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$100 Million Club Companies by Country |
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| United States | 44 |
| Japan | 14 |
| Germany | 3 |
| Peru | 2 |
| Brazil | 1 |
| China | 1 |
| Mexico | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 1 |
As a follow-up to our February cover story, “The Billion Dollar Club,” we decided to write a more comprehensive story about industry companies around the world with global wholesale corporate revenue of $100 million or more.
Welcome to the $100 Million Club, our effort to chronicle the global direct selling companies that have reached the $100 million mark. To our knowledge, this is the first list of its kind—an attempt to record the power of the direct selling industry by the numbers.
We compiled our list using sources such as Hoover’s Company Records and Dun & Bradstreet, SGA Executive Tracker Companies, Standard & Poor’s Descriptions Plus News, Company Briefs–Gale Group, Global Duns Market Identifiers, Market Guide Company Profiles, America’s Corporate Finance Directory and Directory of Corporate Affiliations, the companies’ own Web sites, the Direct Selling Association, the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations and other sources.
We then made every effort to contact each of the following 68 companies, so we could confirm that the information gathered was accurate. You will see an asterisk next to companies that did not verify the accuracy of the information we gathered. If you would like to update or correct your listing, please send an e-mail to .
We will be the first to admit that this list is not complete. We did the best we could, and it is our sincere attempt to journal the might of the direct selling industry. What we discovered is that—despite the economy—direct selling companies are a force to be reckoned with. “Almost miraculously, our organization has continued to grow,” says Joe Urso, Aerus Chairman and CEO. “Selling high-end products is not easy, especially in a down economy. Our team has continued to grow by inspiring others to pursue the opportunity for a better life that we offer.”
Aerus is not the only company that continued to prosper in 2008, despite the recession. USANA recorded its sixth consecutive year of record sales, The Pampered Chef saw a 5 percent increase in recruiting and Tastefully Simple’s sales rose 5 percent.
In fact, a number of the companies on our list are seeing continued success in the face of economic adversity. And many direct selling executives tell us they believe the industry will emerge from the recession bigger, faster and stronger. “Like everyone, we closely monitored the economic situation last year,” said Mary Kay President and Chief Executive Officer David Holl. “We had a solid year in 2008, and are optimistic about 2009. Of course, we don’t take anything for granted. As a company we realize that we must stay focused on providing quality products that end consumers want and a solid business opportunity for women. Now, more than ever, the Mary Kay opportunity is helping women sustain their families during this challenging economy.”
And many direct selling executives tell us they believe the industry will emerge from the recession bigger, faster and stronger. “Over the course of the next few years,” says USANA President Fred Cooper, “we anticipate USANA—and the network marketing industry in general—to continue to show patterns of growth.”
Click here to view a sample of our $100 Million Club reprint.
Avon is the world’s leading direct seller of beauty and related products. Avon product lines include such recognizable brand names as Avon Color, Anew, Skin So Soft, Advance Techniques Hair Care and Avon Wellness.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $10.7 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Single level and Multi-level
Products: Beauty products, fashion jewelry and apparel
Markets: More than 100
Distributors: 5.8 million
Employees: 42,000
Headquarters: New York City, N.Y.
Year Founded: 1886
Stock Symbol: AVP—NYSE
Amway’s well-known brands—including Artistry cosmetics and skincare products, and Nutrilite nutritional products—lead an extensive product line that independent business owners offer through an e-commerce portal.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $8.2 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Health/fitness/wellness, home technology, home care, nutritional supplements and personal care
Markets: 80
Distributors: 3 million
Employees: 14,000
Headquarters: Ada, Mich.
