NDI GUIDANCE - June 19, 2012

The FDA has announced that it plans to promulgate a revised draft guidance on new dietary ingredients (NDIs) used in dietary supplements.

EXEC AT THIRTY-ONE GIFTS MOVES UP TO PRESIDENT - June 18, 2012

Thirty-One Gifts has named a new president.

A NEW TAKE ON MIDWEST STARTUP INVESTMENT - June 15, 2012

A Grand Rapids, Mich.-based program that “seeds” would-be entrepreneurs’ good ideas with $5,000 investments aims to partner with Chicago’s fast-growing technology startup companies, investors, incubators and accelerators to transform “Rust Belt” perceptions about the Midwest.

AMWAY LAUNCHES REGIONAL SERVICES CENTER - June 15, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Amway, the global direct-selling company, has invested RM8 million to set up Amway Business Services Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd (ABSAP), a regional shared services centre.

INDIA IS OUR FASTEST GROWING MARKET: AMWAY - June 13, 2012

Buoyed by healthy double-digit growth, direct selling company Amway is planning huge investments to enhance its market share in India.

EINHORN DAMAGE CONTROL AT HERBALIFE WITH NUTRITION CLUBS - June 11, 2012

Ever since Greenlight Capital Inc.’s David Einhorn dialed into a May 1 earnings conference call asking for more disclosure, investors have shunned shares of the nutritional and weight-loss supplement maker.

FROM CLEARING PLATES TO LEADING A COMPANY: HOW THE DEVOS BROTHERS GREW UP TO CHANGE AMWAY - June 8, 2012

DALLAS – Even as children, Rich DeVos made sure his brood had a kids-eye view of what it took to run the family business that is Amway.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS THE NEW WOMEN'S MOVEMENT - June 8, 2012

Women are leaving the workforce in droves in favor of being at home. Not to be a homemaker, but as job-making entrepreneurs.

AVON DOWNGRADED TO UNDERPERFORM - ANALYST BLOG - June 7, 2012

We have downgraded Avon Products Inc. (AVP), one of the leading global beauty companies, to 'Underperform' after the company posted disappointing first-quarter 2012 results.

AVON AMONG THE WORLD'S MOST REPUTABLE COMPANIES - June 7, 2012

AMWAY CHAIRMAN STEVE VAN ANDEL TAKES LEADERSHIP ROLE IN US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - AGAIN - June 7, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After serving as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce a decade ago, Amway chairman Steve Van Andel was elected vice-chair for a one-year term.

TUPPERWARE PLANS MORE PRODUCTS TO SUIT LOCAL NEEDS - June 4, 2012

Direct selling company Tupperware plans to introduce more products from its global stable localising them to suit Indian consumers.

ASSOCIATION APPROVES FOUR NEW DIRECT SELLING COMPANIES AS MEMBERS - June 2, 2012

DSA’s Board of Directors approved the membership applications of four direct selling companies on Saturday, June 2, during its quarterly board meeting.

LOCALS STILL FIND SUCCESS WITH DIRECT SALES - June 1, 2012

Susan Redd, who tried several direct-sales companies over the years, has found success selling jewelry for Texas-based Premier Designs Inc. for the last three years.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES LAWS CHANGING - May 30, 2012

New Zealand's outdated direct selling laws are set to change later this year in an attempt to capture more modern sales techniques such as telemarketing.

ORIFLAME COSMETICS EXPANDS INTO EAST AFRICA - May 30, 2012

Oriflame Cosmetics S.A. is expanding its operations into East Africa by acquiring the businesses in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda previously run by a franchisee.

AMWAY UNVEILS NEW BRAND POSITIONING FOR ARTISTRY - May 29, 2012

During the past 10 years, Artistry, the beauty and skin care brand of direct seller Amway, has quietly and steadily grown into one of the top five premium skin care brands in the world, according to Euromonitor.

DIRECT SELLING GOES FROM FACE-TO-FACE TO WALL-TO-WALL - May 28, 2012

To leverage on the potential of social media, many direct selling companies in the country will soon launch their marketing strategies based on popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

TUPPERWARE AGENTS INCENSED BY FAKES - May 27, 2012

Cape Town – The country’s 200 000-odd Tupperware agents are angry about the counterfeit products being sold as the real McCoy.

ONLY ONE IN THREE PENSIONERS STOP WORK AT RETIREMENT AGE - May 27, 2012

Fewer than a third of pensioners stopped working when they reached retirement age last year because they could not afford to give up their jobs, new figures show.

SENATE STRIKES DOWN DURBIN'S DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AMENDMENT - May 24, 2012

The U.S. Senate on May 24 voted to table an amendment that would have introduced new requirements for dietary supplement manufacturers—requirements the industry identified as unnecessary red tape.

DIRECT SELLING KEY TO JOBS - May 23, 2012

Direct selling has the potential to dramatically impact on unemployment levels in South Africa by creating thousands of jobs for youth and women, South Africa's defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Wednesday.

DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY REPORTS SIGNIFICANT UPSWING IN NEW SELLERS - May 23, 2012

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is today releasing new figures which show a significant rise in the number of people turning to direct selling as a way to earn additional income.

NU SKIN EXEC FILES DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST EX-HUSBAND - May 21, 2012

SALT LAKE CITY — A Nu Skin Enterprises executive filed a lawsuit Monday, suing an ex-husband for defamation.

COTY MOOTS A MARKET LISTING - May 21, 2012

Peter Harf, president of the US perfumery group Coty, has confirmed that the company is getting ready for a market listing.

UNILEVER: MOBILE THE ENABLER OF OUR COMMS MODEL - May 17, 2012

IAB Mobile Engage: Unilever says mobile has become the enabler for its entire communications model, a year on from its first ever iAd campaign.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN SUPPLEMENTS IS ON THE RISE - May 17, 2012

An annual survey conducted by The Vitamin Shoppe has found that Americans increasingly feel more confident about their health when taking a vitamin or supplement. According to The Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. annual survey, 93% of vitamin takers expressed this confidence, up from 71% in 2011.

FASHION LABEL PREPARES TO EXPAND - May 16, 2012

Sophie Paris, one of Asia's leading direct selling fashion brands, yesterday announced its forthcoming expansion into the nation's capital city to meet increasing demand in the northern region.

RICHMONT SAID STILL INTERESTED IN ALL OR PART OF AVON - May 16, 2012

Richmont Holdings, a closely held investor in consumer brands, is exploring an offer for all or part of Avon Products Inc. (AVP) and has approached Avon to express its interest, according to people familiar with the matter.

DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES WEBPAGE ON INTERNAL CONSUMPTION - May 16, 2012

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) today launched a webpage that provides information on the purchase and use of direct selling products by salespeople, also referred to as “internal consumption.”

TUPPERWARE CEO GETS HONORARY ROLLINS DEGREE - May 16, 2012

Orlando-based Tupperware Brands Corp. chief executive officer and chairman Rick Goings received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Rollins College during its commencement ceremony this week.

AVON PRODUCTS SHAREHOLDER SEEKS RECORDS OVER BRIBERY PROBE - May 14, 2012

An Avon Products Inc. (AVP) shareholder asked a New York court to compel the cosmetics maker to let it inspect its books and records in connection with a bribery probe.

CAPITALISM BEGINS AT HOME: HOW THE MODERN DIRECT-SALES EVENT IS DEFYING THE RECESSION - May 12, 2012

Forget naughty lingerie and plastic storage boxes. In defiance of the recession, the modern direct-sales event is doing brisk business in scented candles, fine wines and Jamie Oliver saucepans. Holly Williams joins the party.

CONSUMERLAB.COM FINDS LEAD CONTAMINATIONS AND MISLABELING IN JOINT HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS - May 8, 2012

ConsumerLab.com purchased and tested more than 50 human and pet osteoarthritis supplements containing glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM and found some of the products to be contaminated with lead, missing certain listed ingredients, or have inadequate labeling.

REASONS TO WORRY ABOUT HERBALIFE: GREENBERG - May 8, 2012

Herbalife, whose stock tumbled last week after hedge fund manager David Einhorn asked a few questions on the company’s earnings call, is no stranger to controversy.

ONLINE SALES HAVE TRIPLED FOR AMWAY IN TWO YEARS - May 8, 2012

The online sales have more than tripled for Amway, India’s largest direct selling FMCG company, in the last two years.

RICHMONT SAID TO BE ARRANGING FINANCING FOR AVON BID - May 3, 2012

Richmont Holdings, a closely held company that invests in consumer brands, is arranging financing to make a bid for Avon Products Inc. (AVP), said two people familiar with the matter.

WOMEN AND THE RETIREMENT PERFECT STORM - May 2, 2012

Women lose approximately $434,000 in wages as a direct result of pay inequities, not to mention they are more likely to spend time out of the workforce due to caregiver responsibilities and live longer than men. This financial reality translates into reduced retirement savings for women. It’s not too late to start taking responsibility and control.

DIRECT SELLING IN INDIA TO REACH RS 10,843 CRORE SIZE BY 2014-15: REPORT - May 2, 2012

Direct selling business in India is expected to reach a size of Rs 10,843 crore by 2014-15 on the back of increased consumer spending, according to a report.

ENTREPRENEURS IN ACTION WALKATHON: GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR AT-RISK KIDS - April 25, 2012

It’s a disheartening statistic: every 29 seconds, one student drops out of the U.S. educational system. Over the course of a year, that equates to 1.2 million young Americans who never graduate—the majority of whom would have continued their studies had the curriculum proved more relevant to their lives.

THE RISE OF THE SECOND JOB - April 20, 2012

Low wages, inflation and pay freezes mean that for more and more employees a second job is a necessity. But is having two roles necessarily a bad thing?

AVON FACING DOWNGRADE REGARDLESS OF COTY BID: CORPORATE FINANCE - April 19, 2012

Avon Products Inc. (AVP) is probably due for a ratings cut whether or not it’s bought by Coty Inc., complicating efforts by the world’s largest door-to-door cosmetics seller to restore profitability and stay independent.

2011 DSN GLOBAL 100 - April 17, 2012

The following contains the ranking for the 2011 DSN Global 100, our annual list of the top revenue-generating direct selling companies in the world. The list will be published in the June issue of Direct Selling News.

COSMETIC COMPANIES IN CRUELTY COVER-UP - April 16, 2012

COMPANIES that produce concealer and other cosmetics products have apparently been doing some concealing of their own. Estee Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay have resumed animal testing on cosmetics to sell in China - even as the companies continue to claim in the United States that their products are cruelty-free.

THE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY DODGES THE FTC - April 16, 2012

A new Federal Trade Commission rule is supposed to protect people who buy business opportunities by requiring sellers to provide a one-page disclosure form that includes support for earnings claims, a list of previous legal actions against the company, and its cancellation or refund policy.

COTY SAYS IT SECURED MONEY FOR AVON BID - April 16, 2012

Coty Inc. said it has lined up more than $5 billion from investors and firmer debt financing from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in support of its $10 billion offer for larger rival Avon Products Inc., an attempt to convince investors that its unsolicited approach is credible.

TWO SENTENCED TO OVER 30 YEARS IN PRISON IN ONLINE PYRAMID SCHEME - April 12, 2012

A California man and his business partner were sentenced Thursday to more 30 years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from investors in a pyramid scheme and through the sales of phony stock.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KAMALA D. HARRIS ANNOUNCES SENTENCING FOR PHONY ONLINE REWARDS SCHEME - April 12, 2012

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced today that two men were sentenced to more than 30 years in state prison for stealing millions of dollars through an illegal pyramid scheme and phony stock sales.

HUGE PYRAMID SCHEME CRACKED IN GUANGXI - April 12, 2012

Police said on Wednesday that they cracked the largest pyramid scheme in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to a report in People's Daily.

AVON: THE RISE AND FALL OF A BEAUTY ICON - April 11, 2012

Exclusive: As CEO of Avon, Andrea Jung made bad bets and missed opportunities. Now she's been replaced - and the 126-year-old company has a second bidder lining up.

CAN JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S SHERILYN MCCOY TURN AVON AROUND? - April 9, 2012

Avon Products Inc. (NYSE:AVP)'s appointment Monday of Sherilyn McCoy to replace Andrea Jung as CEO brings some stability to the beleaguered direct-sales beauty company, but analysts say one person is unlikely to cure Avon's legal and organizational problems, which threaten its stock price and sales growth.

BE WARY OF INVESTMENT SCHEMES THAT GUARANTEE VERY HIGH RETURNS - April 9, 2012

Retail investors, who are scared of equity market volatility but not satisfied with returns from bank fixed deposits, often fall prey to dubious schemes, which promise them the moon.

COTY KNOCKS ON BRAZIL'S DOOR - April 5, 2012

As Coty Inc. fights to win over Avon Products Inc., the prize it has in mind is Brazil.

TUPPERWARE'S BEAUTIFUL PLAN - April 5, 2012

Tupperware Brands Corp., the maker of plastic food containers, has a surprising path to sales in Latin America: perfume and skin cream.

CORRECTED - AVON CEO'S COMPENSATION FELL 23 PCT IN 2011 - April 4, 2012

Avon Products Inc Chief Executive Andrea Jung earned 23 percent less compensation in 2011, failing to earn a bonus because of what the world's largest cosmetics seller called a "challenging" year.

AVON EX-CEOS PUSH ALUMNUS FOR POST - April 4, 2012

Three former Avon Products Inc. chief executives are lobbying the beauty company to put a former senior executive at the helm, saying it needs a leader with direct-sales experience to move beyond a string of poor financial results and failed restructurings.

COTY SAID TO FLIP FROM SELLER TO AVON BUYER - April 3, 2012

For months, perfume maker Coty Inc. tried to sell itself to Avon Products Inc. (AVP) (AVP) with little progress, according to people with knowledge of the situation. By February, Coty’s board had finally lost patience.

COTY'S BID FOR AVON CAME AFTER TALKS DID NOT RESULT IN DEAL - April 2, 2012

In announcing its $10 billion unsolicited bid for Avon Products Inc., Coty acknowledged that it had sent three letters to the cosmetics giant last month seeking to begin talks about a deal.

DIRECT SELLING CONTINUES TO GROW IN EUROPE - April 1, 2012

Direct selling continues to perform strongly in Europe, despite the global economic crisis. Statistics compiled by Seldia and the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) show a growth in sales in the European Union of 8.1 percent in 2010. The total sales volume has increased from €10.7 billion to €11.6 billion. The 2011 figures are not yet known, but we have signals that direct selling remains resilient in most markets.

SUPER PAC DONORS BY THE NUMBERS - March 28, 2012

(CBS News) This week, the latest numbers on political fundraising were released, and super PACs, independent groups which are able to raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash, were once again a big part of the story. CBS News tabulated who the biggest donors are and to which groups they gave.

IS YOUR NATURAL BEAUTY BRAND READY FOR NEW COSMETICS LEGISLATION? - March 28, 2012

Does the FDA have authority to ensure your baby’s bubble bath is free from carcinogenic ingredients like formaldehyde? If FDA found harmful levels of such ingredients in a product, could it enforce a recall? In 2012, if a company decided to include arsenic in face cream, would it have to notify the FDA first?

