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The just-launched Amway application for the iPhone and iPod Touch puts almost all the tools an Amway distributor might need right in the palm of their hand. Although there are more than 100,000 apps for the Apple mobile devices, only a few are geared toward the needs of direct sellers, and none are as robust as the Amway app.
The free download allows Amway distributors to access a complete product catalog, show customers videos and other product information, and place orders, with or without an Internet connection. The app puts almost every business function an Amway distributor needs on a device that goes wherever they go.
“The Amway app offers a tremendous competitive advantage for our distributors,” said Amway Chief Marketing Officer Candace Matthews. “The app enables our distributors to showcase to our customers our health and beauty products, demonstrate how they work through video and other business tools, and place an order from their iPhone or iPod Touch. No one else offers a tool as robust as Amway’s app.”
In addition to the resident app on the iPhone, the Amway Store at iTunes offers free downloads of videos and podcasts designed to help Amway distributors sell products to their customers.
The Amway app is currently available to Amway Global distributors in the United States and Canada. In 2010, the app will launch in Japan and Australia followed by other markets in 2011.
Amway worked with Ubermind, a full-service software engineering firm and recognized leader in the development of custom software for Web and mobile platforms, to develop the app. The firm has called Amway’s app “the largest B2B iPhone app” developed to date.
Amway is one of the world’s largest direct selling businesses. Founded in 1959 and based in Ada, Mich., Amway offers consumer products and business opportunities in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. In its most recent fiscal year, the Amway family of companies reported annual sales of $8.2 billion.
mbit Energy was recently named as one of Dallas’s best places to work by both the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Business Journal.
“We are honored to be ranked as one of the best places to work in Dallas by both major news publications,” said Ambit Energy CEO Jere Thompson Jr. “From our headquarters in Dallas to our Plano call center, we operate in a transparent, focused environment where our employees enjoy working to provide superior service for our customers. We value their opinions and encourage input from everyone.”
In the Dallas Morning News Top 100 Places to Work 2009 listing, Ambit Energy was ranked 35 overall in a single category that highlighted companies, regardless of size, that excel at creating and maintaining a dynamic, supportive and inclusive workplace despite the current recession. Additionally, the company was ranked 14 among companies categorized as “midsize” (100–499 employees in Dallas/Fort Worth).
In the Dallas Business Journal Best Places to Work awards, Ambit Energy was ranked 34 in the “midsize company” category. Announced in September, the DBJ awards were given to 162 businesses in North Texas for being deemed a great place to work, according to national best practice scores, as determined by the program’s research partner.
Ambit Energy L.P. is a Dallas-based energy provider of electrical and natural gas services in deregulated markets across the United States, including regions of Texas, Illinois and New York.
USANA Health Sciences Inc. announced it has received a silver OMNI Award for the redesign and relaunch of its corporate Web site, USANA.com. The Omni Awards recognize outstanding media productions that engage, empower and enlighten in the fields of film, television, video, interactive, animation and Web.
The new USANA.com has a modern look and feel that incorporates many in-house-produced videos highlighting USANA’s accomplishments. The site streamlines the consumer’s shopping cart experience, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Consumers can now also complete a free Health Assessment and Advisor to obtain custom nutrition and product recommendations. Finally, visitors can now search for products by categories, ingredients, alphabetical listing, best-sellers and body-system impact, such as cardiovascular, cellular or brain and nervous system.
“We have worked very hard over the past year to make USANA.com the best it can be,” said Roy Truett, USANA Chief Information Officer. “We are honored to be recognized with this prestigious award, and USANA will continue working to find ways to keep this site at the forefront of technology and provide associates and customers with the best tools available.”
USANA develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional, personal-care and weight-management products that are sold directly to preferred customers and associates worldwide.