Year Founded: 1959
Since 1930, family-owned Vorwerk’s core business has focused on the direct selling channel. Products include household appliances as well as high-quality cosmetics. Vorwerk & Co. KG is a global group that includes JAFRA Cosmetics, who reported sales volume of $602 million in 2008.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $3.4 billion
Marketing Style: Party plan and person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Cosmetics and home appliances
Markets: 61
Distributors: 530,000
Employees: 23,000
Headquarters: Wuppertal, Germany
Year Founded: 1883
Mary Kay Inc. is one of the largest direct sellers of skincare products and color cosmetics in the world. Iconic Mary Kay Ash came out of retirement to create a company that offers financial independence, advancement and personal fulfillment to women.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.6 billion
Marketing Style: Party plan and person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level and single level
Products: Skincare products and color cosmetics
Markets: More than 35
Distributors: 2 million
Employees: 5,000
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Year Founded: 1963
Herbalife sells nutritional supplements and weight-management and personal-care products. Its extensive product line is developed by a team of scientists, physicians and nutrition experts, including Nobel Laureate in Medicine Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.4 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, and health/fitness, wellness, personal-care, skincare and weight-management products
Markets: 70
Distributors: 1.9 million
Employees: 3,644
Headquarters: Los Angeles, Calif.
Year Founded: 1980
Stock Symbol: HLF—NYSE
The largest financial services marketing organization in North America, Primerica provides financial products and services, including term life insurance, mutual funds, variable annuities, loans, long-term care insurance and legal services to 6 million clients.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.2 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Financial services
Markets: 5
Distributors: 100,000 (licensed)
Employees: 2,000
Headquarters: Duluth, Ga.
Year Founded: 1977
Stock Symbol: C—NYSE
Tupperware Brands Corporation is a global direct seller of storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home. Brands include Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, Swissgarde, and, of course, Tupperware.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.2 billion
Marketing Style: Party plan and person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Storage and serving products; beauty and personal-care products
Markets: 100
Distributors: 2 million
Employees: 14,000
Headquarters: Orlando, Fla.
Year Founded: 1946
Stock Symbol: TUP—NYSE
Natura has manufacturing and distribution units in São Paulo and Minas Geris in Brazil. It also has operations in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, France, Venezuela and Colombia.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.9 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person, retail
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics, personal-care products and fragrances
Markets: 8
Distributors: 700,000
Employees: 5,700
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Year Founded: 1969
Stock Symbol: NATU3.SA—SAO PAULO
Fast-growing Oriflame is already the market leader in more than half of the countries where it operates. Though it has no U.S. presence, it operates in Mexico and Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.9 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Beauty products
Markets: 61
Distributors: 2.8 million
Employees: 7,500
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Year Founded: 1967
Stock Symbol: ODI-SDB.ST—STOCKHOLM
Forever Living is the world’s largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of aloe vera. It offers a complete line of aloe vera drinks, skincare products and cosmetics, as well as a full line of nutritional supplements and products from beehives.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.7 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutrition and skincare products, cosmetics and weight-loss products
Markets: 137
Distributors: 9.3 million
Headquarters: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Year Founded: 1978
Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. is a global direct selling company operating in 48 international markets throughout the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. It sells more than 200 products under three distinct brands: Nu Skin, Pharmanex and Big Planet.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.2 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Personal-care, nutritional and technology products
Markets: 48
Distributors: More than 750,000
Employees: 1,200
Headquarters: Provo, Utah
Year Founded: 1984
Stock Symbol: NUS—NYSE
Pola is Japan’s fourth largest cosmetics company and the country’s leading direct seller. Pola sells cosmetics, skincare, personal-care and nutritional products in department stores, Pola retail stores, through mail order and door-to-door.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: 1.1 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-Person
Compensation Plan: Single-level
Products: Cosmetics and skincare products, nutritional products, fashion and jewelry
Markets: 16
Employees: 1,049
Distributors: 100,000
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1929
Melaleuca Inc. sells more than 350 products, including personal-care items, cosmetics, household cleaning supplies and vitamins to consumers through a network of sales representatives, catalogs and its Web sites.