A RETAILER THROWS A PARTY FOR CATALOGS - March 28, 2012

PartyLite has built a digital catalog for various consumer devices.

FOR BRAZIL, BEAUTY IS SERIOUS BUSINESS - March 28, 2012

As Brazilians get richer, so do their tastes. That's certainly true for their consumption of beauty products.

SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE - March 27, 2012

During a Dateline NBC episode that recently aired on the increase in supplement use by Americans, I was intrigued to look into this social health phenomenon further.

MOST DIRECT SELLERS DON'T EARN A LIVING THROUGH SALES - March 26, 2012

Earlier today we introduced you to Maggie Clark, an independent salesperson for the wickless candle maker Scentsy. Clark says she earns about $1,200 a month on her business. That is well above the median income for someone in the direct selling industry.

AMWAY CHARTS NEW COURSE - March 24, 2012

With record breaking 2011 sales topping $10.9 billion and double-digit growth in nine of its top 10 markets across the globe and an innovative manufacturing line that will produce its Nutrilite products gearing up, Amway is on a proverbial roll. And that’s how Steve Van Andel, 56-year-old chairman of the Ada-based company, likes it.

DIRECT SALES COMPANIES SAW SPIKE IN SELLERS DURING RECESSION - March 20, 2012

One of Idaho’s fast growing companies is Scentsy. They sell wickless candles and personal care products. It’s a direct sales company, meaning independent consultants sell products largely through home parties (think The Pampered Chef).

CONVICTION IN MLM SCAM AN UPHILL TASK - March 22, 2012

The absence of specific laws governing multi-layered marketing (MLM) businesses is likely to hound the prosecution in court rooms even though the Rajasthan police has booked the directors of Goldsukh Trade India and others in the case under Indian penal code for committing offence of fraud, cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy which may prove tricky to be established in the criminal court.

SUIT ALLEGES AVON PAID TO KEEP OFFICIAL QUIET IN BRIBERY PROBE - March 21, 2012

An amended lawsuit filed by shareholders of Avon Products alleges a former head of internal audit threatened to provide securities regulators with evidence of bribery at the cosmetics seller, but then extracted a larger severance package in 2006 in exchange for his silence.

VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS PROVIDE HEALTHY GAINS FOR HERBALIFE - March 20, 2012

Fitness, medicine and wellness in general are hot topics on the Web. Many folks visit sites like WebMD, Diagnosispro.com and others to diagnose their ailments or just improve their way of life.

WHY WOMEN ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BRAND AMBASSADORS IN THE WORLD - March 19, 2012

Last December I wrote of the need for more brand ambassadors. The need, as I surmised it, was based on a finding from a study conducted by Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council and Lithium, a social media tech firm.

NUTRISYSTEM THREATENS ALTICOR OVER NAME - March 16, 2012

The parent company of Amway is fighting back after threats of a lawsuit.

FEATURE - AVON LADIES SEE NEED FOR COMPLETE COMPANY MAKEOVER - March 16, 2012

Avon Products Inc's next chief executive officer will face a litany of challenges. One of the biggest will be to re-energize the iconic "Avon Ladies," the company's diminished and often demoralized army of U.S. sales representatives.

LEGALZOOM CO-FOUNDER TALKS WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP - March 15, 2012

While diapers and women's shoes might not be the first thing on Brian Lee's mind, they are top of his list when it comes to starting a business. As a co-founder of LegalZoom, he's moved from the rather dry business of legal documents to working with celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jessica Alba on their latest ventures.

ARE MOMMY BLOGGERS THE NEW AVON LADY? - March 14, 2012

Every child probably has the same memory of being shooed to another room while the adults have a "party." The hostess set out cookies and drinks, your mother’s friends came over and someone stood in the front of the room and proceeded to extol the virtues of a product.

HERBALIFE EXPANDS R&D DISCLOSURE: GREENBERG - March 14, 2012

Last week, I knocked Herbalife for claiming it does a bunch of R&D, but not disclosing the amount it spends on it.

HOW TUPPERWARE KEEPS BUSINESS FRESH AND PROFITS HIGH - March 14, 2012

Trendy companies like Apple and Facebook may dominate the headlines, but a lot of traditional businesses that have been around for decades have been successfully navigating the bumpy economy and finding new ways to make money.

MANNATECH LAUNCHES PRE-REGISTRATION PROCESS IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND BELARUS - March 6, 2012

Mannatech, Incorporated(NASDAQ: MTEX), the leading innovator and provider of nutritional supplements based on Real Food Technology ® solutions, launched its Pre-Registration process on February 18, 2012 in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

AVON WITHDRAWS ANIMAL TEST CLAIMS FROM WEBSITE AFTER COMPLAINTS - March 6, 2012

Avon has been forced to withdraw claims its cosmetics aren’t tested on animals.

QUESTIONING HERBALIFE'S 'RESEARCH': GREENBERG - March 6, 2012

When a company brags about the amount of research it does, you would expect to “research and development” broken out as an expense somewhere in its SEC filings.

THIRTY-ONE GIFTS FOUNDER SHARES SUCCESSES, LESSONS FROM RAPID EXPANSION - March 1, 2012

As Cindy Monroe started Thirty-One Gifts LLC, she visited other direct-selling leaders to see how the business was done.

AMWAY FOUNDING FAMILIES ENDORSE ROMNEY - February 28, 2012

The DeVos and Van Andel families, two of the most powerful and wealthy lineages in Michigan Republican circles, have endorsed presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Politico reports.

AMWAY APPOINTS IOANA ENACHE TO LEAD ROMANIAN SUBSIDIARY - February 28, 2012

Direct sales company Amway appointed Ioana Enache general manager for its Romanian operations. Enache joins the direct sales outfit, replacing George Popescu, who left to be manager of the European sales department within Atlas.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE FULLER BRUSH CO. (FORTUNE, 1938) - February 26, 2012

This question, well considered, well worded, from time to time turning up among the want ads of papers in a hundred cities means that the Fuller Brush Co. wants men for a business that last year grossed $10,000,000 and this year will gross more.

CRUELTY FREE? AVON AND ESTEE LAUDER UNDER FIRE AS PETA REVEALS COSMETIC BRANDS 'ORDERED ANIMAL TESTING' - February 22, 2012

Peta is calling on supporters to boycott Avon and Estée Lauder after discovering the cosmetic giants are paying for animal testing.

PYRAMID SCAMS UNDER FTC PROBE - February 21, 2012

A 20-year-old university student in Seoul received a phone call from an old high school friend last summer, offering him an opportunity for easy work with big paychecks.

MARY KAY'S PINK MANSION LISTED FOR SALE - February 21, 2012

The former home of the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics is exactly the color you would expect: A soft shade of light pink. Mary Kay pink, to be exact.

VANDERSLOOT RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF THREATENING MEDIA - February 21, 2012 

Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot is in the national spotlight amidst accusations that he threatens journalists to make negative reports about him go away.

INSIDE THE AMWAY SALES MACHINE - February 15, 2012 

LAS VEGAS—Holly Chen is a former first-grade teacher, just over 5 feet tall, with a taste for sequins. You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but this 68-year-old grandmother is one of the most prolific salespeople on Earth.

THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA JOINS MAX INTERNATIONAL - February 13, 2012

The year 2011 was certainly an exciting year for everyone at Max. Your successes have been amazing throughout all six nations: United States, Canada, Philippines, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore.

JEANS PARTIES LATEST SHOP-AT-HOME TREND - February 13, 2012

This is not your mom’s Tupperware party.

FEDS PRESENT AVON BRIBERY EVIDENCE TO GRAND JURY - February 13, 2012

An investigation by federal prosecutors into possible bribery by Avon Products (AVP) has moved to a new stage. The prosecutors, who are examining a 2005 internal report at the company that indicated it may have broken anti-bribery laws, recently presented...

AMWAY CHALLENGES BIGGIES, BEATS NIVEA, L'OREAL IN SIZE - February 10, 2012

NEW DELHI: Direct selling company Amway now outsells several mainstream brands in select segments. Amway's Nutrilite protein powder, for example, is far ahead of rivals like Wockhardt's ProtineX, while its supplement pill Nutrilite Daily is neck-and-neck with Ranbaxy's heavily advertised Revital and its Glister toothpaste is on the heels of Dabur Red.

FORBES EARNINGS PREVIEW: AVON PRODUCTS - February 9, 2012

Leading up to Avon Products‘ (AVP) announcement of its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 analysts have become more wary as expectations have fallen over the past month to earnings of 51 cents per share from earnings of 53 cents per share. 2/09/12

INDIA TO BE LARGEST MARKET FOR HERBALIFE - February 8, 2012

In the next four years, India will emerge as the largest market for US-based Herbalife, the $ 2.7-billion global nutrition and direct-selling company, according to its managing director (Asia-Pacific) William M Rahn.

USANA HEALTH SCIENCES' CEO DISCUSSES Q4 2011 RESULTS - EARNINGS CALL TRANSCRIPT - February 8, 2012

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the USANA Health Sciences Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call on the 8th of February, 2012.

WHY WOMEN ARE TO BLAME FOR THE "PINK GHETTO" OF ENTREPRENEURS - February 8, 2012

“Women: stop making start-ups about fashion, shopping and babies,” wrote Venturebeat’s Jolie O’Dell on Twitter a few months back. “At least for the next few years. You’re embarrassing me.”

AT STELLA & DOT, HOSTESSES WITH A PERCENTAGE - February 8, 2012

On a recent Friday night, a dozen women gathered in a Chelsea apartment for a direct-sales soiree.

HOW STELLA & DOT USES IN-HOME SELLING TO ENABLE DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH CUSTOMERS - February 6, 2012

Despite co-founding the successful WeddingChannel.com, Jessica Herrin found herself re-evaluating her personal and entrepreneurial priorities.

HUGE PYRAMID SCHEME CRACKED IN GUANGXI - April 12, 2012

Police said on Wednesday that they cracked the largest pyramid scheme in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to a report in People's Daily.

Agency says there's no proof the remedies work, and associated diet may cause harm

NEW AMWAY BOSS SEEKS TO RETURN SALES GROWTH TO DOUBLE DIGITS - February 3, 2012

The new managing director of Amway Thailand, the country's leading direct-sales operator, yesterday outlined aggressive plans to boost growth this year into double digits against the total market growth of 7-8 per cent.

DR. SHAWN TALBOTT NAMED MONAVIE VP OF RESEARCH & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT - February 2, 2012

MonaVie is pleased to announce that Dr. Shawn Talbott, a well-known scientist and expert in metabolism, weight loss, sports nutrition and human performance, has been appointed the company's new Vice President of Research and Product Development.

THIRTY-ONE GIFTS ANNOUNCES LAYOFFS - February 2, 2012

A central Ohio company growing so fast it expanded to Easton Town Center 16 months ago announced Thursday the layoffs of 182 employees, including 92 in Johnstown.

AVON FIRES VICE CHAIRMAN - January 31, 2012

Departure Is Latest Fallout From Probes Related to Alleged Bribery, Disclosures

AMWAY RESPONDS TO REPORTS OF MONEY LAUNDERING PROBE IN INDIA - January 26, 2012

As newspapers report that Amway's operation in India is under investigation by that country's government for money laundering, the Ada-based multi-level marketing company says its unaware of any formal probe.

NEWAYS COMPLETES RESTRUCTURING - January 19, 2012

Neways Enterprises, a worldwide leader in dietary supplements and personal care products, announced today that it has completed a comprehensive out-of-court restructuring, allowing the company to significantly reduce its debt.

SAC, Z SAID TO BE NEAR DEAL FOR GOLDEN GATE'S NEWAYS UNDER RESTRUCTURING - January 13, 2012

Creditors SAC Capital Advisors LP and Z Capital Partners LLC are poised to take control of Golden Gate Capital Corp.’s Neways in a restructuring that would allow it to avoid bankruptcy, said people with knowledge of the talks.

THIRTY-ONE GIFTS THRIVES IN JOHNSTOWN LOCATION - January 11, 2012

If pride in your location can be shown through inspiring architecture, Thirty-One Gifts has shown its Johnstown pride and so much more.

ONET: NOT ALL PYRAMIDS MAKE MONEY FOR EGYPT - January 5, 2012

Ahram Online explores controversial 'direct-selling' scheme that has become increasingly popular among Egypt's would-be entrepreneurs

BBB NAMES TOP TEN SCAMS OF 2011 - January 4, 2012

Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills.

GET-RICH-QUICK SCHEMES UNDER POLICE SCANNER - January 2, 2012

The economic offences wing (EOW) of the police is focusing on companies that offer returns through multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes.

MARY KAY SPEEDS UP EXPANSION IN CHINA - December 27, 2011

U.S-based cosmetics giant Mary Kay hopes the sales in China will exceed those in the U.S. market in 2013, marking China its largest global market, said a top executive at Mary Kay Greater China.

JUNG'S OUTSIDE SUCCESSOR MAY SHAKE 'ENTRENCHED' AVON CULTURE - December 24, 2011

Replacing Avon Products Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Andrea Jung with an outsider may inject fresh energy into a company where the leader and much of her board have served for more than a decade.

MEET THE CHANGE MAKERS: AVON CALLS FOR A GREEN MAKEOVER - December 22, 2011

The first "Avon Lady" started knocking on doors in New Hampshire back in 1886, selling beauty products directly to her friends and neighbors.

ARE COSMETICS RECESSION-PROOF? MARY KAY THRIVES IN BAD ECONOMIC TIMES - December 14, 2011

Thousands of women were recognized for expanding their businesses at the Mary Kay Cosmetics Career Conference's awards nights in Dallas this past summer because, contrary to almost everything else in the current economic downturn, lipstick sells in tough times.

WORKING IS 'BETTER FOR MOTHER'S HEALTH' THAN STAYING AT HOME - December 13, 2011

Mothers with jobs tend to be healthier and happier than those who stay at home during their children’s early years, it has been found.

DIRECT SELLING DEFIES RECESSION - December 12, 2011

Unemployment is at its highest level for fifteen years and no-one is expecting much good news when the latest figures come out on Wednesday.

AVON'S INVESTMENTS FALL SHORT - December 8, 2011

Avon Products Inc.'s struggles around the world have tended to obscure a nagging problem: the door-to-door beauty retailer is nearly always short on spare cash.

LETTER BOMBS? - UNPRETTY PICTURE OF AVON -  December 3, 2011

A ranking of CEO letters to shareholders puts the direct-selling company in its bottom candor quartile. Among the cited woes are obfuscation and confusion.

MAKEUP GIANT MARY KAY RAMPS UP SOCIAL, MOBILE EFFORTS - December 2, 2011

Direct Seller Is in Talks With Shops to Pitch Social-Media Biz; Plans Rollout of Customizable Web Tools Next Year

'GOLD PARTIES' A POPULAR NEW TREND IN TOUGH ECONOMY - November 29, 2011

Gold. It seems to be the magic word of this weak economy.

NEW WARNING FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR SELLERS - November 28, 2011

ANNOYING salespeople who ignore "do not knock" signs would be charged and fined under a proposed change to consumer law.

