MLM - Network Marketing Blog

Maree Claire Stuart wins white Mercedes from Arbonne

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From goldcoast:

Working with stars such as Catherine Zeta Jones, Heath Ledger and Michael Caine has had its perks  but few could rival the one Gold Coast make-up artist Maree Claire Stuart will receive next week.

A make-up artist in the US film industry for 17 years, Stuart is to be presented with a white Mercedes Benz for 12 months' work as the vice president of Arbonne, a Swiss-developed skin care and make-up range.

The car is a reward for helping introduce Arbonne to the Australian market. Stuart will get the keys next Tuesday at Grand Motors Prestige in Robina.

While she's worked with many stars, Stuart says working with Arbonne has been a rewarding experience.

"The phenomenal thing is that I'm building a business that I enjoy and has a residual income.

" ... We get free travel, jewellery, flowers. Us women absolutely adore it."

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Prepaid Legal Services backs Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson Campaign

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From Tulsaworld:

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma Ethics Commission filings show more than half the early contributions to Attorney General Drew Edmondson's gubernatorial campaign have been from private-practice lawyers and law firms.

Edmondson had received $357,000 from those sources through March 31, the end of the most recent filing period. About $45,000 came from lawyers and employees associated with Ada-based Prepaid Legal Services and about $34,000 was from attorneys and employees of the firm Riggs, Abney, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis.

Edmondson, who opened a campaign account in 2007, has brought in nearly three times as much contributions as the other three announced candidates combined. They didn't open campaign accounts until this year.

Filings show Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin have raised more than $100,000 each, while state Sen. Randy Brogdon has brought in more than $22,000.

The next filing deadline is July 31.

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Donald Trump at ACN International Convention

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

From wsoctv:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Multibillionaire and real estate mogul Donald Trump visited Charlotte Sunday.He flew into the Queen City at about 9:30 a.m.Trump was a guest speaker for the ACN International sales training event being held at Time Warner Cable Arena.

A crowd of more than 25,000 people packed into the arena for his appearance.ACN is based in Concord. The company’s Web site says it is the world’s largest direct selling telecommunications company. It operates in 20 countries across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Eyewitness News caught up with Trump shortly after he landed at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.He spoke about his possible real estate ventures in Charlotte, but would not give specifics about any plans.Trump also spoke about how the Bank Of America/Merrill Lynch merger, along with the Wells Fargo buyout of Wachovia affects everyone in the city.

He said he had a feeling about the two banks.“A couple of years ago I had a premonition if one of those banks went a little bit off” Trump said. “No only did one of them go off, they both went off.”Trump said that the Charlotte economy won’t dissuade him from possible real estate ventures in the Queen City.“That doesn’t mean I won’t be back, but I’ll probably be back at a much better price,” Trump said.

Eyewitness News discovered the Web site trumpcharlotte.com. The site outlines plans for several towers that will offer residential and office space, along with a hotel. However, the site did not specify where the towers would be located or when they would be built.

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Amway Expands Brand in Malaysia

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

This from Asiya Bakht at BrandRepublic.Asia:

KUALA LUMPUR - Marketing firm Amway has shortlisted three agencies, Ogilvy & Mather, TBWA and a local shop, for its creative business in Malaysia.

Sources suggest that Amway’s creative account in the market is currently handled by several local agencies on a project basis, and the ongoing pitch might be aimed at consolidating its business.

Amway’s product lines include home-care and personal care products, jewellery, electronics, water and air purifiers, Nutrilite dietary supplements and insurance and cosmetics.

In 2004, health and beauty products accounted for nearly 60 percent of Amway’s worldwide sales.

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Nu Skin sells Agel (oc) in Russia

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

Why do MLM companies insist on giving their products weird names? ageLOC? Did they notice that the first 4 letters of this new product spell the name of another MLM company?

This from Nuskin:

PROVO, Utah - June 22, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Top international sales leaders for Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. gathered today in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to learn how Nu Skin plans to expand its distributor business opportunity with next-generation anti-aging products in both skin care and nutrition that target the ultimate sources of aging.

"For more than 25 years, Nu Skin has offered people the opportunity to start their own business selling exclusive and innovative anti-aging products – and that opportunity will be better than ever with ageLOC," said Truman Hunt, Nu Skin president and chief executive officer. "We believe that ageLOC is unlocking the secret of youth through our unique understanding of the relationship between aging and certain genes in the human genome, the ultimate sources of aging.

"ageLOC will not only have significant implications for an aging population that wants to live young, but also for an increasing number of people who are seeking out Nu Skin's business opportunity to supplement or replace their income."

The international sales meeting is the next step in the company's roll out of its exclusive ageLOC discoveries. Nu Skin introduced the first phase of its strategy to target the sources of aging last October with the launch of ageLOC Galvanic Spa Facial Gels, formulated to target a free radical generator in the skin to deliver superior cosmetic benefits. The company will continue its roll out of ageLOC products with the introduction of an unmatched daily skin care system this October at Nu Skin's global 25th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles. As part of its strategic direction, the company will also unveil plans to launch additional exclusive ageLOC products, including a nutritional supplement in the latter half of 2010.

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Tupperware is like drugs for Asians

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

Psst! Wanna buy some Tupperware?

Here's an interesting article from Asians In Media (AIM) Magazine:

What is the fixation that mums, aunties, nans (nannijis), and grans (bibijis) have with plastic containers? It’s like Asian women have an addiction to plastic Tupperware!

The person that sets up the first ‘Tupperware Addiction Clinic’ for Asian women is going to make a lot of money - probably some Asian guy who will acquire a forged certificate from India.