Wolesale Corporate Revenue: $887 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Single-level
Products: Personal-care products, cosmetics, household cleaning supplies and vitamins
Markets: 18
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 2,400
Headquarters: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Year Founded: 1985
MonaVie’s nutritional beverages with corresponding gel formulations feature a blend of açai berry and other nutrient-dense fruits. The company’s philanthropic aim is to improve the lives of people living in poverty in the slums of Brazil.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $854.9 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements/functional beverages
Markets: 10 countries, plus U.S. territories
Distributors: Not available
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: South Jordan, Utah
Year Founded: 2005
With the advent of energy deregulation, customers now have greater options in choosing an energy provider. Founded in 2004, Ignite customers are provided electricity and gas by its parent company, Stream Energy.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $825 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Electricity and natural gas
Markets: Texas and Georgia (United States)
Distributors: Approximately 160,000 applications
Employees: 269
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Year Founded: 2004
L’Bel Paris is present in 14 countries with more than 500,000 independent beauty consultants and 18 specialty stores in Latin-American shopping centers.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $750 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and party plan
Compensation Plan: Single-level
Products: Cosmetics and skincare products
Markets: 14
Distributors: More than 500,000
Headquarters: Lima, Peru
Year Founded: 1949
Founded by Jorge Vegara Madrigal, Omnilife Manufactura, S.A. de C.V. is owned by ultimate parent company Grupo Omnilife, S.A. de C.V. The company has independent consultants in 21 markets in South America, North America and Asia.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $750 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, weight-management and beauty products, beverages, cosmetics and fragrances
Markets: 23
Distributors: 4.5 million
Employees: 400
Headquarters: Zapopan, Mexico
Year Founded: 1992
Acquired in 1990 by parent company Blyth Inc., Partylite began as a single line of bayberry candles. Since then, the company has expanded into home fragrances and accents. In some markets, consultants also offer Two Sisters Gourmet foods.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $650 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Candles, home accents, personal-care products and food
Markets: 12
Distributors: More than 42,000
Employees: 1,300
Headquarters: Plymouth, Mass.
Year Founded: 1973
Stock Symbol: BTH—NYSE
The Noevir Group consists of 13 companies, headed by Noevir Co. Ltd. in Japan. With five domestic—and eight international—subsidiaries, Noevir is developing a global business. The Noevir Group distributes its portfolio of brands through a variety of channels, including direct sales, retail and B2B.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $586.7 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person, retail and B2B
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics and nutritional supplements
Markets: 8
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 1,085
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1964
Products include digital phone service with video phone, local and long distance, Internet, wireless, satellite TV and home security.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $500 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Telecommunications services and products (including video phones), satellite TV and home security systems
Markets: 20
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 1,100
Headquarters: Concord, N.C.
Year Founded: 1993
Founded in 1956, Shaklee manufactures its products and distributes them through its Web site and more than 750,000 representatives in North America and Asia. The company is known for its green products and social responsibility efforts.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $500 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Air filters/air filtration systems, cosmetics, green household cleaners, nutritional supplements, water treatment systems, and personal-care, skincare and weight-management products
Markets: 7
Distributors: 750,000
Employees: 500
Headquarters: Pleasanton, Calif.
Year Founded: 1956
Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. has provided a Life Events Legal Plan for more than three decades. The company boasts more than 1.5 million members.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $464.5 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Legal consultation services
Markets: United States and four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario)
Distributors: 425,000
Employees: 813
Headquarters: Ada, Okla.
Year Founded: 1972
Stock Symbol: PPD—NYSE
Charle Corporation Ltd. is a Japan-based company, principally engaged in the wholesale of women’s undergarments. The company sells its products through distributors via home parties, specialty stores and agent stores.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $463.6 million
Marketing Style: Party plan, door-to-door sales and retail
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Lingerie and cosmetics
Markets: Japan
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 367
Headquarters: Hyogo, Japan
Year Founded: 1993
Founded in 1980, Arbonne develops and distributes Swiss-formulated skincare products. Arbonne has grown to include a full line of personal-care products. Arbonne markets its products in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $450 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Aromatherapy, cosmetics, nutritional supplements and skincare products
Markets: 4
Distributors: 1.1 million
Employees: 200
Headquarters: Irvine, Calif.