MULTILEVEL MARKETER FHTM MEMBERS DUE FEE REFUNDS - November 24, 2011

Texas members of the multilevel marketing company FHTM have until Monday to apply for a refund of the fees they paid to the firm, under a settlement with the Texas Attorney General.

NEWAYS IN ACTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION WITH ITS LENDERS TO REFINANCE CAPITAL STRUCTURE - November 23, 2011

Neways Enterprises (“the Company”), a world-wide leader in dietary supplements and personal care products, confirmed today that it is in negotiations with its lenders to refinance the Company’s capital structure.

MARY KAY: A LOOK INSIDE MARY KAY'S PRODUCTION PALACE - November 22, 2011

The house that Mary Kay built is a thing of beauty. From the street, it looks like an ordinary warehouse.

THE AVON LADIES OF BANGLADESH - November 20, 2011

Female villagers are starting to escape poverty by selling cosmetics and health products in their communities, an activity that challenges traditional roles, but the scheme has been criticized.

HOW "JUST LOOKING" CUSTOMERS GENERATE SALES - November 17, 2011

Who is your most valuable consumer?

POLICE TO TRACK ONLINE ACTIVITIES OF MLM COMPANIES - November 16, 2011

Promoters of virtual companies like Speak Asia earned crore of rupees using the internet. The authorities are now planning to develop a system to alert people about dubious activities of MLMs.

NUTRITION FIRM CLAIMS DRAW SKEPTICISM - November 15, 2011

A nutritional supplements company is marketing high-end vitamins, energy drinks and fat-blocking powder from its new headquarters here, but one nutritionist calls its claims "gobbledygook."

EARNING EXTRA CASH WITH DIRECT SALES MADE EASIER WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, TECH GADGETS - November 13, 2011

"Most of the parties that I do, about 80 or maybe even 90 percent, are all online parties," says Jessica Hunt, a Scentsy independent consultant.

DING-DONG! AVON MAN CALLING - November 13, 2011

Avon Ladies have been knocking on British doors since the 1950s, selling cosmetics and perfumes. But this year has seen the rise of the Avon Man, as the increase in unemployment has encouraged far more men to take up door-to-door selling.

TIMES CHANGING AT AVON AS MORE MEN SIGN-UP TO BECOME DOORSTEP SELLERS - November 12, 2011

Direct-selling and cold-calling firms are taking up some of the slack from a slowing economy – with a growing number of men and full-time workers joining the sector.

DOING GOOD DOOR-TO-DOOR - November 11, 2011

Chuck Slaughter brings an Avon business model to bear on basic health services in sub-Saharan Africa

AVON - FALLEN BEAUTY? - November 9, 2011

While the stock market had rebounded powerfully from its October woes (as if nobody seems to think Europe poses any problem anymore), Avon (NYSE: AVP) had sunken almost to a low not seen since it tanked in early 2009, when the world was suppose to be ended by the financial tsunami.

HOW J. HILBURN MANAGED TO EXPAND ONLINE - November 8, 2011

Last week, we profiled a dilemma facing J. Hilburn, a Dallas clothing company that uses direct sales and multilevel marketing to sell custom shirts and other menswear.

GENERATION JOBLESS: FROM IVIED HALLS TO TRAVELING SALESMAN - November 8, 2011

You don't need a college degree to sell insurance for Aflac Inc., but college graduates are flocking there, desperate for income in the rough job market.

WATKINS CEO EMPHASIZES VALUE OF AN INCLUSIVE TEAM MENTALITY - November 6, 2011

Mark Jacobs has been involved in business since he was 5 years old. He ran his first department at age 11, staffing a gift stand at the Grain Belt Brewery, which his family owned.

MEN'S CLOTHING FIRM WANTS TO EXPAND INTO ONLINE SALES - November 2, 2011

Using a direct-sales and multilevel marketing model similar to that of Avon, J. Hilburn sells clothing that is custom fit using measurements taken by company sales representatives, known as style advisers, who make house calls and who share in the profits of other sales advisers that they recruit.

HERBALIFE'S CEO DISCUSSES Q3 2011 RESULTS - EARNINGS CALL TRANSCRIPT - November 1, 2011

Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) Q3 2011 Earnings Call.

NEW STRATEGIC CHALLENGES FOR FRAGRANCE - November 1, 2011

According to Euromonitor International, the fragrance market rebounded quite strongly from the 2008 global financial crisis, fueled by upbeat demand in emerging markets—notably Brazil and Russia.

A NEW PAMPERING CULTURE FUELS OPPORTUNITY IN MEN'S GROOMING - November 1, 2011

The global retail market for men’s grooming products is forecasted to reach $31 billion in 2011, according to data from Euromonitor International.

ZAMBIAN KING HONORS NU SKIN FOR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS - October 31, 2011

Chewa King Kalonga Gawa Undi of Zambia honored Nu Skin Enterprises and its independent distributors Friday for their humanitarian efforts that have benefited his people.

TAKING THE 'AVON' WAY TO REACH 'THE LAST MILE' - October 31, 2011

There has been a lot of talk lately about tackling the "last mile" of health care delivery in the developing world.

CALLING FOR AVON TO MAKE A CHANGE - October 30, 2011

A good look in the mirror might help Avon’s management. Andrea Jung, the chief executive of the $8 billion cosmetics company, has twice failed to turn it around.

5 RULES OF MARKETING TO WOMEN - October 28, 2011

There's a shortlist of mistakes companies and brands typically make when trying to sell products to women.

AVALLA, LLC PARTNERS WITH NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE - October 28, 2011

Through NECB's Corporate Partnership Program, Avalla now offers online business degree programs to its independent Consultants.

AVON'S JUNG UNDER SCRUTINY AS SEC STARTS NEW INVESTIGATION - October 28, 2011

With the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission probing Avon Products Inc. (AVP)’s dealings with analysts, Andrea Jung may be facing the toughest challenge of her 12-year tenure as chief executive officer.

WOMEN LEADERS IN THE WORKPLACE: THE21ST CENTURY - October 27, 2011

It has been widely reported that for the first time in history, women are less than a percentage point away from making up the majority of the national workforce.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM DIRECT SELLING - October 25, 2011

 Home selling has shaken off its old-fashioned image and a new generation of entrepreneurial sellers are handsomely topping up their monthly income.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CASH IN, SHOP AND SOCIALIZE AT LATEST HOME PARTIES - October 25, 2011

For a recent party at her Hasbrouck Heights home, Dina Schmeer decked out her living room in Halloween decorations and stocked the dining room table with finger food.

COSMETICS, PINK CARS AND THE ART OF THE SELL: MARY KAY COMES TO INWOOD - October 25, 2011

Julia Ortiz wants the pink Cadillac. That was her goal when she opened the Mary Kay Independent Training Center in Inwood in September.

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL FOR DIRECT SELLING OF COSMETICS IN AFRICA - October 19, 2011

In modern times direct selling is the personal presentation and sale of products directly to consumers away from a fixed retail location, usually in their homes or at their jobs.

PAINTING THE TOWN PINK TO RAISE MILLIONS - October 18, 2011

The ninth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which took place this weekend in New York, was big business.

FROM TUPPERWARE TO TOYS - October 17, 2011

In the 1950s, the Tupperware company created its now-famous “party plan” to sell its wares.

SCENTSY'S PROFITS CONTINUE TO RISE SHARPLY - October 11, 2011

Scentsy grew from a tiny endeavor in a Utah home basement to a worldwide, multi-million-dollar company, quickly capturing the attention of consumers and the business world alike.

UTAH STOCKS HAMMERED BY THIRD QUARTER MARKET DECLINE - October 10, 2011

The sell-off in the stock market during the third quarter took its toll on Utah’s 27 largest publicly held companies.

BARRY MINKOW TO BEGIN SERVING SECOND PRISON SENTENCE FOR FRAUD - September 21, 2011

Federal prison authorities order two-time fraud convict Barry Minkow to begin serving his five-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., instead of a minimum-security work camp in Alabama.

MARY KAY TO INVEST $25 MILLION IN CHINA, SOON ITS LARGEST MARKET - September 19, 2011

Mary Kay Inc., the cosmetics seller famous for rewarding top sales agents with pink Cadillacs, plans to invest $25 million to build a distribution center in China, soon to be its largest market.

FINANCE DOESN'T STOP FOR STAY-AT-HOMES - September 17, 2011

Whether in or outside the workforce, it's still necessary to plan ahead.

PRE-PAID LEGAL CHANGES NAME TO LEGALSHIELD  - September 13, 2011

Oklahoma company's new owners choose new name as part of rebranding strategy.

READY TO START YOU OWN BUSINESS? TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED - September 12, 2011

Many women find that owning their own business gives them tremendous confidence. It helps you take control of your finances, set and reach goals, and enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishing what you set out to do.

REMEMBERING THE WORLD BOOK DAYS - September 7, 2011

To many who sold it, the World Book Encyclopedia is much more than an outdated textbook stowed away in a relative’s basement.

DING-DONG! OVER 50S DOORSTEP SELLER NUMBERS SOAR - September 5, 2011

Next time you answer the front door to a doorstep salesman, there's a big chance it won't be some spotty-faced kid trying to persuade you to change energy suppliers, it'll be a neatly-presented over 50 with a story to tell and a product to sell.

IS THIS THE FUTURE OF RETAIL? - September 1, 2011

SHOPBOX, the newest addition to DeKalb Market, a temporary mall in Brooklyn comprised of shipping containers, has its products on display, with no clerks to be found.

THE LONG SEARCH FOR FULL-TIME WORK - September 2, 2011

The longer one has been out of work, the harder it is to find a new job. New unemployment figures out Friday from the Labor Department are likely to point to continued pain in August.

SOCIAL SELLING: 'IT'S A JOB, NOT A PARTY' - August 31, 2011

Tory Johnson reports best practices when choosing to work in direct sales.

INTERNET SUPPLEMENT SALES TO GROW BY DOUBLE DIGITS THROUGH 2012 - August 30, 2011

Nutrition Business Journal estimates that sales of dietary supplements via the Internet will surpass $3 billion by 2017. Which companies are leading the way?

GNC BUYS LUCKY VITAMIN.COM TO GAIN E-COMMERCE MARKET SHARE - August 26, 2011

This week, GNC announced it will buy LuckyVitamin.com.

JAFRA COSMETICS CELEBRATING 55 YEARS IN BUSINESS - August 24, 2011

A skin care and beauty company based in the Conejo Valley is celebrating 55 years in business.

AMWAY TO BUY ORGANIC FARMS IN INDIA - August 23, 2011

Amway India, a dietary supplements, health and beauty company, plans to buy organic farms in India.

AFTER 65 YEARS, TUPPERWARE ENJOYS A RENAISSANCE - August 22, 2011

While the Tupperware plastic container was an innovation when introduced in 1946, the marketing of the product at private parties offered 1950s housewives the opportunity to earn money at home.

Q&A: MARCUS SANDSTROM & SHARMILI RAJPUT, ORIFLAME - August 21, 2011

Leading direct selling Swedish beauty company, Oriflame, which has completed 15 years in India, has extensive investment plans to expand its manufacturing base in the country.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH RICK GOINGS - August 20, 2011

As Rick Goings, chairman and chief executive officer of Tupperware Brands Corp became more successful, he began to think about making a difference in life.

FAYETTEVILLE LICENSE FEE AUDIT ALSO TARGETING IN-HOME SALES - August 20, 2011

Landlords and property managers aren't the only ones grousing about Fayetteville's crackdown on license fees.

BECOMING BELLY FRIENDLY: NEW MATERNITY TRAINING PROGRAM LAUNCHES - August 19, 2011

One-of-a-kind prenatal program promises to boost business

THE BACKUP PLAN - August 18, 2011

What happens when you graduate into a world with no jobs?

MLM COMPANIES TRY FOREX DEALS, COMMODITIES TRAINING PACKAGES TO LURE NEW MEMBERS - August 18, 2011

Even as multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes such as Speak Asia and Tycoon Empire International Ltd are under the regulatory scanner, numerous such schemes continue to target gullible investors.

DIRECT SELLING IN 2010: SALES INCREASE TO $28.56 BILLION AS CHANNEL CONTINUES TO PROVIDE INCOME FOR MILLIONS - August 18, 2011

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) today released its annual Growth & Outlook Survey, headlined by an increase in estimated retail sales for the direct sales channel which, even in tough economic times, provides a source of income for millions of Americans.

WOMEN MORE LIKELY TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS - August 18, 2011

Part-time employment allows more caregiving time but fewer benefits.

AVON TO INCREASE INDIA ACTIVITY - August 18, 2011

Avon has said it will strengthen its presence in India and expand its product range.

TYCOON EMPIRE LAUNCHES NEW MLM PLAN DESPITE POLICE PROBE - August 17, 2011

Another multi-level marketing company, Tycoon Empire International, has duped investors of thousands of crores of rupees under the pretext of promising 10% monthly guaranteed returns on investment.

STELLA & DOT JEWELRY REDEFINES SOCIAL SHOPPING - August 17, 2011

Avon has been calling since 1886. Tupperware parties were introduced shortly after World War II. The Mary Kay Cosmetics empire, which still rewards top sellers with cars, first revved up in 1963.

RODAN + FIELDS® DERMATOLOGISTS WINS THE DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION AWARD - August 16, 2011

The Excellence in Salesforce Development Award is presented annually to the direct selling company that has implemented an innovative salesforce development program with demonstrated results.

LOCAL SALESWOMAN EARNS 17TH MARY KAY CAREER CAR - August 14, 2011

It’s quite a high achievement for a Mary Kay saleswoman to earn one of the company’s pink Cadillacs, let alone 17.

TURKEY'S EAST-WEST ECONOMIC DIVIDE IMPACTS GROWTH POTENTIAL - August 12, 2011

Turkey's buoyant growth since 2002 has failed to erase the country's regional disparities.

DESIGNER JEANS EXCITE AT-HOME PARTY MARKET - August 8, 2011

Move over purse parties, the latest bling is coming from behind

LOCAL BUSINESS "MANCAVE" GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION - August 7, 2011

Two East Grand Forks natives are grilling up growth in a business they started two and a half years ago.

HOUSE PARTIES PUSH PRODUCTS - August 6, 2011

Forget buying television commercials. Never mind the pop-up ads, and nix the campaigns on the sides of buses.

BEWARE OF THE MULTI LEVEL MARKETING PREDATORS - August 5, 2011

Shobha Dayal (name changed to protect identity), 47, was working as a treasury manager with a bank. A friend sold her the ‘Gold Quest’, a multi-level or chain marketing scheme which deals in selling gold coins.

GOLD PARTY RAGES ON - August 5, 2011

But now, the 32-year-old founder of My Gold Party, is watching one of the world’s most volatile exchanges rise and fall every day, and it has not been dull

STUDENTS EARN MONEY SELLING EDUCATIONAL BOOKS - August 4, 2011

To morning commuters on busy Division Street, it could look like a tribal dance complete with jumps, hoots and hollers and rhythmic clapping.

THE COMPANY THAT CUTS BOTH WAYS - August 2, 2011

On a late afternoon in June, seven dressed up 18- and 19-year-olds sat nervously in an unadorned waiting room on upper State Street.

