MLM - Network Marketing Blog

Business Advice For Entrepreneurial Moms

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

This looks like a great even for the work at home mom set. Moms Unite!

From San Diego:

Addressing what they see as a growing number of “moms” seeking help to start, or expand, a business, five San Diego women are organizing the Moms in Business Unite Conference. Set for Sept. 16, the event at USD’s Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice is expected to attract 300 attendees. Randa Cote, a professional event organizing consultant, is chairing the all-day function. Cote says it will differ from other women in business efforts by offering four segments, each with specific training, rather than relying primarily on general networking and/or product sales.

“We are finding that women and moms are going out into the marketplace to start business,” Cote says. Many, she says, are looking to supplement incomes that have been trimmed by the layoff or reduced pay of a spouse.

“The core focus of this conference is educating women and moving businesses forward,” Cote says.

The day-long event includes three recognition components: The Inventor Showcase Award, which will acknowledge 10 women for a product or service they introduced to market no earlier than January 2008; Mompreneur Grant, a cash award (the size will be determined by tickets sold) for a business at least a year old that needs capital to take the next step; and My Man of the Year Award, designed “to honor an extraordinary man that has supported a working mother to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.”

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Pre-Paid Legal Services a Pyramid in Collapse?

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From Eworldwire via Trading Markets:

Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc.'s (NYSE:PPD) "Pyramid in Collapse" status - as characterized by nationally recognized and internationally known expert Robert Fitzpatrick - is re-confirmed in second quarter of 2009 figures, affirms Fraud Discovery Institute (FDI).

Since 2007, Fitzpatrick has characterized the current business cycle of Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. (NYSE:PPD) based on published data, as "pyramid in collapse." The second quarter of 2009 data adds to this portrait and further confirms this status.

All key indicators for the second quarter compared to the same period one year ago show significant and continuing declines:

. Recruiting of salespeople (called Associates), which is the engine of the entire business model, were down nearly 4% from the same period last year.

. The total number of Associates is not reported quarterly but only at the end of each calendar year. At the end of 2008, Pre-Paid Legal Services claimed a total of 425,018 Associates which represented a 4% decline from 2007.

. Recruitment of Associates for the first two quarters of 2009 is down over 23 percent from the same period last year. Recruitment of new Associates for all of 2008 was down 18 percent from 2007.

. The number of new members (retail customers) dropped 9% from the same period last year and the Q-2 of a year ago was down 4% from the previous quarter. The total number of memberships is down 4% from a year ago. Total new memberships sold in all of 2008 was down 10% from the year before.

Declines Stand Out in Business Sector:

Though the recession has damaged sales of many companies, Pre-Paid Legal Services's accelerating declines stand out within its business sector of "direct selling." Pre-Paid's steep decline conflicts with the trends of large companies also in direct selling.

According to a May 15, 2009, article in USA Today, "Direct-sales businesses that rely on home-based representatives to peddle their wares are seeing their sales forces rapidly expand as the nation's unemployment rate soars ..." The president of the Direct Selling Association, of which Pre-Paid Legal Services is a member, stated, "Unfortunately as the unemployment rate rises to 10 percent or higher, we'll be picking up more people ..." An Avon official told the newspaper, "Right now, our direct-selling opportunity is really the No. 1 product that we have to sell." In fact, Avon reports that its U.S. sales force is now the largest in its history.

Insider Sell-offs:

Not only has Pre-Paid Legal Services shown definitive signs of irreversible market deterioration, but the maneuvers of its top officials also reveal classic pre-collapse patterns. In the midst of continuing and accelerating sales force and customer drop-offs, insiders have used company funds to buy up stock, driving up the share price artificially, and then have sold off many of their own personal shares at the high prices.

In its latest disclosures, Pre-Paid Legal Services announced that the company used $524,824 of revenue during the second quarter to repurchase 13,315 shares of common stock at an average per share price of $39.42. In this same quarter, company CEO Harland Stonecipher sold personal shares equivalent of 23 percent of this total. The buy-back/sell-off price was approximately 50 percent above the year's low trading price.