Year Founded: 1980
Tahitian Noni International makes and markets juices, skincare and hair-care products, and nutritional supplements from Tahiti’s noni fruit. In 2008 the company reached a sales milestone of more than $4 billion in cumulative sales.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $450 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, juices, and skincare and hair-care products
Markets: 30
Distributors: 500,000
Employees: 1,164
Headquarters: Provo, Utah
Year Founded: 1996
Founded by Myron Wentz, Ph.D., a pioneer in cell-culture technology, USANA Health Sciences’ products provide cell-level nutrition, fiber and antioxidant protection for bodies.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $429 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, personal-care, energy and weight-management products
Markets: 14
Distributors: 198,000
Employees: 971
Headquarters: Salt Lake City
Year Founded: 1992
Stock Symbol: USNA—NASDAQ
When Nature’s Sunshine began almost 35 years ago, it offered encapsulated herbs to customers. Today, the company’s product line includes a large selection of products.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $381.3 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, cookware, and personal-care, weight-management, aromatherapy, water-purification and cleaning products
Markets: 30
Distributors: 600,000
Employees: 1,183
Headquarters: Provo, Utah
Year Founded: 1972
Stock Symbol: NATR.OB—OTC BB
Expert Alliance is a leading mutual aid association in Japan. The company provides both road services and mutual life aid services such as MediAid, CureAid, LifeAid, etc. Expert Alliance is currently in the process of acquiring a license as a life insurance company.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $360.2 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Mutual aid services/road service
Markets: Not available
Distributors: 112,000
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1996
Many of Mannatech’s products include Ambrotose, a patented blend of monosaccharides made from natural sources that promotes cell-to-cell communication.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $332.7 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Dietary supplements, weight and fitness products, and skincare solutions
Markets: 12
Distributors: More than 500,000
Employees: 540
Headquarters: Coppell, Texas
Year Founded: 1994
Stock Symbol: MTEX—NASDAQ
Naturally Plus brands include SUPER LUTEIN and IZUMIO. Based in Tokyo, the company plans to transform Naturally Plus Japan into Naturally Plus Worldwide, with worldwide expansion as its goal.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $330 million
Marketing Style: Membership direct selling system
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements and personal-care products
Markets: 4
Distributors: 300,000
Employees: 201
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1999
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $320 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Nutritional supplements and cosmetics
Markets: Japan
Distributors: 210,000
Employees: 195
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1999
Operating as the Utility Warehouse Discount Club, Telecom Plus uses the collective power of its clients to negotiate deals with major suppliers. A customer attaches a “Smart Box” to the telephone wall socket, which reroutes calls through the cheapest supplier. Telecom Plus also offers gas and electricity services.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $301.2 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Local and long distance, Internet-phone, broadband and mobile services; also electricity and gas service
Markets: United Kingdom
Distributors: 27,000
Employees: 297
Headquarters: London, UK
Year Founded: 1998
Stock Symbol: TEP.L—LONDON
Aerus’ products are marketed through in-home demonstrations and more than 500 Aerus sales centers in North America. The company was formerly named Electrolux. Aerus is owned by investment firm Engles Urso Follmer, which acquired EcoQuest International in 2009.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $300 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Single-level hybrid and multi-level
Products: Vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, cleansers, allergy control products, nutritional supplements and electronic equipment
Markets: 28
Distributors: 5,000
Employees: 300
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Year Founded: 1924
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $290 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, cosmetics and personal-care products
Markets: Japan
Distributors: 300,000
Employees: 150
Headquarters: Gife, Japan
Year Founded: 1975
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $289 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics and personal-care products
Markets: Japan
Distributors: 500,000
Employees: 321
Headquarters: Fukuoka, Japan
Year Founded: 1994
Market America identifies market-driven products and distributes them to consumers via UnFranchise Owners. Online shoppers visit the company’s Web site to search for products from retailers, including Barnes & Noble, Gap, Nordstrom and Wal-Mart.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $282 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Personal-care, pet-care, auto-care and communications products, nutritional supplements, cosmetics and electronics
Markets: 5
Distributors: 180,000
Employees: 500
Headquarters: Greensboro, N.C.