IDA SEEKS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY - August 1, 2011

Concerned over frauds worth Rs 1,000 crore committed by some multi-level marketing and money chain companies in Kerala, the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) today urged the Union government to formulate a regulatory framework governing the direct selling industry.

PINK IS RECESSION CHIC - August 1, 2011

Mary Kay “pink” is blooming in downtown Dallas.

PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE: 'DO NOT SOLICIT' LIST - July 31, 2011

A couple of years ago, Chuck Thorne was contemplating how little he enjoys answering a knock at his door, only to be confronted by a sales pitch.

CELEBRITIES TURN OUT FOR LIA SOPHIA JEWELRY - July 27, 2011

Lia sophia, the direct-sales jewelry brand that has a strong celebrity following, held an intimate event Tuesday night in the back courtyard of the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood.

SELLING SOLAR LAMPS DOOR-TO-DOOR POWERS AFRICA'S FEMAIL ENTREPRENEURS - July 27, 2011

Solar Sister gives startup funds--and a $500 "business-in-a-bag"--to door-to-door solar saleswomen, illuminating villages and offering exceptional economic benefits to communities.

RENEWABLE ENERGY, NETWORK MARKETING AND REGULATORY WOES - July 21, 2011

A renewable energy network marketing organization is facing regulatory issues.

MINKOW GETS FIVE YEARS FOR LENNAR SHARES FRAUD - July 21, 2011

Barry Minkow, a former Wall Street con artist who went on to build a reputation as an anti-fraud fighter, was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday for a securities swindle targeting U.S. homebuilder Lennar Corp

THE PINK LADIES: MARY KAY'S TOP LAWYER KEEPS MAKEUP MAVEN'S MEETINGS LOOKING GOOD - July 26, 2011

The flashy pink Cadillac symbolizes ultimate success for Mary Kay Inc. beauty consultants.

FACIAL PARTY - July 20, 2011

The story is as old as Avon. A salesperson slips into your social sphere, and the “social” invitations follow.

INCREASED FOCUS ON EMPLOYEE MISCLASSIFICATION - July 20, 2011

The Department of Labor is updating the record-keeping regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

AMWAY CORP. CO-FOUNDER JAY VAN ANDEL HONORED IN BRONZE - July 20, 2011

Amway Corp. co-founder Jay Van Andel cast a large figure across West Michigan's landscape

NU SKIN BREAK GROUND ON $85M CENTER IN DOWNTOWN PROVO - July 19, 2011

As Nu Skin broke ground on its new $85 million Innovation Center on Monday, business leaders and local officials expressed hope the development will have a global effect.

NBJ ON NEW DIETARY INGREDIENTS - July 19, 2011

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration finally delivered new guidance on New Dietary Ingredients (NDIs), just in time for the July 4 holiday.

MARY KAY SEMINAR BRINGS 30,000 SALES FORCE MEMBERS TO DALLAS - July 21, 2011

They come from all over the country. And over the next few weeks, 30,000 Mary Kay Sales Force Members will roam the halls of the Dallas Convention Center.

DIRECT SELLING ENABLES OVER-50S TO SUPPLEMENT INCOME - July 18, 2011

The Direct Selling Association says that a growing number of older people are opting to take on flexible part-time work.

SILPADA CONFERENCE BRINGS SILVER RUSH TO KANSAS CITY - July 18, 2011

Kansas City is about to experience a silver rush — a rush to see new Silpada Designs Inc. jewelry, that is.

BRA COMPANY'S A GOOD FIT FOR SALES THROUGH HOME PARTIES - July 17, 2011

The bra market is already saturated with well-known brands. Additionally, Ohly’s Zyrra system requires trained specialists, something regular stores probably wouldn’t have the interest or capacity to provide.

GRILLING UP GROWTH - July 17, 2011

Barely a year out of college, Nick Beste already has topped $1 million in sales with his pioneering company, Man Cave Worldwide, which stages Mary Kay-style home parties for men.

THIRTY-ONE GIFTS GROWTH NOTED AT CONFERENCE - July 15, 2011

Johnstown-based company Thirty-One Gifts made a big impact in central Ohio during its eighth annual national conference.

IT TAKES WORK TO FIND LEGITIMATE WORK-FROM-HOME OPPORTUNITIES - THEN SUCCESS - OR FAILURE- IS ALL IN YOUR HANDS - July 16, 2011

When Alan Mater found himself laid off from the lens grinding company where he worked near Lewiston, Pa., he didn't waste a lot of time looking elsewhere for work.

WOMAN REGRETS PURCHASE FROM DOOR TO DOOR SALESMAN - July 14, 2011

It's an old fashioned way of making a sale but today, there are still door to door sales people showing up in the Bay Area.

FOOD LABELING IN EUROPE - July 14, 2011

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Union (EU) agency tasked with food safety risk assessment, has been hard at work in recent years evaluating food health claims.

THE FIVE PS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS - July 13, 2011

Looking to start your own business? Direct selling could be a way to achieve this goal with flexible hours and low initial investment.

DEPUTIES SAY DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES IN SPARTANBURG CO. ARE LEGIT - July 13, 2011

Spartanburg County deputies said a door-to-door saleswoman that has raised the eyebrows of some parents recently is legitimate.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMAN BANNED FROM THIRD TOWN - July 13, 2011

A door-to-door salesman’s peddler’s permit was revoked Monday, after Killingworth Resident Trooper Matthew Ward received a complaint about the salesman around 8 p.m. Saturday.

AMWAY REACHES $1 BILLION IN MONTHLY SALES FOR THE FIRST TIME - July 13, 2011

One month, $1 billion in sales: Amway today announced it had reached that milestone for the first time in its 51-year history during June.

BRIC: CONTINUED DOMINATION OF GLOBAL BEAUTY SALES - July 13, 2011

Most of the major international beauty companies are focusing on expanding their presence in Brazil, Russia, India and China—the BRIC markets—and it’s easy to see why.

MULTI LEVEL MARKETING (MLM) SCHEME LIKELY TO BECOME NATIONAL ISSUE - July 13, 2011

Investors of the whole country including investors from this state who had invested their hard earned money to Multi Level Marketing (MLM) schemes of Best Genius Limited, a Malaysian based company is likely to reach the ears of the national leaders making it a national issue.

MOVE OVER, MARY KAY - July 12, 2011

Founded by three Colombian men named Alberto who joined forces in Miami, Zumba is a dance-inspired workout taught at gyms, schools, and yoga studios all over the world.

IS FDA A PAPER TIGER? - July 12, 2011

FDA seems to be afraid of losing its grip on the nutrition industry, and numerous entities are stealing its thunder.

DIRECT SELLER RANKS SWOLLEN BY OLDER WORKERS - July 12, 2011

Direct Selling Association reports 29% rise in number of sellers aged 50 and above who 'enjoy the social side' of the work.

BELIEF IN A MISSION: AVON MARKS 125 YEARS - July 13, 2011

Operating through 6.5 million representatives in more than 100 countries is definitely an advantage for Avon.

BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR SOUTHWESTERN IN TIGHT SUMMER JOB MARKET - July 11, 2011

It’s been a tough couple of years to find a summer job. But a Nashville-based publisher still can’t get enough help from college students.

USANA HEALTH SCIENCES IS NOW AN FDA-REGISTERED FACILITY - July 11, 2011

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA) today announced it has obtained the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Drug Establishment Registration," allowing the company to manufacture over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and holding it to a standard well above what is required of a dietary supplement manufacturer.

TRUTH BEHIND PYRAMID SCHEMES - July 10, 2011

Pyramid Schemes come in diverse guises and names. Ponzi and Multi-level Marketing are two of them. Both of them are simple yet very effective pyramid scams.

PAPERLY RECOGNIZED BY THE DSA FOR PARTICIPATION IN ITS CODE OF ETHICS COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE - July 6, 2011

Paperly LLC, the only direct seller focused exclusively on personalized stationery and paper-related gifts, was recognized at the Direct Selling Association’s 2011 Annual Meeting (DSA.org) for its participation in the DSA's Code of Ethics Communication Initiative.

AMWAY LOOKING TO INVEST RS 450 CR FOR EXPANSION IN 2 - 3 YEARS - July 5, 2011

Amway India, direct selling FMCG company is looking to investment of Rs 450 crore in the next 2-3 years in India, as part of the company’s expansion plan.

MEN ACCUSED OF RUNNING A PONZI SCHEME PLEAD NOT GUILTY - July 2, 2011

Two men accused of running a Ponzi scheme have pleaded not guilty.

PRE-PAID LEGAL SALE VALUED AT $650 MILLION - July 1, 2011

MidOcean Partners, a leading private equity firm, announced Thursday that it has completed its acquisition of Ada-based Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc.

TOP-UP YOUR PENSION WITH A PART TIME JOB - June 30, 2011

MILLIONS of struggling pensioners are being forced back to work just to survive and pay their bills.

AVON: GREAT BRAND, MESSY BUSINESS AND SEEMINGLY UNDERVALUED SHARES - June 29, 2011

Weak profits of late have driven down the shares of Avon Products (AVP) far enough that, based on historical results, they’re looking cheap. Trading above $35 last fall, Avon shares are off sharply and trail the market’s recent performance.

DIRECT SALES COMPANIES DRAW LOCAL WORKERS - June 26, 2011

The Avon Lady turned 125 years old this year and has been holding her own in tough economies.

KERALA GETS TOUGH WITH MONEY SWINDLERS AND MLM COMPANIES - June 24, 2011

Kerala, said to be the country’s most literate state, is flooded with numerous ‘get-rich-quick’ or ‘earn-huge-return’ schemes offered by money swindlers.

GOING STRAIGHT TO THE CUSTOMER - June 23, 2011

Amid the ever-growing dominance of shopping malls in the country’s retail landscape, direct selling continues to be a very viable option to reach consumers and make that sale

MARKET AMERICA'S AMERICAN DREAM MACHINE - June 23, 2011

JR and Loren Ridinger made a fortune, won celebrity friends, and built a multilevel marketing empire by selling their most valuable asset: Themselves

NEWAYS CREATES INSTITUTE OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLES - June 20, 2011

Reaffirming the company's commitment to delivering science-based products for a healthy lifestyle, Neways announced the realignment of its scientific teams into a synergistic new organization called the Neways Institute of Healthy Lifestyles.

IS IT A BANK OR IS IT MARY KAY? - June 20, 2011

Multi-level Marketing (MLM) is a marketing strategy whereby sales persons not only receive compensation for sales they make directly but also generate income from the sales of other people recruited to join the organization.

MANNATECH OPENS ITS DOORS TO FOUR NEW EUROPEAN COUNTRIES - June 14, 2011

Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ: MTEX), the leading developer and provider of nutritional supplements and skin care products based on Real Food Technology® solutions, officially opened office headquarters last Saturday in four new countries across central and eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland and the Republic of Ireland.

P & S JEWELLERY LTD TAKES TO MULTI-LEVEL-MARKETING - June 14, 2011

Indian diamond jewelry manufacturer P & S Jewellery Ltd., is going the multi-level marketing (MLM) route to promote its ‘Tahira’ brand of jewellery.

SELLING DIAMOND JEWELRY THROUGH MLM, TAHIRA SHOWS THE WAY - June 13, 2011

India’s direct selling market which is witnessing a huge growth now has a major diamond jewelry manufacturer trying to promote its own branded diamond jewellery, through the time-tested multi-level marketing (MLM) mode.

PYRAMID SCHEMES: DAYLIGHT ROBBERY - June 12, 2011

Pyramid marketing companies are looting the public easily, while the government watches. Many countries have banned them outright

XYNGULAR - MLM SUPERHERO REPORTS RECORD SALES OF $1.5 MILLION FOR MAY 2011 - June 7, 2011

Xyngular a hot new health and wellness company has begun to make its mark in the network marketing industry.

CONSUMER ALERT: DON'T GET CAUGHT IN A PYRAMID SCHEME - June 6, 2011

According to the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Multilevel Marketing plans are ways to sell goods and services through other distributors.

DIRECT SELLING EXECUTIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD SHOW "Y WE CARE" ABOUT MIAMI-DADE'S TEENS AND TWEENS - June 4, 2011

When hundreds of company executives gather in Miami for the 2011 annual convention of the Direct Selling Association, they will do more than take in the Florida sunshine and discuss their direct selling businesses.

TOP 10 MISTAKES DIRECT SELLING COMPANIES MAKE IN SOCIAL MEDIA - May 2011

Here’s a revolutionary thought: The direct selling industry invented social marketing.

STRICT REGULATION OF MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING LIKELY - May 28, 2011

The dubious business model of multi-level marketing (MLM) companies, where sales agents recruit customers to join their distribution army, has come under the government’s scanner.

MILLIONS OF INDIANS CAUGHT UP IN COMPANY'S ALLEGED FRAUD - May 27, 2011

Tripta Chandrashekhar trusted the man who asked her to invest her savings in Speak Asia Online. Their mothers were friends.

MONAVIE'S TOP GUY: THE RICHEST MULTILEVEL NETWORKER OF ALL - May 27, 2011

Brig Hart found evangelical Christianity and success in multilevel marketing at the same time.

MORE TURN TO DIRECT SELLING FOR INCOME - May 23, 2011

Direct Selling Association of Malaysia expects its collective revenue to exceed RM3.6bil this year, representing an increase of about 5% from a year ago

TVI EXPRESS, YET ANOTHER SPEAK ASIA? - May 23, 2011

The MLM company promises five-star travel packages on joining and lucrative compensation fees up to Rs4.5 lakh on its direct selling model

DIRECT SALES AND PONZI SCHEMES - May 23, 2011

A simple pyramid scheme works like this: participants attempt to make money solely by recruiting new participants into the programme

SONS OF AMWAY FOUNDERS TO BE INDUCTED INTO WEST MICHIGAN BUSINESS HALL OF FAME - May 21, 2011

Two men who emerged from their fathers’ long shadows to help lead direct sales giant Amway to become a global powerhouse will be inducted into the Junior Achievement West Michigan Business Hall of Fame on Tuesday

AMWAY NORTH AMERICA #1 IN ONLINE HEALTH & BEAUTY SALES FOR EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR - INTERNET RETAILER - May 20, 2011

Amway Independent Business Owners (IBOs) have once again earned the company the top spot in online Health & Beauty (H&B) sales.

FLAMELESS CANDLES - May 20, 2011

The Scentsy History: From a Sheep Farm to One of the Fastest Growing Companies in the US Today This article is written by Lisa Murdock Independent Scentsy Consultant scents2buy.com

MT EXPERT'S TEN TOP TIPS: HOW TO SELL LIKE THE EXPERTS - May 20, 2011

We asked the Direct Selling Association’s Paul Southworth for his top tips on getting started in sales

GOVERNMENT PROBES ONLINE SURVEY COMPANY SPEAK ASIA FOR PONZI SCAM - May 19, 2011

Indian authorities have launched an investigation into Speak Asia, an online survey company that has collected hundreds of crores from users by promising huge payments for filling its surveys

MCA ORDERS PROBE INTO SPEAK ASIA - May 18, 2011

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has ordered a probe into market research agency Speak Asia after media reports unearthed shady workings of the firm.