Despite dismal numbers, Pre-Paid Legal Services's stock price was artificially pushed upward with the company's re-purchases while critical recruitment of its sales force dropped 22 percent and enrollment of new customers dropped 9 percent over a year before.

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Love of Grilling leads to ManCave Business

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

This is from the corporate ManCave website: "Man Cave is every man's dream company. It's an enterprise dedicated to letting men be men, no questions asked. Hanging out with the guys, grilling up some steaks, watching football, farting openly and many other male pastimes are cornerstones of Man Cave." I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

From InForum:

Nick Beste wants to sell products to men in the same manner that companies like Pampered Chef and Mary Kay have catered primarily to women.

The 23-year-old East Grand Forks, Minn., native has launched ManCave, a direct sales company that sells select meats, grilling accessories, in-home bar and poker supplies at gatherings called “MEATings.”

“It’s an enterprise dedicated to letting men be men, no questions asked,” states the company Web site www.mancaveworldwide.com.

Here’s how it works:

ManCave advisers are independent male or female business owners, said Beste.

“They go into somebody’s home and teach different grilling techniques to showcase our products,” he said, cooking beer-can chicken, brats, steaks and other munchies for participants to consume.

ManCave also has a small line of gifts for women: rose petals, body butter and soy candles.

“We figured, you know, if you’re going to spend the night with the guys drinking beer and eating meat, you might as well bring the wife home something nice to get yourself back in the house,” Beste said.

Beste and business partner, Kevin Carlow, both University of Minnesota students, started discussing the idea in October. They launched ManCave in April.

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Alcohol, Tobacco and Cosmetics - A Mary Kay Summer

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From OPB News:

Hard times can be busy times. That’s certainly what Bonnie Warren and Joey Levy find, taking care of their two kids, four-year-old Faye and eight-month-old Jaden, and trying to cover the bills on one one-and-one-half incomes.

But it’s summer, and the mood around the house is sunny. Bonnie’s carving out time for a new –hopefully lucrative -- venture.

Bonnie Warren   “I am a Mary Kay consultant.   I’m nervous and excited at the same time. The lady that signed me up was telling me there’s three things that aren’t being affected by the economy: that’s alcohol, tobacco, and cosmetics!”

With her peachy skin and big blue eyes, Bonnie doesn’t wear much makeup herself, but she thinks she can still be a good representative.

Bonnie Warren   “I was at Target and I did a lot of sales. And I’m really good at convincing people to do things.”

Persuasive skills are something Warren learned on her day job, as a certified nurse’s assistant at a long-term care facility. She hopes to squeeze in twenty hours a week on the beauty business.

Extra cash would go toward bills, and maybe a wedding stash. Bonnie and Joe have started talking about trying the knot in August 2010 – assuming they can afford it.

Bonnie’s  still got student loans to pay off. And Joe hasn’t been able to get back up to full-time at work yet.

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Efusjon MLM Review

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

What is efusjon?

efusjon energy club products offer remarkable taste, pack tremendous energy and deliver health and vitality! efusjon's delicious and healthy energy drinks are created with you in mind. Whether you're 18 or 80, our energy drinks give your body exactly what it needs to thrive throughout the day and throughout your life!

Made from 100% all-natural ingredients and with no preservatives or additives, efusjon's energy drinks give you a rich, smooth flavor you can enjoy anytime - completely guilt-free. So start your day with the bolt of delicious, nutritious energy your body and taste buds will crave! And you can enjoy our energy drinks anytime your body needs an extra boost! Best of all, efusjon's energy drinks come loaded with the power of nature's best ingredients!

By joining the efusjon energy club you will be able to choose what type of drinks you desire on a monthly basis depending on your body's needs. Whether it's our energy drink that has antioxidant properties which help your body fight the free-radical toxins you take in each day, another one that combats basic fatigue, or both, the choice is yours. As we continue to add new and exciting healthy energy drinks to the efusjon energy club, you will be able to mix and match each month's order to suit your health needs. Not only does efusjon energy club offer the healthiest energy drinks available anywhere, but we also provide you with a unique opportunity to make a serious income!