XanGo LLC Founder and Board Chairman Aaron Garrity has been recognized by the Harvard Business Review as an innovative entrepreneur, based on a six-year study on innovators and entrepreneurs and what sets them apart from other business leaders. The list of innovative entrepreneurs was part of a spotlight article in the December issue of the magazine. Earlier this year, Garrity was named to DirectSellingLive.com’s Power 50 list, a collection of the most powerful people in the direct selling industry globally.
“Aaron Garrity is known as a visionary in the direct sales industry, and his innovative approach at XanGo has long been recognized within network marketing,” said XanGo CEO Robert Conlee. “XanGo’s foundation was built on the innovation of Aaron and the other five founders, which has paved the way for where XanGo is today, as one of the fastest-growing direct sales companies in the industry. Aaron’s innovation and entrepreneurial spirit continually challenge the status quo and inspire our distributors for long-term success and growth.”
The focus of the Harvard Business Review’s “The Innovator’s DNA” discusses the five “discovery skills” that separate some of the most successful and creative innovators in business. Alongside XanGo’s Garrity on the list of sample innovative entrepreneurs are Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Michael Dell of Dell, Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Peter Thiel of PayPal and many other accomplished business leaders.
A leading global nutrition company, XanGo LLC is a recognized category creator as the first company to market a premium mangosteen beverage, XanGo® Juice, to consumers worldwide. XanGo is privately owned and powered by a global network of nearly 1 million independent distributors in the United States and more than 20 international markets.
USANA Health Sciences Inc. is now the official nutritional supplement provider to the Utah Grizzlies.
“We understand how important it is for athletes to know they can trust the products they use. USANA is committed to providing athletes and consumers alike with safe, high-quality nutritional supplements,” said Dan Macuga, USANA Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. “We are thrilled to partner with such a tremendous team and are happy to provide the elite athletes of the Utah Grizzlies with our nutritional products.
e wish them all the best in their games this season.”
USANA develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional, personal-care and weight-management products that are sold directly to preferred customers and associates worldwide.
Mannatech Inc. obtained a judgment finding that Green Life LLC (Green Life) and Xiong Lo (Lo) infringed Mannatech patents (U.S. Patents 6,929,807; 7,157,431; 7,196,064; 7,199,104; and 7,202,220).
Senior U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, issued a final judgment that entered a broad permanent injunction against Green Life and Xiong Lo, prohibiting them from “making, using, offering to sell, selling or otherwise distributing within the United States, or importing into the United States, defendant’s product, Glyco 8, as well as products that are substantially equivalent in composition to Glyco 8, and any other products that infringe the patents in suit.”
“This case underscores our commitment to pursuing injustice against the company and our core technologies. We will continue to do what is necessary to protect our intellectual property,” said Keith Clark, Mannatech’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.
On July 15, Mannatech filed a complaint for patent infringement, alleging that Green Life and Xiong Lo infringed Mannatech’s patents entitled “Compositions of Plant Technology as Dietary Supplements,” through Green Life’s purchase of the dietary supplement Glyco 8 from defendant Boston Mountain Laboratories Inc. Mannatech also named Boston Mountain, the entity that actually manufactured the infringing product, as a defendant. Mannatech previously settled its claims against Boston Mountain through the entry of an agreed final judgment that enjoined Boston Mountain from manufacturing all products infringing on Mannatech patents in question.
Mannatech Inc. is a global wellness-solutions provider of innovative, high-quality, proprietary dietary supplements, skincare products, and weight and fitness products sold through independent associates and members worldwide.
As part of its One by One Campaign for Children, Amway Global donated $1 million in product to NBC’s Today Show Toy Drive via a direct selling industry effort to provide holiday gifts for thousands of children nationwide. Amway Global’s gift included cosmetics, skin care, personal care, fragrances and jewelry, items aimed at teen and preteen girls—one of the groups often forgotten during holiday giving drives. Amway Global’s donation was shipped to 20 nonprofit organizations across the country for delivery to disadvantaged children and families, providing, in many cases, the only gifts some children and teens would have received this holiday season.