INDIAN MLM AND NETWORK MARKETING SCAMS - May 18, 2011

GOLDQUEST, QUEST NET, QI GROUP, Quest, SCAM

USANA HEALTH SCIENCES ANNOUNCES PLANS TO EXPAND OPERATIONS TO THAILAND - May 18, 2011

According to the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), Thailand is the world's 13th-largest country in terms of retail U.S. dollars generated from direct selling and Asia's 5th-largest market for direct selling, with estimated sales of more than $1.5 billion.

HOW TO AVOID 'GET-RICH-QUICK' SCHEMES AND SCAMS - May 18, 2011

There are no free lunches, no easy money. Yet people often become victim of ‘double-your-money’ or ‘earn-lifetime-income’ schemes. Here’s how to identity and avoid such MLM schemes.

MONEYLIFE FOUNDATION SENDS REPRESENTATION TO PM, FM AND RBI URGING BAN ON MLM SCHEMES - May 18, 2011

Moneylife Foundation urges the PM and others to completely ban MLM companies in India or bring these companies under the regulation of either RBI or SEBI. Moneylife was the first to expose the Speak Asia online survey scam on 8 October 2010.

AVON CELEBRATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY IN MEXICO CITY - May 18, 2011

Chairman & CEO Andrea Jung and Rosa Maria Salazar Continue Avon’s New $2 Million Commitment to End Violence Against Women

STARTING A MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING BUSINESS - TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID FAILING - May 17, 2011

Before starting an MLM company selection, you have to have a definite product in mind.

GROUP THERAPY ... FOR THE GIRLS - May 17, 2011

Online shopping might be convenient, but it's no substitute for a night on the town in the comfort of your own home, finds Julie Jacobson

TIENS BIOTECH GROUP (USA) REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS - May 16, 2011

Revenue for the first quarter of 2011 was $13.1 million, compared to $11.4 million for 2010.

ALLIANCE BOOTS SEES RAPID OVERSEAS WHOLESALE GROWTH - May 16, 2011

UK pharmacist Alliance Boots has seen double-digit sales growth for the year, driven by its international business.

PRODUCT INNOVATION AND WIDER DISTRIBUTION DRIVE BRAZILIAN COSMETICS MARKET - May 15, 2011

Increased disposable income, constant concern over personal appearance and continuing product innovation and a wider distribution reach is driving growth in the Brazilian beauty and personal care market, according to Euromonitor International, with the market valued at $37.4bn in 2010 after 14 percent growth in 2009.

HOME PARTIES STILL A GOOD SALES MODEL - May 15, 2011

Long ago, way back before we all had computers and could spend hours shopping from our desks, people would have parties to sell things like makeup, fancy plastic containers and snazzy kitchen tools

NUTRACEUTICALS: RIDING THE HEALTHY LIVING WAVE - May 13, 2011

FMCG, Pharma majors eye a bigger share of the growing dietary supplement market

THOUSANDS OF PART TIME JOB OPPORTUNITIES UP FOR GRABS - May 12, 2011

AS part of our Get Britain Working campaign, we have searched the UK for part-time opportunities and found 87,823 vacancies.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING A DIRECT SELLING OPPORTUNITY? - May 6, 2011

Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world find that direct selling fits their unique lifestyle.

MAX INTERNATIONAL VS. KEN DUNN: JOINT SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT - May 4, 2011

Joseph Voyticky and Dave Bagley, Co-CEOs of Max International, LLC (“Max”) and Ken Dunn (“Dunn”) jointly announced today that they have settled all disputes between them on mutually agreeable terms.

LATASIA WORKS FOR WORKING MOTHERS - May 4, 2011

Returning to the workforce after having children or being laid off may mean making less than when previously employed, according to reports in the New York Times and U.S. News.

AVON'S PROFIT MORE THAN TRIPLES; SHARES GAIN - May 3, 2011

Avon Products Inc., the world’s largest direct seller of beauty products, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit more than tripled as demand rose across different product categories from fragrance to personal-care products.

SEARS TUMBLES ON FORECAST; AVON RALLIES - May 3, 2011

Retail stocks were off to a mixed start Tuesday, with Sears Holdings Corp. leading the sector’s decliners after the company projected a first-quarter loss amid lower sales at both Sears department stores and the Kmart discount chain.

LIA SOPHIA SAYS DIRECT SELLING OFFERS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION - April 26, 2011

Fashion Jewelry Direct-Seller Says National Small Business Week Should Inspire Women to Explore the Benefits of Business Ownership

DIRECT SELLING OFFERS FLEXIBILITY AND FINANCIAL FREEDOM - April 26, 2011

For more than 100 years, direct selling companies have offered independent representatives the ability to purchase products at wholesale prices and earn a profit by selling them at retail prices.

COMPETITION HEATS UP IN ONLINE SURVEY SPACE WITH ENTRY OF DOMESTIC MLM COMPANIES - April 25, 2011

The online survey fraud is spreading like wildfire in India, as more MLM companies announce ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes, promising over four times on ‘investments’.

WOMAN WHO CHEATED 28K CITIZENS WAS DUPED BY COUPLE - April 24, 2011

Najma Pathan, who ran a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme in the city, has been accused of duping over 28,000 citizens.

CELADON ROAD™ HONORS ECO-CONSCIOUS CELEBRITIES WITH EARTH DAY GIVEAWAY - April 22, 2011

Celadon Road celebrates its third anniversary and Earth Day with the presentation of eco-friendly and organic products to some of Hollywood's most environmentally-conscious celebrities.

NETWORK MARKETING IS BOOMING IN CRISIS-HIT ECONOMY - April 21, 2011

You work whenever you feel up to it. You earn as much as you want. If the sales are great, you may be rewarded with a solid gift for your splendid performance.

JAFRA TO START LOCAL MANUFACTURING; EYES ENTERING MASS MARKET - April 21, 2011

US-based beauty and cosmetics firm Jafra today said it will start manufacturing some of its products in India as it gears up to enter the mass segment in line with a global strategy to tap opportunities in fast growing emerging markets.

ORIFLAME TO ADD 350 NEW PRODUCTS, 20 BRANCHES - April 20, 2011

Oriflame India, the Indian arm of the £1.5 billion Swedish cosmetics maker Oriflame, plans to add 350 new products this year and open more than 20 company- owned new branches in the next five years in India.

DIRECT SELLING IN PHILIPPINES IS VIBRANT - April 18, 2011

In the country, some 26 direct selling companies distributing cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and apparel compete with the ever-expanding number of brands lining store shelves.

FORTY YEARS YOUNG - April 18, 2011

In 1969, Amway cofounders Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos decided that Australia would be the company’s first intercontinental expansion.

DIRECT SALES GROW IN POPULARITY DURING DOWN TIMES - April 17, 2011

Can Avon, Amway and Mary Kay rescue people caught in the economic downturn?

BLYTH INC: BLYTH, INC. ANNOUNCES INCREASEIN VISALUS SCIENCES INVESTMENT - April 15, 2011

Blyth, Inc. (NYSE: BTH), a leading multi-channel designer and marketer of home fragrance products, home decor products and household convenience items, today announced that it has closed on the second phase of its acquisition of ViSalus Sciences and now owns 57.5% of the company.

ROD COOK RECEIVES A FIRST EVER HUMANITARIAN AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NETWORK-MARKETING PROFESSIONALS - April 15, 2011

The National Association of Network-Marketing Professionals, Inc. created the prestigious Humanitarian Award with Rod Cook in mind.

HOW TEAMS AND MLMS CAN BENEFIT FROM VOICE BROADCAST SOLUTIONS - April 14, 2011

The introduction of VoIP-based communication solutions has helped create new opportunities for sales teams and multi-level marketing (MLM) companies.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT USE KEEPS RISING, FEDERAL SURVEY SHOWS - April 13, 2011

Vitamins and other dietary supplements continue to gain in popularity in the United States, according to a new government survey released Wednesday.

CRAMER'S MAD MONEY - AVON, YOU'VE NEVER LOOKED SO BAD - April 11, 2011

The best business model in the world is not enough to overcome an incompetent CEO, and even a cheap stock is not worth buying if the CEO has a proven track record of failure," said Cramer.

DIRECT SELLING SECTOR TO CONTRIBUTE RM7.5 BLN TO ECONOMY THIS YEAR - April 7, 2011

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism expects the direct selling industry to contribute RM7.5 billion this year and RM10 billion next year to the country's (sic) economy.

AWARD-WINNING SINGER FERGIE AND AVON CHAIRMAN & CEO ANDREA JUNG HOST "AVON BELIEVE WORLD TOUR" CELEBRATING WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT - April 6, 2011

Today Fergie, six-time Grammy-award winning artist and Avon spokesperson, joined Andrea Jung, Avon Chairman and CEO, to celebrate the company's 125th Anniversary in New York's Madison Square Garden with 5,000 Avon Representatives.

FORMER CEO OF GLOBAL DIRECT SELLING COMPANY JOINS DOTERRA AS A LEADING DISTRIBUTOR - April 6, 2011

doTERRA announced today that it has accepted an Independent Product Consultant Agreement from Eric Larsen, former CEO of a large global direct selling entity with more than 500,000 independent distributors and 700 employees operating in more than 30 markets.

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES RECORD FIRST QUARTER REVENUE AND UPDATES ANNUAL GUIDANCE - April 6,2011

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced that it expects to exceed previous company guidance by posting first-quarter revenue of approximately $395 million, a 9 percent improvement over the prior-year period.

AMWAY SETTLES LOS ANGELES LAWSUIT BY AGREEING TO REPLACE $20 MILLION IN GIFT CARDS - April 6, 2011

Amway has agreed to redeem more than $20 million in gift cards to settle a lawsuit claiming they improperly included a redemption date.

BLYTH TO SELL WHOLESALER MIDWEST-CBK - April 4, 2011

Blyth Inc., best known for using home parties to market its decorations and household products, said Monday that it plans to sell its wholesale division to MVP Group International, which manufactures candles and fragrance products.

REGAL WARE ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS - April 4, 2011

Carlos Perez has been appointed president of Kitchen Fair, a direct-to-consumer division.

DIRECT SELLING FIRMS GO OFF THE BEATEN TRACK - April 4, 2011

Ad campaigns, brand ambassadors, in-film promotions – direct selling companies are doing all they can to attract eyeballs in a market that is getting increasingly crowded.

LOCAL MARKETING FIRM BEING INVESTIGATED, SUED - April 5, 2011

Lexington-based Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing continues to come under fire from officials around the country who allege it is operating an illegal pyramid scheme.

DIRECT SELLING FIRMS GO OFF THE BEATEN TRACK - April 4, 2011

Ad campaigns, brand ambassadors, in-film promotions – direct selling companies are doing all they can to attract eyeballs in a market that is getting increasingly crowded.

ORIFLAME SIGNS WOMEN'S TENNIS WORLD NO. 1 CAROLINE WOZNIACKI - April 3, 2011

Oriflame, a fast-growing beauty brand, today announced a sponsorship agreement with Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s number 1 women’s tennis player.

REGULATORY MAZE CRAMPS DIRECT SELLING - March 19, 2011

Direct selling may be a relatively new sector in India but the pace of its growth is highlighting the need for a regulation.

AMWAY CALLS FOR REGULATION OF DIRECT MARKETING SECTOR - March 13, 2011

BADDI: India's largest direct selling company, Amway India, has called for regulation of the fast-growing sector.

ACTION 9: COUPLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH PHONE AFTER BUYING FROM THIRD PARTY - March 10, 2011

Ralph Melvin said he and his wife bought new BlackBerry cell phones last May as part of their membership in a multilevel marketing company.

GOLDQUEST PYRAMID SCAMMERS ARRESTED IN IRAN - March 9, 2011

The Iranian security forces have arrested 30 suspects in connection with Goldquest, a controversial network marketing company which has allegedly defrauded thousands of people worldwide.

MARY KAY SURVIVES RETAIL SLUMP - March 2, 2011

WHILE retailers are calling for an end to tax breaks that encourage customers to buy online, the direct-sales retail channel is booming.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAMS HAVE DOUBLE BENEFIT: HEALTHIER EMPLOYEES, LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS - February 27, 2011

One of the busiest places at Amway Corp. during the lunch hour is its two-floor fitness center, where the offerings are a veritable wellness buffet.

GOLD PARTIES ON THE RISE IN THE HEARTLAND - February 22, 2011

Tupperware is so yesterday; today's hottest party is gold.

AMWAY PARENT GROWS TO $9.2 BILLION IN 2010 - February 18, 2011

The world's second-largest direct selling enterprise, Amway works with more than 3 million distributors who sell the company's branded products, including NUTRILITE® vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, ARTISTRY® skincare and colour cosmetics, and eSpring® water treatment systems.

STATE OF SUPPLEMENTS: UTAH MULTILEVEL MARKETING - February 18, 2011

MonaVie CEO Dallin Larsen took the stage in Orlando, Fla., last month and got to work.

STATE OF SUPPLEMENTS: ELUSIVE WEALTH, STRONG LURE - February 18, 2011

Lured by the promise of wealth, thousands of Utahns every year become "distributors" of the pills, potions and lotions multilevel marketing companies in the state make.

MAKERS SAY THEY HAVE RESULTS TO PROVE SKIN CARE PRODUCT WORKS - February 18, 2011

If you used your skin care on only half of your face, would you notice a difference on that side?

MULTILEVEL MARKETING OR 'PYRAMID?' SALES PEOPLE FIND IT HARD TO EARN MUCH - February 10, 2011

With the "tape of the week," the "book of the month," the seminars, rallies and conventions Jim Wittlich and his wife, Lori, paid for, the couple spent thousands of dollars in the two years they were Amway distributors.

SALES, NOT SCIENCE, DRIVE HEALTH CLAIMS - February 10, 2011

Tony Ford may call himself a 'technician,' but in reality he's more like a flimflam man: A purveyor of potions.

WEBSITE CAN HELP SAVE MONEY ON UTILITIES - February 9, 2011

Md. Agency Represents Consumers' Interests

MANY IN MULTILEVEL MARKETING SALES FIND IT HARD TO EARN MUCH - February 7, 2011

With the "tape of the week," the "book of the month," the seminars, rallies and conventions Jim Wittlich and his wife, Lori, paid for, the couple spent thousands of dollars in the two years they were Amway distributors.

HC CLEARS WAY TO FREEZING UNIPAY2U BANK ACCOUNTS - February 6, 2011

The High Court on Sunday upheld a lower court order that directed to freeze 110 bank accounts of Unipay2u Bangladesh, a so-called multilevel marketing company.

DIRECT SALES PROVES ATTRACTIVE TO LONG-TERM JOBLESS WORKERS - February 5, 2011

It looked like a party: 400 people, mostly women, cheering, clapping and springing from their seats.

FROM JOBLESS TO HOME-BASED BUSINESS: A TOUGH SELL - February 3, 2011

Millions of Americans have lost their jobs in the past three years, and some of them are looking to replace the lost income with home-based businesses.

PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM TO ACQUIRE PRE-PAID LEGAL SERVICES IN $650M DEAL - January 31, 2011

A private equity firm has agreed to buy all outstanding shares of Ada-based Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc., the firms announced today.