Year Founded: 1992
In China, Tiens sells its products through some 100 branch offices and chain stores of affiliate Tianshi Engineering. Outside of China, it sells products through independent distributors in 110 countries and regions. Tiens operates through subsidiary Tianshi International and majority-owned Tiens Biotech Group USA Inc
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $275 million (based on Tiens Biotech Group USA Inc.)
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and retail compensation plans: Uni-level and breakaway
Compensation Plan: Uni-level and breakaway
Products: Wellness products and dietary supplements.
Markets: 110 countries and regions
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 2,827
Headquarters: Tianjin, China
Year Founded: 1995
Stock Symbol: TBV—AMEX
LR Health & Beauty Systems GmbH is the biggest German direct
seller in the health and beauty sectors. Its “made in Germany” products
are sold in 30 countries worldwide by a network off 300,000 independent
partners.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $274.2 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-Person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements and health and beauty products
Markets: 30
Employees: 500
Distributors: 300,000
Headquarters: Ahlen, Germany
Year Founded: 1985
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $250 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics and nutritional supplements
Markets: Japan
Distributors: 500,000
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1970
The rapid growth of Isagenix has earned the nutritional cleansing company a spot on Inc. magazine’s 2008 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Isagenix was ranked No. 1,284—up 247 spots from 2007.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $245 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional cleansing products, and skincare and weight-management products
Markets: 7 (U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan)
Distributors: 200,000
Employees: 300
Headquarters: Chandler, Ariz.
Year Founded: 2002
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $239 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Lingerie and nutritional supplements
Markets: Japan
Distributors: 160,000
Employees: 291
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1986
Nikken International sells magnetic therapeutic pillows, sleep masks, support wraps, shoe inserts, cookware, air and water filtration systems, jewelry and blankets through its global distribution network. The company was founded by Isamu Masuda in 1975 and was acquired by Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe, Nikken Chairman, in 1999.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $216 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: 3 categories: lifestyle, consisting of organic-based nutrition and skin care; environmental, consisting of air and water technology; and rest and rejuvenation, which carries various magnetic products such as insoles, jewelry and sleep systems
Markets: 36
Distributors: 247,000
Employees: 510
Headquarters: Irvine, Calif.
Year Founded: 1975
Founded by Dick Loehr in 1997, Team National (formerly known as National Companies) provides membership savings on a variety of products and services in more than 20 industries, including factory-direct pricing on home furnishings and more.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $210 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Membership package that includes group buying services and savings, home furnishings, jewelry, nutritional supplements, weight-management products, skincare and automotive-care products
Markets: United States
Distributors & Customers: More than 170,000
Employees: 42
Headquarters: Davie, Fla.
Year Founded: 1997
Stampin’ Up! markets wood-mounted rubber stamps and accessories for use in scrapbooking, making greeting cards and decorating the home. The company has been expanding internationally.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $200 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Scrapbooking accessories
Markets: 9
Distributors: More than 40,000
Employees: 483
Headquarters: Riverton, Utah
Year Founded: 1988
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $197 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Cutlery, and house and kitchen wares
Markets: 4
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 800
Headquarters: Olean, N.Y.
Year Founded: 1949
Ambit Energy is a residential energy provider in the United States. Ambit Energy currently provides residential electricity service in deregulated areas of Texas; electricity and natural gas service in New York markets; and natural gas service in Illinois.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $197 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Electricity and natural gas
Markets: Texas, New York and Illinois (United States)
Distributors: More than 50,000
Employees: 230
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Year Founded: 2006
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $180.6 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics and nutritional supplements
Markets: 5
Distributors: Not available
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Hokkaido, Japan
Year Founded: 1985
YTB is a travel company that sells travel, travel products and travel Web sites. In 2008, Travel Weekly named the top travel agencies in the United States for 2007 with YTB in the No. 26 position.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $162.5 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Travel services
Markets: 6
Distributors: 92,383
Employees: 290
Headquarters: Wood River, Ill.