When you become an efusjon energy club Associate, you become part of the most unique compensation structure in the network marketing industry. Our revolutionary new system rewards you not only for the efforts of you and your organization, but even for sales in other people's organizations! It's part of the efusjon energy club's "share the wealth" philosophy that's a win-win for everyone!

The efusjon energy club...energy for everyone!

The efusjon Compensation Plan

Get healthy and get paid! At the efusjon energy club, we believe in healthy bodies and a healthy income. You can enjoy the delicious and nutritious virtues of our amazing energy drinks and reap the rewards from your very own successful efusjon energy club business.

Under the efusjon energy club revolutionary new community compensation structure, you get rewarded in ways you never dreamed possible. It's a unique opportunity never before seen in the network marketing industry!

Our "Community Overlap" plan rewards you not only for your efforts and your organization's efforts, but even for the efforts of people beside you and above you! With overlapping support from active Associates from the left, the right and above your organization, you can get paid for the efforts of people completely unaffiliated with you.

How do I get paid? In the efusjon energy club, you have two distinct ways to change your financial future:

1. When you join the efusjon energy club as a Member, you earn 4.25% of total sales volume in commissions for each order of efusjon's energy drinks when

• Customers order efusjon energy drink products from your replicated website

2. As an efusjon energy club Associate, you have an opportunity to earn even more - a whole lot more - as you build an organization of other motivated efusjon energy club Associates

• Once you have enrolled 3 people as an efusjon energy club Associate, you will be promoted to an Executive. As an Executive you will receive 4.25% of total sales volume for each active, personally enrolled Associate and your personally enrolled Associate's down lines every month. As your organization grows, so does your income.
• Add to that the efusjon energy club "Community Overlap" (where you are able to receive 1% of the total sales volume for each Associate enrolled by others that overlap into your community matrix) and you have the potential to increase your income dramatically.

3. efusjon energy club Associates are eligible for other incentives - in addition to their lucrative commissions! That sounds amazing - but I bet it's expensive to join. Actually, joining the efusjon energy club is a very affordable way to start a business - and for less than the price of a nice dinner out, you can begin changing your life today.

For just $30, you can become an efusjon energy club Member. As a Member, you are encouraged to retail efusjon energy drinks for a healthy profit.

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Klikfire MLM Review

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From NPros:

KlikFire is a multi-level marketing company that has13 years of business experience and patent-pending technology at its core. KlikFire is a fully owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Communications and an independant business owner's portal for GreenBackStreet.com; a cash back shopping website.

Independant business owners of KlikFire, give away free memberships to GreenBackStreet.com. Then by getting those members to sign-up more members, they earn percentage rewards on all the shopping they do, as well as earning more when the GreenBackStreet.com members become KlikFire IBO's of their own.

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AmeriPlan USA Celebrates 17 Years of Business

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From PRLOG:

Jun 20, 2009 – For almost 17 years, AmeriPlan® Corporation has been the leader in providing affordable,money-saving discount healthcare programs. AmeriPlan’s Dental Plus™, Basic Health™,Total Health™and Total Health Plus™ programs have saved uninsured and underinsured Americans hundreds of millions of dollars on their Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug, Chiropractic Care and other health-related expenses.

AmeriPlan’s programs are not insurance; instead, AmeriPlan® provides healthcare services through networks of contracted providers. AmeriPlan’s healthcare providers offer their services at reduced rates to AmeriPlan® members because members pay for the services they require at the time they are provided.  

AmeriPlan® members may also enjoy access to ancillary services such as lab work, a hospital advocacy program, plus legal, identity theft and auto club services.

Company Founders Dennis and Daniel Bloom chose a network marketing business model as the ideal way to market AmeriPlan’s programs to the public. Currently, some 40,000 Independent Business Owners (IBOs), such as Steven Keyes Ocala, Florida sign up thousands of new members each month, as well as other IBOs interested in building a profitable home-based business. AmeriPlan® has more than 175 employees operating out of its headquarters facility at 5700 Democracy Drive, Plano, Texas 74024.