MANATECH STARTS MEXICAN OPERATIONS - January 27, 2011

Texas-based Mannatech’s Mexican operations started on January 24, as the company looks to leverage the country as a gateway to Latin America.

SWINDLING ALERT NOT ENOUGH - January 19, 2011

Experts question role of commerce ministry, joint stock companies.

NEW SCENTSY HEADQUARTERS GOING UP IN MERIDIAN - January 18, 2011

The 14-acre campus will house its corporate, manufacturing and distribution arms.

SORRY, MADAM, THIS LANE IS CLOSED WHILE WE DO IT AMWAY - January 15, 2011

An army of top Chinese sales staff hits town, writes Vanda Carson.

AMWAY'S $20 MILLION EXPANSION PLAN MOVES FORWARD IN ADA TOWNSHIP - January 14, 2011

Amway is moving ahead with a $20 million plan to expand its manufacturing capacity and add jobs now that it has cleared the first hurdle in securing tax abatements for the project.

DISTRIBUTORS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRIVANI'S CLAIMS - January 9, 2011

Occasional corporate donations are one thing, but fully funding a charity with sales from a for-profit sister company is unheard of, say the founders of Springville-based Trivani Foundation and Trivani International.

ADVOCARE EXTENDS AGREEMENT WITH THE I-BOWL - January 9, 2011

AdvoCare has extended its title sponsorship of the Independence Bowl, it was announced on Wednesday.

MORE AND MORE UNEMPLOYED TAKING REFUGE IN HOME-BASED BOON - January 8, 2011

The recession has caused many people to lose their jobs. As the job market shrinks, scores of people are looking to home-based business opportunities to make ends meet.

DIRECT SALES: GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY OR HYPE? - December 22, 2010

Selling door-to-door can be big business. We explore the pros and cons.

ROAD TO RECOVERY: MORE PEOPLE SELLING AT HOME - December 17, 2010

Selling things like Tupperware and Avon for extra income isn't anything new. But the stalled economy has motivated a lot more people to get into the direct-selling business and start holding at-home retail parties.

FIRM'S NEW MONIKER MAY BE ITS TRUMP CARD - December 7, 2010

After partnering with the Donald, the former Ideal Health takes off.

FORTUNE, OR MISFORTUNE? STATE LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE PYRAMID SCHEME - December 4, 2010

State Attorney General investigating consumer complaints against Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing.

USANA SALES UP BY 40% - November 28, 2010

MANILA, Philippines-Usana Health Sciences, manufacturer of Essentials™ health supplements, posted a 40-percent increase in sales in the third quarter.

SIMPLYFUN OFFERS "SMART" GIFT CHOICES - November 18, 2010

Direct Seller's Games and Activities Help Children Learn While They Play

IT'S (TUPPERWARE) PARTY TIME TODAY AT GRAND WAYNE - November 13, 2010

Tupperware is the original social network, its top official says.

WICK, WAX AND WONDERFUL - November 11, 2010

9-to-5 jobs can't hold a candle to this factory work.

AMWAY CHINA CHAIRWOMAN: DANCING WITH DRAGON REQUIRES GIVE AND TAKE - November 10, 2010

Planning to do business in China? Prepare to dance. Waltz, actually. You know: Step forward, step sideways, step back, repeat with a little spin.

SOME COMPANIES HELP EMPLOYEES STAY HEALTHY - November 10, 2010

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Today's jobs require little activity. And the result is that workers are heavier than ever, which can lead to a host of costly health problems for employers and employees alike.

CONSUMER PROTECTION TARGETS SELLERS, DISTRIBUTORS OF KIRBY VACUUMS IN STATE - November 8, 2010

HARTFORD - The Department of Consumer Protection is seeking legal action against ten sellers and distributors of Kirby vacuum cleaners in the state.

FAIR TRADE CRAFT SALE BENEFITS SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING - November 7, 2010

SANTA CRUZ -- Tightly woven baskets from Rwanda, ornamental painted eggs from the Ukraine and delicately decorated dolls from Afghanistan were just some of the items at the Rising International Fair Trade Craft Sale on Saturday at the organization's main office on Potrero Street.

LAKEVILLE'S EARTH'S ELEMENTS OFFERS ELEGANT JEWELRY OF ALL TYPES - November 5, 2010

If you were to ask Kelly Souza, she'd probably assure you that it's not too late to begin shopping for Christmas.

MEDIFAST PUTS WEIGHT BEHIND EXPANSION OF OWINGS HILLS HQ, CLINICS - November 5, 2010

Baltimore County weight loss company Medifast Inc. plans to expand into a third corporate center in Owings Mills, which it hopes to use to support its rapidly growing network of weight-control clinics.

AMWAY SUBSIDIARY SETTLES LAWSUIT - November 4, 2010

Quixtar accused of running pyramid scheme

MONAVIE, AMWAY SETTLE NASTY LEGAL DISPUTES - November 2, 2010

Two multilevel marketing companies, Utah-based MonaVie and Amway of Michigan, have settled acrimonious lawsuits. Each was claiming the other made false statements about its products and companies.

DREAMWEAVER - November 2, 2010

With a Midwest charm and worldy smarts, Tami Longaberger helped propel her family's well-liked Ohio basket company into a national success.

REGAL WARE: FOOD, FUNDS RAISED FOR LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AS PART OF REGAL WARE'S "CELEBRATION OF A CENTURY" - October 28, 2010

The combined efforts of employees at Regal Ware Worldwide headquartered in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, resulted in $6,947.55 and 2,879 pounds of food being donated to 2 local food pantries.

AVON PROFIT, SALES FALL SHORT OF ESTIMATES - October 28, 2010

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Avon Products Inc., the world's largest direct seller of beauty products, on Thursday reported lower-than-expected third-quarter profit, as sales dropped in North America.

SCENTSY MAKES SENSE IN A WEAK ECONOMY - October 28, 2010

MERIDIAN -- The city of Meridian is home to a company with a rags-to-riches story that sounds like it came straight from the pages of a fairy-tale.

A JOURNEY INTO THE MAN CAVE WITH NICK BESTE - October 28, 2010

Nick Beste, the 23-year-old CEO of Man Cave, is an inspiring example of an entrepreneur who found success during the recession.

PRE-PAID LEGAL CONSIDERING BUYOUT OFFER - October 26, 2010

Ada, OK-based Pre-Paid Legal disclosed a $60 per share buyout offer on Monday.

XYNGULAR - IT'S OFFICAL! MLM SUPERHERO AND XYNGULAR NOW EXPANDING TO OVER 30 COUNTRIES - October 25, 2010

Xyngular's new health and nutrition products are creating quite the buzz all around the world.

STELLA & DOT'S JEWELRY PARTIES DAZZLE - October 25, 2010

Jessica Herrin, founder of the jewelry company Stella & Dot, has found a way to bring together e-commerce, social networking and direct sales, while at the same time helping women work from home on their own schedules.

MLM COMPANY MAXFOREX ALTERS NAME AND WEBSITE WITHOUT INFORMING ITS 'INVESTORS' - October 21, 2010

MLM company MAXFOREX has changed its name and website to 'Dream Worldwide', leaving many of its 'investors' high and dry.

DIRECT SALES OR PYRAMID? MULTILEVEL FIRM MAKES ENEMIES, MILLIONAIRES - October 18, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. --Marie Richardson of Daytona Beach, Fla., has never been as excited about a business opportunity as she is about her new work for Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing.

MULTILEVEL MARKETING SALES REPS URGED TO SIGN UP OTHERS - October 15, 2010

Most everyone's come in contact with a multilevel marketing company at some point.

FORTUNE HI-TECH: AMERICAN DREAM OR PYRAMID SCHEME? - October 15, 2010

Fortune Hi-Tech: American dream or pyramid scheme?

PRE-PAID STOCK SLUMPS ON WEAK SALES, RECRUITMENT FIGURES - October 5, 2010

Shares of Pre-Paid Legal Services dived Monday after the Ada company disclosed sharp decreases in new customers and sales people.

WORKING FROM HOME - October 3, 2010

Direct sales reps say their economy is just fine.

AVON, OTHERS AGAINST PEDDLER-LICENSE PLAN - September 30, 2010

If Phoenix slaps licensing requirements on door-to-door peddlers, the move could hurt thousands of self-employed workers who sell products from Avon, Tupperware and similar companies.

IS IT A LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY OR A PYRAMID SCHEME? - September 29, 2010

Millions of people have found success in direct selling for companies using a multi-level compensation plan.

MARKETER THIRTY-ONE GIFTS SCRAMBLES FOR EASTON LEASE AHEAD OF HOLIDAYS - September 27, 2010

A fast-growing direct-sales gifts marketer is taking over the former Victoria's Secret Direct distribution center at Easton as it scrambles to keep pace with its 15,000 home-based sales agents in time for the busy holiday season.

SCHOOL MOTHERS BUY INTO JOBS AT DIRECT SALES FIRMS - September 26, 2010

The beginning of the new school term has seen an 11% jump in job applications to direct-selling companies as mothers seek to make money while their children attend classes.

WHAT IS A NUTRITION CLUB? - September 21, 2010

Nutrition Clubs are a totally new concept and were introduced by one of the largest Direct Sales companies in the world, Herbalife International.

SECRETS OF DIRECT SALES SUCCESS UNCOVERED - September 13, 2010

Direct Sales Is $28 Billion Industry

A LATIN AMERICAN IMPORT, HERBALIFE NUTRITION CLUBS SPROUT - September 9, 2010

STOCKTON - The modest storefront on East Main Street is much like a handful of others that have opened up throughout Stockton - mostly in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods - over recent months

GROWING UP DEVOS: THREE GENERATIONS TALK ABOUT HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF AMWAY, MANAGING FAMILY AND WEALTH - September 9, 2010

HOLLAND -- Helen DeVos says it wasn't easy living with a new business growing from her basement.

BEWARE OF HEALTH RELATED PYRAMID SCHEMES - September 9, 2010

Better Business Bureau would like to caution consumers to do their homework and avoid the potential risks involved with fraudulent business schemes.

BILTMORE ANNOUNCES BILTMORE INSPIRATIONS, NEW DIRECT SELLING PARTY PLANNING BUSINESS - September 7, 2010

The Biltmore Company, in Asheville, N.C., is excited to announce Biltmore Inspirations, its first introduction into the direct selling industry where consultants will offer Biltmore products in a home party environment.

ACN WELCOMES REPRESENTATIVES TO HOMETOWN FOR TRAINING EVENT - September 3, 2010

More than 20,000 people from every corner of the globe will be networking with other business owners, learning more about the direct selling process, listening to key business-building advice and celebrating others' accomplishments at ACN's upcoming International Training Event.

MEET AMERICA'S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANY - September 1, 2010

Jere Thompson Jr. of Ambit Energy on how he rose to the top of the 2010 Inc. 500.

DIRECT SELLING INCREASES IN POPULARITY DESPITE RECESSION - September 1, 2010

The number of people working in direct selling has risen by 22 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2010, according to the Direct Selling Association (DSA).

AVON AD CAMPAIGN TARGETS WOMEN WHO WANT TO BE BOSS - August 29, 2010

AVON, the cosmetics giant, stepped up its efforts to recruit more women wanting to work for themselves by launching a second wave of television adverts last week.

PARTYLITE SMACKDOWN: SO-CALLED BARBECUE LEADS TO $2 MILLION LAWSUIT - August 26, 2010

A lawsuit filed in federal court this week argues that a St. Louis woman should pay $2 million for damages incurred by a barbecue she held in her home

AMWAY FOR LAW TO REGULATE DIRECT SELLING COMPANIES - August 22, 2010

Baddi, Himachal Pradesh: US-based FMCG firm Amway India, which is on an expansion spree, has sought a law for regulating direct selling companies' activities to ensure fairplay.

HUNT SAYS AGELOC HAS BEEN A 'BLOCKBUSTER' FOR NU SKIN: VIDEO - August 10, 2010

Truman Hunt, chief executive officer at Nu Skin Enterprises Inc., discusses the outlook for his company and business growth.

AVON PROFIT RISES, HELPED BY EMERGING MARKETS - July 29, 2010

Avon Products Inc., the direct-seller of beauty products, said second-quarter profit doubled, both because of a restructuring charge in the year-earlier period and strong demand in developing markets from Brazil to South Africa, which helped offset a decline in the U.S.

HEALTHY COFFEE STARTS TO ROLL OUT GLOBAL MLM PLATFORM - August 17, 2010

Healthy Coffee OTC:HCEI has started to roll out a huge MLM platform that will see global sales explode.

AT HOME PARTIES, COOKING DEMOS MAKE SHOPPING EASY - August 14, 2010

There's no place like home - especially for shopping. And today many women are choosing to eschew the mall and instead invite friends over to shop in their living rooms.

THIRD PARTY ENERGY SUPPLIER MAKING WAVES IN SOUTH BERGEN - August 12, 2010

There's a new green electricity provider that's making its way into South Bergen by way of not-for-profits and your neighbors as independent sales people.

REGAL WARE: AMERICAN KITCHEN BY REGAL WARE REWRITES THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESSFUL HOLIDAY BAKING AND CANDY MAKING - August 12, 2010

Holiday baking and candy making are time-honored traditions, but when your hard work results in overcooked or unevenly browned baked goods it can really "burn your cookies!"

LEADERSHIP TRAINING GAINS URGENCY AMID STRONGER ECONOMY - August 2010

Fearing a shortage of qualified managers as business picks up, some companies are bolstering leadership-development efforts.

HOW ROB SINNOTT DRIVES PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AT MANNATECH INC. - July 30, 2010

How to generate and evaluate ideas and create a product road map.

HOW AMWAY WEATHERED THE STORM, ONE SALE AT A TIME - July 29, 2010

Don't be fooled into thinking that direct sales are a thing of the past just because you haven't seen a pink Mary Kay Cadillac in a while. Amway is not only still alive and well, it's actually growing, even as many retailers continue to struggle.

BEER, BRATS, BROS CALL FOR BIG BUSINESS - July 27, 2010

The parties already exist for make-up, sex toys and Tupperware. But now, there is a buying party for men: Man Cave Worldwide "meatings."

FTC ENDS INVESTIGATION OF PRE-PAID LEGAL - July 19, 2010

The Federal Trade Commission's three-year investigation into the marketing practices of Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. is ending without any action against the company, Pre-Paid said Tuesday.

8 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE BECOMING A DIRECT SELLER - July 17, 2010

The possibilities are limitless for enterprising individuals who can figure out the right product and the right company to choose.

DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY TO TOUCH RS 5,000 CR - July 2, 2010

The direct selling industry in Indian is anticipated to touch Rs 5,000 crore by 2012-2013, provided interest of legitimate direct selling companies are taken care of.

LAW SOUGHT TO PROTECT DIRECT SELLERS, PUBLIC - June 22, 2010

Twenty five of the country's direct-selling companies are finalizing a proposed law aimed at protecting the consumers and their industry from scam artists.

