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At the meeting’s annual Award Banquet, the DSA honored five companies for achievement in the areas of technology innovation, partnership, salesforce development and program excellence.
Mary Kay Inc. became the first recipient of the excellence in Salesforce Development Award, a new award for 2009, for its Satellite Education Events, held to provide the Mary Kay independent salesforce with current, effective, convenient and exciting education. The live broadcast provided distributors with educational lessons that could be immediately applied to their businesses and aired simultaneously to more than 26,000 people in more than 150 movie theaters around the United States.
ServiceQuest received the DSA’s Partnership Award for its work with a number of DSA member companies. A DSA Supplier Member, ServiceQuest provides distributor services at three levels—developing distributor service agents, supervisors and managers through mentoring and training; designing processes, scripts and work flow that create continuity and a quality experience for the distributor; and championing best practices that result in meaningful and memorable service experiences, contributing to distributor and consultant retention.
Scentsy Inc. was the first recipient of the Rising Star Award, presented to an up-and-coming direct selling company that has dedicated itself to achieving a high standard of excellence in business operations. Scentsy is based in Meridian, Idaho, and is owned and operated by Orville and Heidi Thompson. Scentsy opened its doors in 2004 with the idea of offering a safe, wickless alternative to burning candles in homes and offices.
ACN Inc. received The Success Award, which honors direct selling member companies for excellence in areas not recognized by any other DSA award. ACN was recognized for its “reinvention,” which began with creating a comprehensive set of new business tools for its salesforce. The company also created a TV channel on the corporate Web site and cultivated a celebrity endorsement from Donald Trump. The results of this three-year reinvention program are increased salesforce size, record-setting growth and dramatic increases in quarterly event attendance.
Oxyfresh.com was the recipient of the Technology Innovation Award, also new for 2009. Oxyfresh’s information technology team and Web designers created a state-of-the-art “Money for Life” Web site designed to optimize the ability of field distributors to attract new business partners. This interactive recruitment system includes 13 presentations that can be customized and e-mailed to prospects. MoneyforLife.com has increased traffic to Oxyfresh’s opportunity Web site by more than 500 percent, greatly enhancing business-building efforts for their entire field of distributors.
Also at the Award Banquet, the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) presented its Circle of Honor Award to Amway President Doug DeVos. DSEF established the award in 1988 to recognize persons who have provided outstanding leadership to the foundation through their personal efforts, involvement and commitment. DeVos has served in all the leadership capacities of DSEF and DSA, including the roles of board chairman, and is past chairman of the board of directors for the U.S. Direct Selling Association. He also is the current vice chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) and serves on the WFDSA CEO Council.
In the final presentation of the evening, Andy and Joan Horner, founders of Premier Designs, were inducted into the DSA Hall of Fame. The Direct Selling Hall of Fame honors individuals who have devoted significant years of service and have made considerable contributions to the DSA, the DSEF and the direct selling industry. Andy was 60 years old when he and Joan founded Premier Designs, and they are still actively involved in the business. Andy’s business career spans more than 50 years and includes executive positions with companies such as Johnson Wax, Xerox Corporation, and Home Interiors and Gifts. Joan Horner served alongside Andy at Home Interiors and Gifts, working with regional groups within the Home Interiors salesforce. For many years, Joan assisted and traveled extensively with Mary Crowley, founder of Home Interiors and Gifts. Joan, who serves as Executive Vice President of Premier Designs, has been instrumental in overseeing design and selection of the jewelry product line.