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MonaVie EMVA Launches - Does Anyone Care?

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

If I was active in an MLM it certainly wouldn't be Monavie. But I'll give them credit for out-Xangoing Xango. The products look awesome...but if you're looking for extra energy I'd take a look at your diet and maybe get off the couch and exercise.


This from FoodBev.com:

The new drink is a fusion of the acai berry and natural energy ingredients designed to deliver a boost of sustained energy to recharge body and mind.

According to MonaVie founder, chairman and CEO Dallin A Larsen, the new product is revolutionary in the functional beverage category and will be a welcome point of entry to the company’s signature acai nutritional beverages.

“With MonaVie EMV,” said Larsen, “millions of consumers will find a healthy alternative to soft drinks and overly caffeinated energy drinks.”

MonaVie EMV officially launches in the US on 20 June 2009 at MonaVie’s Salt Lake City Super Regional event. Consumers first caught a glimpse of the product’s brilliant blue packaging as the EMV branded race car, driven by veteran racer Tomas Scheckter, roared onto the track at the Indy 500 this past May.

“MonaVie EMV delivers the perfect equation for healthy, sustained energy without the ‘crash and burn’ side effects typically associated with energy drinks,” said vice president of product management, Jeff Graham. “Consumers – from the busy soccer mom to the extreme snowboarder – are looking for ways to increase their energy levels, and EMV provides the solution.”

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XanGo to double Malaysia sales growth

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

It's Mangosteen harvest time where I live in Chiangmai, Thailand. Mangosteen is about 40 cents US a kilo. Not sure why you'd buy Xango - but that's just me.  I'd have to say, however, that Corey Citron is one of the most dynamic networkers around.

Here's the latest Xango news from btimes:

XANGO, which offers mangosteen juice products with nutritional benefits, aims to double its sales growth in Malaysia over the next two years.

Its general manager of Southeast Asia, Tai Tolman, said despite the current global economic crisis, there are still opportunities for growth and the company will leverage on its network of distributors.

"Through efforts by our distributors to educate the public on the powerful antioxidant properties present in XanGo products, we intend to expand our presence nationwide from our strong base in the Klang Valley," Tai said.

"Currently, XanGo has 30,000 distributors in Malaysia and we intend to double that number to support the growing demand for our products," he said in a recent interview.

At the global level, XanGo has one million distributors in various markets, including Canada, Mexico, Japan and Germany.

According to Tai, the Malaysian market has enjoyed a 328 per cent revenue growth rate since May 2007.

He said XanGo has achieved remarkable success for its flagship juice product in Malaysia, which is being retailed at RM160 per bottle.

"The Malaysian market is significant for XanGo, being one of the largest markets for us in Asia and the regional office hub for Southeast Asia," he added.

Avon, Mary Kay and Tupperware see(k) an employment boom

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

The last time we saw such a boom in Direct Sales it was 1990. Does that mean we can expect a new hit from Roxette soon? Listen to your heart indeed!

Check this out from Blogging Stocks:

In order to keep income trickling in, companies the likes of Avon, Mary Kay, and Tupperware are seeing a flux of salespeople -- including professionals forced to take a second job thanks to the recession. 

Becke Alexander, the sales manager for Avon, noted that she hears from laid-off bankers and stay-at-home moms every week, but the company is seeing a recent boon from "gainfully employed people worried how long they'll stay that way." In fact, Alexander said, "There are no hobby seekers coming in here. It's people with a legitimate need." This pop in makeup peddlers stems directly from the current economic crisis, but not just from unemployment. A common complaint is that bonuses have disappeared, as have hours, which have forced people to turn to direct sales to make up some cash.

This increase in direct sales representatives has happened before, with the 1990 recession leading to an 8% increase in Americans participating in such sales to 5.1 million. During the next major recession (2001), the direct sales work force increased to 12.2 million. In 2007, the estimated number of Americans involved in direct sales increased to 15 million -- figures for 2008 are not available yet.

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