HERBAL SEX BOOST POSES RISK: FDA - June 21, 2010

A product called Magic Power Coffee, marketed for sexual enhancement, contains an ingredient that could lower blood pressure and should be avoided, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

FOOD GROUP WELCOMES REVIEW OF CONSUMER LAW - June 15, 2010

The Food and Grocery Council has welcomed the release of a discussion document on plans to review and rationalise consumer law.

YTB IS 'ILLEGAL PYRAMID SCHEME,' CLAIMS NEW CLASS ACTION - June 15, 2010

A group of multi-state plaintiffs filed a putative class action lawsuit against YTB International and its officers, charging the company is operating an illegal pyramid scheme.

MURKY COVERS: UNSCRUPULOUS SCHEMES TO SELL INSURANCE PRODUCTS CONTINUE UNABATED - June 2, 2010

More and more dodgy schemes to sell insurance policies keep crawling out from the woodwork. But a number of insurance companies have preferred to maintain a deafening silence on these devious activities.

ZER01 SLAPPED WITH $43 MILLION JUDGMENT - May 25, 2010

Global Verge, a multilevel marketing firm, has won a US$43 million judgment against Zer01, the company that once promised to deliver an unlimited voice and data cell phone service.

JUDGE DENIES DEFAMATION CLAIMS AGAINST MELALEUCA - May 12, 2010

The chief executive officer of Idaho health-care products maker Melaleuca Inc. is claiming vindication after a state judge dumped claims by the company's former chief salesman that he had been defamed.

DMC TOLD TO STOP ALLEGED FREE RENT SCHEME BY MARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL - May 10, 2010

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has ordered a Baltimore-area business to stop promising investors profits and use of an apartment for a year -- or a car -- if they bought into its program.

NOW, MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING TO ENTICE INVESTORS IN FOREX TRADING - May 10, 2010

Maximus Trades Inc (MAXFOREX), a Mauritius-based company which provides a trading platform in foreign exchange through an e-portal, is encouraging high-risk investment through an MLM model.

INSURANCE BROKING FIRM OFFERS ASTRONOMICAL REWARDS UNDER MLM SCHEME - May 6, 2010

Jeevan Suraksha, an insurance broking firm that has tied up with various leading insurance companies, is actively running an MLM scheme in general and life insurance products.

MANNATECH BEGINS COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH OF BUSINESS IN MEXICO - May 5, 2010

Direct Sales Leader of Science-Based Solutions Announces Official Launch Date and Pre-Launch Activities for Mexico.

AVON'S PROFIT DROPS, HURT BY CHARGES; SALES UP - April 30, 2010

No. 1 direct seller of beauty items Avon Products Inc. said Friday that its first-quarter profit fell 64%, hurt by restructuring charges and a currency devaluation in Venezuela, as demand in Latin America and Europe picked up.

KY. COMPANY TO PAY NEARLY $1M SETTLEMENT IN MONT. - April 23, 2010

A Lexington, Ky.-based company has agreed to pay nearly $1 million to settle an allegation that it was operating a pyramid scheme in Montana.

TUPPERWARE PRESERVES GROWTH IN EMERGING MARKETS - April 23, 2010

Tupperware broke out on Wednesday more than 11.5% on a very bullish first-quarter earnings report.

AMWAY LEVERAGES DISTRIBUTION NETWORK TO SELL INSURANCE PRODUCTS - April 21, 2010

The firm, which is into ‘network selling’, has tied up with Max New York Life Insurance Co Ltd and Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance to market insurance products via a subsidiary, through its more than four lakh distributors.

AVON HAS PLAN TO REVIVE U.S. SALES -ANALYSTS - April 15, 2010

Avon aims to reduce non-beauty item sales in United States.

RELIANCE INSURANCE AGENT INVOLVED IN CHAIN-MARKETING SCHEME - April 19, 2010

Hyderabad-based Jeevanseva Infotech is actively engaged in chain-marketing a personal accident policy in Amravati, Mumbai and Pune.

LEGITIMATE AGENT RUNS MLM SCHEME UNDER A MURKY COVER - April 16, 2010

Team Life Care Co, an authorized corporate agent of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, is carrying on a multi-level marketing scheme under a sister entity called TLC Insurance (India) Pvt Ltd, in open violation of the law.

AVON SUSPENDS FOUR EXECS IN CHINA BRIBERY PROBE - April 13, 2010

Avon suspended four executives pending an internal investigation of bribery allegations in China, sending its shares down 8 percent

.WHY AMWAY AND CHINA ARE A GOOD FIT - April 8, 2010

The company's culture blends with China's entrepreneurial bent, making the mainland its top market.

MORE PEOPLE TURNING TO DIRECT SELLING TO EARN EXTRA MONEY - April 6, 2010

More people are resorting to direct selling distributorships to support themselves in the current economic climate.

VIETNAM LAUNCHES MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING ASSOCIATION - April 1, 2010

 Vietnam launches its own multi-level marketing association.

SLOW ECONOMY FAILS TO PUT A CREASE IN ETERNAL DESIRE TO LOOK YOUNG - March 29, 2010

Direct selling company, Nu Skin does well in the down economy.

INDIAN WOMEN GETTING 'EMPOWERED' WITH DIRECT SELLING - March 28, 2010

Direct selling is becoming a viable career option for Indian women.

MONTANA STATE AUDIT0R: PYRAMID SCHEME STOLE $1.8 MILLION FROM MONTANA RESIDENTS - March 15, 2010

The State of Montana issued a cease and desist order against Fortune Hi Tech Marketing for operating a pyramid scheme which stole $1.8 million from residents.

A YEAR LATER, ZER01'S WEB SITE DISAPPEARS - March 12, 2010

 After aligning itself with the MLM company, Global Verger, Zer01’s website disappears.

YTB NAMES SAUNDERS TO BOARD, BOOSTS VAN PATTEN'S PAY - March 8, 2010

 YTB International, Inc. names Burt Saunders to the board of directors.

PRE-PAID FOUNDER TO RETIRE IN APRIL - March 4, 2010

Harland C. Stonecipher is stepping down as Founder and CEO of Pre-Paid Legal in April, 2010.

COMPANY CLAIMS RECORDING CAR TAGS CAN LEAD TO PROFIT - February 11, 2010

Narcthatcar.com claims representatives can earn cash by collecting license plate numbers.

YTB CFO CLAGG RESIGNS - February 4, 2010

John Clagg, CFO of YTB International resigns.

 BBB ISSUES WARNING - February 4, 2010

The Better Business Bureau issues a warning to consumers to keep an eye out for a Jacksonville scam that urges people to make money by collecting license plate numbers.

KEY SUSPECT ARRESTED IN NATION'S LARGEST MULTILEVEL FRAUD CASE: POLICE - January 31, 2010

A key mastermind to the largest multilevel marketing fraud in Seoul is captured.

MAN CAVE SALES PARTY, MAN'S WORLD BREAKTHROUGH - January 29, 2010

MLM companies that are geared toward men.

BBB WARNS CONSUMERS OF ILLEGAL PYRAMID SCHEMES - January 28, 2010

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers about being victimized by illegal pyramid schemes during the recession.

DIRECT APPROACH WORKS FOR AVON - January 13, 2010

Direct sales works for Avon and many other direct selling companies.

AVON'S LITTLE SISTER IS CALLING - January 13, 2010

Avon’s pilot program, Mark, helps students pay off student loans.

DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY WITNESSES BLAZING GROWTH - January 12, 2010

Despite difficult economic times, the direct selling industry reports excellent growth.

UPDATE 1 - TUPPERWARE SAYS VENEZUELA MOVE WON'T HURT '10 VIEW - January 12, 2010

Tupperware reports that Venezuela’s devalued currency won’t hurt its 2010 earnings.

HOW TO MAKE A MILLION IN YOUR PAJAMAS - January 8, 2010

Home-based business owners and distributors find success working from home.

YTB FACES NEW MLM LEGAL CHALLENGE

YTB International faces a class action lawsuit alleging it is operating as an illegal pyramid scheme.

SELL OLD GOLD FOR CASH - January 5, 2010

Selling gold through direct sales – Is it worth it?

PARTY ON - December 17, 2009

Representatives find selling more simple through direct selling during hard economic times.

AMWAY TO BEEF UP PRESENCE IN DIRECT-SELLING MARKET - January 20, 2010

Amway is looking to beef up its sales overseas.

SELLING SUCCESS - December 28, 2009

Gulf News presents the success of Mary Kay representative Debbie Parsons.

'DOUBLE YOUR MONEY' FRAUD: EOW MOVES AGAINST FIRM - December 28, 2009

Direct selling fraud is on the rise in India.

DIRECT SELLING FLOURISHES IN CHINA - December 25, 2009

Direct selling is on the rise in China.

GOLD IS THE NEW TUPPERWARE AND YOU'RE INVITED TO THE PARTY - December 21, 2009

The gold party is the new success in direct selling.

NORTH DAKOTA SHUTS DOWN FIRM LINKED TO MILES - December 17, 2009

The North Dakota Attorney General’s Office has shut down a Kentucky-based multilevel marketing company, Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing.

DIRECT SALE IN COSMETICS GROWS - December 17, 2009

Direct selling and cosmetics products grow as people look for ways to gain economic security in the recession.

AVON CALLING: MORE US WORKERS TRY DIRECT SALES - December 16, 2009

Many Americans are filling the income void by jumping on the direct selling bandwagon.

MAN CAVE PARTIES SCORE WELL - December 13, 2009

Direct selling isn’t just for women.

MARY KAY REPRESENTATIVES OFFERS "CARE PACKAGES" FOR TROOPS - December 14, 2009

Mary Kay representatives donate hygiene packages to troops.

MORE TURNING TO AT-HOME BUSINESSES - December 14, 2009

More people are turning to network marketing during hard economic times.

ZER01 MOBILE FACES LAWSUIT FROM FORMER PARTNER - December 15, 2009

Zer01 Mobile faces lawsuit from former partner from Global Verge.

RECESSION-PROOF: ADULT NOVELTIES POPULAR AS INVESTMENT IN RELATIONSHIP - December 13, 2009

Adult novelties stated to be recession proof in direct selling model.

SPORTS STARS LEND THEIR NAMES TO MULTI-LEVEL CHARITY SCHEME - December 8, 2009

Give for Life proves to be a multi-level marketing charity scheme.

PLAYING INTO VANITY: UNDER THE RADAR - December 4, 2009

Nu Skin capitalizes on vanity.

AMWAY GLOBAL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO MOVE 93 JOBS TO COSTA RICA - November 18, 2009

Amway Global plans to move 93 jobs from the corporate office in Ada, Michigan to Costa Rica.

MARY KAY'S PINK DOING GREEN ALSO CREATES JOBS - November 19, 2009

Mary Kay is teaming up with the Citizen’s Development Center in Dallas to recycle used cosmetic compacts.

NEWBURY VITAMIN COMPANY GETS BOOST WITH DONALD TRUMP AS PARTNER - December 3, 2009

Massachusetts based vitamin company gets a boost from Donald Trump.

MLM HOME BASED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCED AS GVO MALAYSIA LAUNCHES ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER - November 20, 2009

Global Virtual Opportunities Malaysia launches online MLM package for would-be entrepreneurs.

DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION OFFERS TIPS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS SEEKING EXTRA INCOME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON - November 21, 2009

The DSA offers advice to college students.

PRE-PAID SEES STOCK'S VALUE FALL - November 20, 2009

Prepaid Legal Services stock’s fall due to the FTC’s concerns that the business made misleading claims about its identity theft products.

JUDGE VALIDATES KEY MANNATECH PATENTS - October 7, 2009

Mannatech announced today that it has secured a second injunction in its ongoing efforts to protect its patented glyconutrient products Ambrotose^® complex and Advanced Ambrotose™ formula.

LIFEVANTAGE PLANS TO CUT COSTS - October 7, 2009

LifeVantage plans to cut costs and focus on expanding direct selling channel

HARD TIMES DRIVE MANY TO DIRECT SALES CAREERS - October 8, 2009

 More Americans are turning to home selling amid the economic downturn.

EEOC SUES MANNATECH - October 13, 2009

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Mannatech under allegations of firing a disabled employee.

 CHINESE POLICE FERRET OUT PYRAMID SCHEME SUCKING 1 BILLION YUAN - October 13, 2009

Hong Kong Link World International Sci-tech Ltd. is accused of acquiring one billion in illegal funds.

THINKING OF TRYING DIRECT SALES? - October 19, 2009

Direct sales isn’t for everyone.

 LOOPHOLES IN DIRECT SELLING ACT TO BE PLUGGED - October 22, 2009

The loopholes in the Direct Selling Act in Malaysia are to be closed.

XANGO TO SPONSOR 3 OPERATION SMILE TRIPS - October 22, 2009

XanGo is sponsoring three Operation Smile trips abroad.

 XANGO SEMINAR BOOSTS DISTRIBUTORS - October 23, 2009

In Salt Lake City, Utah, distributors are receiving a boost of confident amid the recession from XanGo seminar.

UNEMPLOYED FIND RELIEF IN ... TUPPERWARE? - October 25, 2009

Home selling thrives in recession  - Direct selling companies thrive during recession which began in 2007.

 SOUTH CONTRIBUTES MOST TO DIRECT SELLING - October 27, 2009

The south of India contributes the most to direct selling.

 JUDGE RULES AGAINST AMWAY - October 26, 2009

In Grand Rapids, Michigan a federal judge ruled against Amway in a class-action complaint filed by 27 former independent distributors.

 AMWAY CUTTING 93 JOBS; MAJORITY IN ADA - November 16, 2009

Amway Corp. is cutting nearly 100 jobs in Michigan.

HOW DO YOU SAY "PINK CADILLAC" IN MANDARIN? - November 17, 2009

 The American company Mary Kay is thriving in China.

AHEAD OF THE BELL: DIRECT SELLERS UPGRADED - October 9, 2009

The difficult economy is giving direct sellers the upper hand.

BBB HELPS DETERMINE IF DIRECT SELLING IS FOR YOU - October 5, 2009

The Better Business Bureau offers some questions for potential distributors to ask themselves in order to determine if direct selling is for them.

LONGABERGER HIRES NEW PRESIDENT - October 2, 2009

Longaberger hires Robin Crossman, a 20-year veteran in the direct sales industry, as the new company president.

CONSUMER'S EDGE: PYRAMID SCHEME OR LEGITIMATE MULTILEVEL MARKETING? - October 3, 2009

Amerireach.com LLC was sued by a half-dozen Tampa Bay-area residents after they claimed the company was operating as a pyramid scheme.

SALLY BEAUTY PAYS $61M FOR SCHOENEMAN - October 2, 2009

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc’s subsidiary company has purchased Schoeneman, a company with 500 employees and 100 direct sales consultants.

HARD KNOCKS IN DIRECT SALES - October 4, 2009

As more people decide to migrate into direct selling competition among distributors rise.

BODY MAGIC: GET RICH, GET THIN -- OR GET REAL? - September 1, 2009

A Nevada based undergarments company holds sought after convention.

BBB: RED FLAGS FLY WITH INTERNET OFFER - September 6, 2009

The Better Business Bureau warns that iJango is operating as a pyramid scheme.

MAKE YOUR LIFE ONE LONG PARTY - September 14, 2009

Direct selling companies offer a variety of products and startup fees enabling the individual to earn extra cash within their budget and interest.

