Direct Selling:
the Wall Street View
by Courtney Coles
Direct sellers experienced considerable volatility in the Q3 earnings report season, driven by macroeconomic factors in Japan, government action in China and issues endemic to individual companies. Despite the most recent business volatility, the financial results continue to point to an attractive economic model for direct selling. With increased attention to the issues currently facing direct selling companies, Wall Street’s cautiousness on the direct selling model has heightened recently. However, over the last couple of years, investors have afforded the direct selling model more credibility and a commensurately more bullish mindset has emerged as a result. While the second half of 2005 has been a frustrating time for most direct selling companies and investors alike, the industry outlook, in our opinion, remains favorable. > more

Direct Selling: the Wall Street View
Avon Embarks on Multi-Year Restructuring Effort
Alt icor Wins Corporate Citizenship Award
Young Company Focus: Succendo Sets the Home & Body Care Market Afire

Direct Selling Companies Donate $10.5 Million in Products to “Today” Show Toy Drive

The holidays will be brighter for thousands of children and families across the country this year, thanks to the efforts of direct selling companies whose pooled resources, collected through the Direct Selling Association (DSA), have accumulated just over $10.5 million in products and cash for the "Today" show Toy Drive. > more

Direct Selling Toy Drive
Legal Matters: Preserving the Direct Seller & Independent Contractor Status
of Your Sales Force

Mannatech to Explore
Uganda Biodiversity

Mannatech Incorporated, a global wellness solutions provider and leader in proprietary glyconutritional supplements, is training three Ugandan chemists in the rigorous process of collecting plants, extracting their compounds and identifying the functional ingredients. > more

Mannatech to Explore Uganda Biodiversity
Royal BodyCare Announces Korean Expansion

Herbalife Announces Record 3rd Quarter Net Sales of $401 Million

Herbalife Ltd. (HLlF—NYSE) reported record third-quarter net sales of $401.0 million, an increase of 25.4 percent compared to the same period of 2004. All of the company’s regions—the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Japan—achieved net sales growth of 55.7 percent, 21.2 percent, 2.8 percent, and 7.0 percent, respectively, compared to the same period of 2004. > more

Hebalife Announces Record 3rd Quarter Net Sales of $401 Million
Alticor Sales Rise for the Sixth Consecutive Year
Natural Health Trends Quarterly Sales Reach $58 Million
November Stock Watch

Top Desk—Creating a Positive Image for Your Direct Selling Company

Look around and we see an abundance of direct selling companies vying for the attention of an enthusiastic, dedicated sales force and customerbase. However, while reputable direct selling companies are plentiful today, it wasn’t always so; in fact, we still struggle with a tarnished image created decades ago! Many people are still skeptical and suspicious of all network marketing companies because of the actions of a few, who have long since gone out of business. In order to succeed in our competitive environment, we must do all we can to create a positive image for our own direct selling company, which will naturally improve the image of all direct selling companies. > more

TOP DESK- Creating a Positive Image for Your Direct Selling Company
Shift Your Company's Part-Timers to Business Builders
Prioritization: Managing Your Time, Employee Hours and Company Expectations