Industry News

Stories in this section:
Southwestern Company: Building Character for 150 Years
DeVos Campaign Heads Into the Home Stretch
Direct Selling in Russia
High Tech/High Touch Universe
Young Company Focus: Aihu
Industry with Heart: AtHome America

DeVos Campaign Heads Into the Home Stretch

Dick DeVos, former President of Alticor and son of Amway Founder Rich DeVos, is heading into the final weeks of his campaign to defeat incumbent Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm in what is shaping up as a tight race. Direct Selling News caught up with DeVos on the campaign trail and asked him to share his thoughts about the issues facing Michigan voters, his strategy as Election Day nears, and the support and encouragement he's received from his direct selling industry colleagues.

Direct Selling News: The campaign is entering the home stretch. What issues are now driving the race and catching voters' attention?

Dick DeVos: It's all about jobs. Michigan is in a jobs crisis. We have the nation's highest unemployment rate, at 7.1 percent. Employers are leaving the state, and every day you see a new headline announcing this job loss or that job loss. Michigan is looking for a business leader, a job maker who can get us out of this crisis, and I bring to the table years of experience as a Michigan job maker, selling Michigan-made products all over the world. Michigan right now needs a leader, not a lawyer.

Direct Selling News: Most public polls show the race in a statistical dead heat. Do you believe that is an accurate assessment and how do you plan to pull ahead for the win?

Dick DeVos: The only poll that matters is the one that the voters of Michigan conduct on Election Day. As the challenger, I knew going into this race that I would trail until Election Day. We're running against an incumbent, and the most prolific fundraiser in our state's history. But we believe that in the remaining weeks, with our grassroots Team for Change on the ground working to spread our message and get out the vote on Election Day, we will win the election and bring much needed change to Michigan.

Direct Selling News: Your opponent has criticized your involvement and background in the direct selling industry. How has this been a factor in the campaign?

Dick DeVos: It's been a factor in that voters are looking for someone with business experience to fix our business problem, and that's what I bring to the table. We've been hard at work trying to tell the voters of Michigan my story, that for almost ten years I led a multibillion-dollar Michigan manufacturer, and expanded it into over 75 markets around the globe. I've helped create Michigan jobs by expanding our business and bringing the profits back home to Michigan to support Michigan families.

Direct Selling News: How have you been supported by your colleagues in the direct selling industry?

Dick DeVos: They have been very encouraging, some in spite of their prior political party affiliation, because they know that a victory on my part will be good for Michigan and a positive for the image of the direct selling industry. Many have been spreading the word among their friends and business associates, and their kind words have found their way back to me on numerous occasions as I have been traveling the state campaigning.