Every Asian family has one cupboard in the kitchen that resembles a shrine to plastic Tupperware, or dubbai. Many Asian families even have stockpiles in the garage. Imagine that: a temple filled with every type of plastic container. I wonder if aunties take their shoes off and cover their heads as a mark of respect before entering the Tupperware temple.

Like most Tupperware (drugs), plastic-container users (otherwise affectionately known as ‘dubbai women’) can exist in many addictive forms ranging from the low-level addict to the hard-core.

First, the auntie who is a low level addict (merchandise includes ice cream containers and those cheap microwaveable plastic boxes you get from the local takeaway). This is the kind of Asian woman that keeps plastic containers ‘just in case’.

She happily trades containers with other low-level addicts and never complains as long as the number of containers stays the same: they can happily increase, but they can never drop! If there is a reduction in number, this can cause a lot of anxiety to the low-level addict, and often a refusal to hand out any more plastic containers can be observed by the subtle yet assertive request that fellow low-level addicts bring their own.

Now in theory this seems perfectly adequate in any other social situation. Imagine a guy hosting a party and saying to his mates, “Hey, I’m having a party; bring a bottle!” Asian women feel the same way about recycling plastic containers.

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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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Herbalife Family Foundation Establishes Casa Herbalife Program in Russia

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

This is a great initiative from Herbalife...What other MLM or Network Marketing companies have similar programs?

From Herbalife:

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 11, 2009-- The Herbalife Family Foundation has established a Casa Herbalife program at the Children’s Ark in St. Petersburg, Russia to help provide good nutrition to the children.

The grant will be used to supplement the charity’s current food budget and improve kitchen facilities at the center. The center was established in 1998 and, with the help of over 500 volunteers, it is now the largest non-government orphanage in the city. Presently, 64 children aged 2-18 live there.

This is the 2nd Casa Herbalife program to be established in Russia; the first opened at the Udelnaya Orphanage in Moscow in May 2007. It is the 43rd Casa Herbalife program to be established worldwide. After an initial grant from HFF, local Herbalife independent distributors and employees will support the program through volunteerism and fundraising.

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Ez2Win.biz Scam Founders Arrested

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

Another MLM Scam bites the dust...

From Network Marketing Business Journal:

James A. Sweeney, II, of Afton, Tenn., and Patrick M. Ryan, of Canyon Lake, Calif., were arrested on June 3, in Afton and Las Vegas, respectively, for stealing millions of dollars through “phony stock sales” and an illegal pyramid scheme. They are being held until they are extradited to Riverside County, Calif. Both face 78 counts of grand theft and securities fraud. Bail has been set at $8.8 million each.

“These two con men stole $8.8 million dollars through phony stock sales and an illegal pyramid scheme,” California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. said. “They stole investors’ money and used it to pay for luxury homes, fancy cars and a $100,000 Las Vegas wedding.” Brown’s complaint contends that Sweeney and Ryan, co-founders of Riverside-based Big Co-op, Inc., stole $8.8 million from more than 1,000 Californians through an illegal pyramid scheme and phony stock sales. Big Co-op, also operating as Ez2Win.biz, purported to be an online shopping hub where consumers could go to purchase thousands of goods and services from big name retailers including, Sears, Target and Macy’s, at discounted prices.

Consumers were informed that if they purchased a Big Co-op membership, they could save money on their own purchases and also earn commissions and rewards by convincing others to shop on the site. In reality, consumers never received rebates or rewards. Instead, profits were based on recruiting others to purchase memberships, and having those purchasers recruit others to purchase memberships (and so on). Members earned $100 commissions for every six members recruited. Those recruited then paid Big Co-op from $19.95 to $99.95 in ongoing monthly membership fees. According to the complaint, from 2005 to 2007, Big Co-op generated $1.3 million in revenues through this pyramid scheme.

Read the whole story...

What Do YTB and Elvis have in Common?

By Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent

This from stltoday.com:

There I was, reading Tim Logan’s excellent story in Sunday’s Post-Dispatch about YTB International when a name from the past jumped out at me:  J. Lloyd Tomer.

Why, just a couple of weeks ago, I’d been regaling my colleagues with a story from my days as a young general assignment reporter, and the time I found this small-town preacher who’d bought Elvis Presley’s airplane. And suddenly, there he was, on the front page of my newspaper. To quote Logan’s story:

YTB was launched in 2001 by three Alton-area veterans of the multilevel marketing industry: J. Lloyd “Coach” Tomer, a former pastor from Benton, Ill., who became a high-level salesman for insurance company A.L. Williams; his son Scott, who’s now YTB’s chief executive; and longtime business partner Kim Sorensen.

YTB (for YourTravelBiz) is based in Wood River. It is a multi-level marketing organization that sells folks a chance to become online travel agents. For $450 up front, and $50 a month thereafter, YTB members sell vacation packages. They also sell other YTB franchises. California Attorney General Jerry Brown says it’s a pyramid scheme, where only the people who get in early are likely to make any money. As Logan reported Sunday:

YTB’s 8,500 agents became 22,000 by the end of 2005. Then nearly 60,000 a year later. At the end of 2007, they had more than 131,000 agents and claimed 303,000 sales reps. Revenue boomed, too, nearly tripling to $141 million last year, when the company earned its first-ever profit. And a major trade publication ranked them the nation’s 26th-biggest travel agency.

“And it’s going to get better and better and better,” Lloyd Tomer said a weekly conference call this month.

Along the way, the Tomers prospered. Scott Tomer and Sorensen each earned $2.3 million in cash, benefits and stock last year, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lloyd Tomer earned $3.5 million. Top salespeople made out well, too: A couple earned more than the top execs last year, and 11 sales directors topped $800,000, according to the company’s publicly available income disclosure statement. Dozens more earned six figures.