FOUNTAIN HEALTHY AGING INC ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE NATURAL PLANET USA - September 14, 2009

Fountain Healthy Aging, Inc. announced in September that it will be acquiring entired issued stock of Natural Planet USA.

HERBALIFE OFFICES EARN LEED CERTIFICATION - September 15, 2009

Herbalife’s new offices at L.A. Live in downtown LA earned the company the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

LIVETHESOURCE(TM) HOSTS COMPANY LAUCH EVENT - September 16, 2009

livethesource (TM) Hosts Company Launch Event While Supporting The Brent Shapiro Foundation's in the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills.

TIENS SAYS IT'S NOT A PYRAMID SCHEME - September 20, 2009

TIENS, a Chinese company that sells medical products, states that it operates within the law.

BUSINESS BOOMS AGAIN FOR DIRECT-SALES MERCHANTS - September 23, 2009

Direct selling aids distributors in rough economic times leading to a boom in sales within the industry.

BBB WARNINGS UNFOUNDED, IJANGO EXECS CONTEND - September 24, 2009

iJango denies the allegations of running an illegitimate business.

MAN CAVE: PARTY SALES FOR THE RED-MEAT CROWD - September 30, 2009

Man Cave is a recently launched direct selling company catering to men who enjoy cooking on the barbeque.

DIRECT SALES PROVE RECESSION-RESISTANT FOR SPRINGS WOMAN - September 26, 2009

Colorado Springs woman brings in $250,000 a year as a distributor.

AMWAY PLANS AD BLITZ, BRICK & MORTAR PRESENCE - August 4, 2009

Amway plans changes for its 50th year in business.

DIRECT SALES OFFER WAY TO GET PAID TO PARTY - August 10, 2009

Direct selling offers a way for distributors to party and earn extra cash simultaneously.

DIRECT SALES POPULAR TO FILL INCOME VOID - August 11, 2009

To make ends meet, women are turning the hobbies and fun into cash.

JOB WOES BOOST DIRECT SELLING - August 12, 2009

During the economic crunch, people all over the world are turning to direct selling to boost their supplemental income.

SPLASH ALLOTS P200M TO PROMOTE NEW SKIN WHITENER - August 13, 2009

Splash Corp promotes new skin whitener cream through direct sales.

MONAVIE LANDS ON INC.'S TOP 500 LIST - NO. 1 IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE CATEGORY - August 13, 2009

MonaVie lands several top ratings on Inc.’s Top 500 List.

RODAN + FIELDS DERMATOLOGISTS LAUNCH NATIONAL HISPANIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN - August 14, 2009

Rodan & Fields enter the Hispanic market.

FUBON SECURITIES SIGNS DEAL WITH KELTI - August 15, 2009

Kelti’s success in the Chinese market leads to proposed expansion.

DIRECT SELLERS TRY TO CASH IN - August 17, 2009

Direct sellers attempt to become millionaires.

ORIFLAME TO LAUNCH 400 NEW PRODUCTS, TREBLE BIZ IN 5 YEARS - August 17, 2009

With Indians growing more beauty conscious, Oriflame plans to add 400 new products to its India market.

MANDURA'S AMAZING GROWTH SENDING SHOCKWAVES THROUGH NETWORK MARKETING COMMUNITY - August 18, 2009

Many distributors are leaving their downlines in favor of Mandura’s compensation plan opportunity.

HOW I DID IT: DALLIN - September 1, 2009

Dallin A. Larsen with MonaVie explains how he made his company into a multi-billion dollar business.

YOUR TURN: READER REACTION TO STORIES ABOUT FAMILY FINANCES AND MULTILEVEL MARKETING PLANS - July 19, 2009

Readers submit financial family stories, including those about multilevel marketing.

AMWAY'S CANDACE MATTHEWS IS BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE'S CORPORATE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR - August 25, 2009

Black Enterprise magazine places Amway’s Candace Matthews as Corporate Executive of the year.

KEEN GRADUATES SELL DOOR-TO-DOOR - August 26, 2009

Avon reports higher interest from college graduates in direct sales.

DSWA'S SUCCESSFUL COACH EXCELLENCE SCHEDULES NEXT SESSION - August 27, 2009

DSWA announces the next session of the Coach Excellence School for direct selling professionals.

EAGER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, USANA BRING IN INTERVIEWER LARRY KNIGHT - August 29, 2009

Usana Health Sciences eagerly invites Larry King to ask questions about the company’s distinction between multilevel marketing and a Ponzi scheme.

MARY KAY INDEPENDENT SALES FORCE SURGES TO MORE THAN 2 MILLION MEMBERS -

July 14, 2009

Company Celebrates Achievements During Annual Seminar - The Dallas Business Wire reports Mary Kay's seminar in Dallas will celebrate the company's growth of over two million independent representatives.

MORE CHOOSING DIRECT SELLING AS A RESULT OF AGGRESSIVE MARKETING - July 13, 2009

The Star Online reports that direct selling is used as a supplemental income during down times.

TURN DIRECT SELL PASSION INTO CASH - July 6, 2009

ABC News offers quick tips to making cash as a direct selling consultant.

IS TRUMP NETWORK FOR REAL? - July 16, 2009

Donald Trump is rumored to be planning the Trump Network Marketing plan, adding an MLM business to his existing empire.

NEW BOOK BACKS AUSTRALIAN MUMS "HAVING A GO" - July 22, 2009

Moms in Australian place aside outdated suspicion of direct selling companies in order to cash in at the bank, a new book reports. Industry statistics included.

AMWAY SETS TO OPEN SHOWROOMS - July 22, 2009

In order to get closer to consumers, Amway in India is gearing up to open showrooms across the country.

AMWAY WANTS INDIA TO BE AMONG TOP FIVE GLOBAL MARKETS - July 29, 2009

Amway’s current top markets include the US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, and soon hopes that India will top the list.

A PLAN OF ACTION - July 22, 2009

Network marketing companies do well in economic downturns.

MY VINTAGE BABY ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECT SALES MARKETING CONCEPT - July 23, 2009

My Vintage Baby, a clothing retailer, announces the launch of its new direct selling program with 18 sales representatives.

SILPADA DESIGNS INCREASES LUSTER DESPITE TARNISHED ECONOMY - July 23, 2009

Silpada Designs, a relatively young direct selling company, focuses on engaging and retaining highly focused representatives.

THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE JOB MARKETS - July 24, 2009

The falling economy offers new opportunities for those willing to take matters into their own hands.

MANNATECH EXPANDS IN EUROPE - July 24, 2009

The direct selling company, Mannatech, plans to expand to Austria, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden in September.

AMWAY WANTS LEGISLATION ON DIRECT SELLING - July 26, 2009

Due to several direct selling schemes in India, Amway is hoping new legislation will give legal direct selling companies a stable and long-term climate in which to operate.

FRAUD SCHEME SHADOW OVER DIRECT SELLING - July 27, 2009

Illegitimate pyramid schemes threaten legitimate direct selling companies.

GRADUATES GO DOOR TO DOOR FOR A CAREER - July 26, 2009

With the limited availability of full time lucrative jobs, many college graduates are turning to direct selling.

LIFEVANTAGE ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY UNAUDITED FOURTH QUARTER REVENUE - July 27, 2009

 LifeVantage announces a net revenue increase of 1.6 million.

AVON CALLING: FOR MORE SALES REPRESENTATIVES - July 28, 2009

Avon, and many other large direct selling companies, are turning up the heat for new recruits, and it’s working.

DIRECT SELLERS LOOK FOR LAW, ETHICS CODE - July 27, 2009

India’s direct selling industry regulators are pushing for legislation and ethics code to protect consumers.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN THE EVENING - July 31, 2009

Direct selling helps people make money in the evening or while the children are asleep.

EXPLORING SOME START-UP BUSINESS OPTIONS - July 27, 2009

No matter what product you are interested in, the direct selling industry has something for you.

GRADUATES TAKE THE DOORSTEP CHALLENGE - July 28, 2009

Graduates choose door-to-door sales instead of launching their careers in the weak economy.

A NEW WOMAN'S NETWORK IS LAUNCHED IN THE DC AREA BY MYLIFECOMPASS.COM - July 28, 2009

New Women’s Network – MyLifeCompass.com –Launches in the D.C. Area at "Discover Your Compass" Opportunity Event and Proceeds Benefit the Center for Human Development

WALLAPA SETS HER AVON GOALS HIGH - July 30, 2009

Wallapa is the first female country manager of Avon Cosmetics in Thailand.

TUPPERWARE PARTIES AND AVON LADIES ARE BACK IN US - July 31, 2009

The recession and the part time work offered by direct selling helps to pay the bills once again in the United States.

THE SALES CYCLE: HOW DO SALES REPS REPRESENT YOU? - July 31, 2009

How does your company treat distributors comparatively to sales representatives?

ZURVITA CONSULTANTS ARE NOW OFFERING CELLULAR SERVICES OF MAJOR CARRIERS AT DISCOUNTED PRICES - July 31, 2009

Zurvita announces new products among its already extensive product line.

SKYBIZ PYRAMID SETTLEMENT TO PROVIDE $20 MILLION FOR CONSUMERS - March 23, 2003

In May 2001, the FTC filed suit in U.S. District Court in Tulsa, Oklahoma charging that Tulsa-based SkyBiz and its principals promoted a pyramid scheme with claims of quick riches.  The settlement will provide $20 million for consumer redress and will bar all the defendants from participating in pyramid schemes or misrepresenting the amount of sales, income, profits or rewards of any future business venture.

CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING, MLM OR PYRAMID? - February 2, 2002

An Associated Press story originating from Mobile, Alabama on February 1 reported that Jim Zeigler, a Republican planning to announce his candidacy for the state auditor position on February 9, was ordered by the attorney general's office to immediately halt his fund-raising campaign, labeling it a pyramid scheme.

WEB SHOPPING MALL CHARGED - January 8, 2002

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported in early January that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami is prosecuting a case involving a purported Internet shopping mall that was revealed to be an illegal pyramid scheme.

GIFTING CLUBS HELD ILLEGAL - January 6, 2002

During the past two years, hundreds of "gifting clubs" have been "cracked" as illegal pyramid schemes by authorities in nearly two dozen states, according to an Associated Press article that ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in January.

The Federal Trade Commission has asked a U. S. District Court Judge to halt the unlawful operations of SkyBiz.com, charging that the operation that purports to sell online tutorials on Web-based products is actually a massive illegal pyramid scheme.

FTC v BIGSMART - $5 MILLION SETTLEMENT - March 27, 2001

Operators of an Internet-based business opportunity that promised easy income for investors in an Internet shopping mall network have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their scheme was an illegal pyramid operation.

EQUINOX SETTLES CASE WITH FTC AND EIGHT STATES - April 25, 2000

Consumers who lost money investing in a pyramid scheme they thought was a legitimate multi-level marketing business, will share in as much as $40 million dollars under the terms of a settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and law enforcement authorities from eight states, and William Gouldd and Equinox International of Las Vegas, Nevada.

FTC SEEKS TO HALT ILLEGAL PYRAMID SCHEME - December 13, 1999

The Federal Trade Commission has asked a U.S. District Court Judge to halt the operation of a vast pyramid scheme promoted in part on the Internet, and to freeze the defendants' assets, pending trial, so they will be available for consumer redress.

MAKING CASH SURFING THE NET IN MLM FORMAT A HIT - October 11, 1999

According to a report broadcast on MSNBC in early October, surfing the Internet may now become a lucrative opportunity.

NU SKIN RECEIVES POSITIVE RESPONSE TO INTERNET INITIATIVES - September 28, 1999

Nu Skin Japan, a subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., recently launched "Distributor Plaza," an enhancement to its web site that allows its independent distributors to place customer orders for products over the Internet.

FTC, 6 STATES SUE EQUINOX INTERNATIONAL - August 9, 1999

The FTC alleged that the defendants operated an illegal pyramid scheme, made deceptive earnings claims, and provided distributors with the means and instrumentalities to violate federal law.

FTC WINS CASE AGAINST DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING OF "SUPER-FORMULA" - July 19, 1999

SlimAmerica ordered to pay more than $8.3 million in consumer redress; post bonds before engaging in future weight-loss or other marketing activities

MARKETERS CHARGED IN CLAIMS ABOUT LAUNDRY DETERGENT SUBSTITUTE - July 1, 1999

Dallas Marketers of Laundry Detergent Substitute Charged with Making False and Unsubstantiated Claims Agree to Settlement with FTC and Six States

PYRAMID VICTIMS NAILED - June 7, 1999

Three victims who lost money in a major pyramid scheme that was busted in Hollywood last month, have been charged with operating their own scam in Ventura County.

DIETICIANS SUPRESS DIVERSITY IN TEXAS - June 2, 1999

Senate Bill 1525 passed in the Texas Letgislature over the weekend.  Because of last minute amendments, the final version has a substantially different impact than the one studied by the legislators.

MARKET AMERICA RUMOR IS BOGUS  -   May 23, 1999

MLM and direct selling companies have been deluged with inquiries from distributors concerning a recent federal court decision involving Market America. Distributors have reported a rumor circulating on the internet and e-mail that, as a result of the Market America case, MLM companies may not enter into "exclusive dealing" agreements with their distributors. As it turns out, the decision in the Market America case does not stand for this proposition, and distributors have been misinformed.  Actual case - April 15, 1999.

PROCTOR & GAMBLE LAWSUIT AGAINST AMWAY DISMISSED - May 16, 1999

Reuters reports that a federal judge in Houston dismissed a Proctor & Gamble lawsuit against rival Amway Corp. in mid-May.  The suit accused Amway of instigating "false satanic rumors" against Proctor & Gamble that cost the company millions of dollars in lost sales.

MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WARNS AGAINST
INTERNET PYRAMID SCHEME  -  May 2, 1999

According to a report in the Detroit News, participants could be charged with a felony for buying into the program which is being classified as a 'wealth redistribution' scheme.  The promotion boasts that participants can turn $120 into more than $116,000 without selling a thing and goes on to describe an internet based "business" which has been considered by state officials to be an illegal pyramid selling scheme.

AVON PRODUCTS SUPPORTS RESOLUTION OF DIRECT SELLING ISSUE IN CHINA  -  April 16, 1999

Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE:AVP) today welcomed the agreement reached last week between China and the United States to remove all market access restrictions on direct selling in China by January 1, 2003, including the current ban on direct selling imposed last April.

PYRAMID SCHEME NETS ARRESTS IN LOS ANGELES   -  April 27, 1999

The Los Angeles Times reports that five people were arrested at the Hollywood Palladium on April 26 during a meeting of almost 1,000 potential participants in what authorities describe as a pyramid scheme. The five were booked on suspicion of operating an "endless chain", which is a felony according to LAPD Detective Greg Schwien of the Financial Crimes Division.

DISTRIBUTOR WINS DAMAGES AGAINST HERBALIFE   -  November 20, 1998

According to The Arizona Republic, a distributor for Herbalife International Inc. has been awarded $620,000 in damages and the right to future income from her business by a Maricopa County Superior Court jury, after a month-long trial that gained nation-wide attention.