This donation is a public expression of Amway Global’s efforts to improve the well-being of children around the world through its One by One campaign. It also demonstrates Amway Global’s support of the U.S. Direct Selling Association, whose member companies’ combined donation totaled nearly $15.7 million in products and cash to the Today Show Toy Drive in 2009.
“Amway Global, our employees and independent business owners are proud to support the Today Show Toy Drive again this year,” said Steve Lieberman, Managing Director of Amway Global. “Together, Amway Global and our parent company, Amway, have donated more than $70 million to children’s causes around the world since One by One began in 2003. We hope the gifts donated to the Today Show Toy Drive brighten the holiday season for children and their families here in North America.”
Amway is one of the world’s largest direct selling businesses. Founded in 1959 and based in Ada, Mich., Amway offers consumer products and business opportunities in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. In its most recent fiscal year, the Amway family of companies reported annual sales of $8.2 billion.
LifeVantage Corporation announced that the company has entered into a settlement agreement with, among other parties, Zrii LLC. Under the terms of this agreement, LifeVantage paid $400,000 to Zrii and its founder, William Farley, on the one hand, and the company and many individuals and entities associated with the company, on the other hand, agreed to mutual releases of claims. The settlement agreement also includes the parties’ agreement to dismiss, with prejudice, litigation pending in California, Delaware and Utah that was instituted by Zrii early in 2009. LifeVantage is a party only to the California litigation, which will be dismissed, with prejudice, no later than 30 days after Zrii’s receipt of the $400,000 payment. The company is not a party to the Delaware or Utah litigation.
LifeVantage also announced that it has raised an aggregate of $1,122,143 in a financing in which the company sold to accredited investors 8 percent convertible debentures in an aggregate principal amount of $1,121,020 and warrants to purchase shares of the company’s common stock. The debentures are convertible into shares of the company’s common stock at any time at the discretion of the holder at a conversion price per share of 20 cents. The warrants are exercisable at any time at the discretion of the holder at an exercise price of 50 cents per share.
LifeVantage Corporation is a publicly traded, science-based, natural products company, dedicated to helping people reach their health and wellness goals through science-based solutions to oxidative stress. Founded in 2003 and based in San Diego, Calif., LifeVantage develops nutraceutical products, including Protandim®, intended to deliver significant health benefits to consumers.
MonaVie is the official partner of the Houston Rockets for the 2009–2010 NBA season. The team’s fans will be introduced to MonaVie EMV through the advertising and sale of MonaVie EMV at the Toyota Center.
MonaVie EMV Web banners will also be featured on Rockets.com, and the healthy energy drink will have a presence at several community events.
“MonaVie distributors will join Houston Rockets fans to cheer on the team and boost energy levels in the arena with MonaVie EMV,” says MonaVie Founder, Chairman and CEO Dallin A. Larsen. “Thousands will experience the MonaVie edge firsthand and rally with brand ambassadors at the Rockets Run, the Blacktop Battle and Road Jam Events.”
MonaVie develops and markets scientifically formulated premium-quality nutritional products, specifically for person-to-person distribution.
The products are sold in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
Green Bridge Industries Inc. announced that Wowgreen International LLC has signed a binding letter of intent with Green Bridge Industries to acquire majority control of the company for an undisclosed amount, which is to be paid in a combination of cash and stock over time. As part of the definitive agreement, Allie T. Mallad will become the sole director and chief executive officer of Green Bridge Industries Inc. William White will remain with the company as the Vice President of the Green Bridge Institute, which is also owned by Green Bridge Industries Inc.
“I am thrilled with the acquisition of Green Bridge Industries Inc., which, I believe, will enhance our commitment and message of ‘freeing the world of toxic chemicals one household at a time’, ” said Mallad, Chairman and CEO of Wowgreen International.
Wowgreen International LLC is the provider of safe, green household cleaners that are sold and distributed to consumers through a channel of independent distributors. The company’s mission is to free the world of toxic chemicals, one household at a time.