Year Founded: 2001
Stock Symbol: YTBLA.OB—OTC BB
Founded in Chicago in 1955 by Arthur and Shirley LeVin, Jewels by Park Lane is the leading direct sales jewelry party plan company. Park Lane offers jewelry that is backed by an unconditional guarantee.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $150 million
Marketing Style: Party plan and person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Jewelry
Markets: Not available
Distributors: 350,000
Employees: 200
Headquarters: Schaumburg, Ill.
Year Founded: 1955
At Tastefully Simple taste-testing parties, guests sample products and receive serving suggestions, recipes and entertaining tips. Tastefully Simple offers more than 30 standard and 20 seasonal products.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $144 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Specialty food items
Markets: United States
Distributors: 28,000
Employees: 350
Headquarters: Alexandria, Minn.
Year Founded: 1995
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $140 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics and nutritional supplements
Markets: Japan
Distributors: 250,000
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1992
Rolf Sorg founded PM-International in 1993. Its guiding principle is “health, fitness and beauty, both internally and externally.”
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $133.8 million
Marketing Style: Party plan and person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, and health/fitness/wellness and skincare products
Markets: 30
Distributors: 80,000
Employees: 171
Headquarters: Luxembourg/Logistic Center Europe: Speyer, Rheinland-Pfalz
Year Founded: 1993
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $132 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Cosmetics and nutritional supplements
Markets: 3
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 294
Headquarters: Yamanashi, Japan
Year Founded: 1998
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $125 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Lingerie
Markets: Japan
Distributors: Not available
Headquarters: Nara, Japan
Year Founded: Not available
Keller Williams’ corporate office reports annual revenue of $119 million in 2007, the company’s 70,000 agents generated $3 billion in transaction commissions. The corporate office paid $40 million to its agents based on a seven-level profit-sharing plan.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $119 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person through franchises
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Real estate
Markets: United States and Canada
Distributors: 73,000 agents
Employees: 170
Headquarters: Austin, Texas
Year Founded: 1983
Founded in 2004 by Orville and Heidi Thompson, Scentsy is a rapidly growing party plan company offering a variety of scented, wickless candles heated in decorative ceramic warmers and other fragrance products.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $103 million (trailing 12 months)
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Wickless candles, ceramic warmers, fragrance products
Markets: 3
Distributors: 30,000
Employees: 292
Headquarters: Meridian, Idaho
Year Founded: 2004
4Life is the creator of Transferceutical™ Science and a world leader in the distribution of transfer factor products. Currently, the 4Life International Product Registration Department is working on 91 product registrations in 25 countries.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Dietary supplements and personal-care products
Markets: 40
Employees: 500
Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
Year Founded: 1998
Agel Enterprises LLC identified the new category of suspension-gel technology in its nutritional supplements. The company launched in 10 countries on its first day of existence.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $100 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements
Markets: 50
Distributors: Not available
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Provo, Utah
Year Founded: 2005
Creative Memories specializes in selling premium-quality, photo-safe albums, scrapbooking materials, digital photo books and photo organization software to help people celebrate memories
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Photos albums, scrapbooking materials, digital photo books, and photo organization software.
Markets: 8
Distributors: 55,000
Employees: 500
Headquarters: St. Cloud, Minn.
Year Founded: 1987
With name-brand providers such as Dish Network, Travel FHTM, The Wireless Shop featuring AT&T, Sprint and Nextel, GE, True Essentials and Lamas, it’s easy to understand FHTM’s rapid growth.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Health and beauty products, services, entertainment and communications
Markets: 3
Distributors: 85,000
Employees: 50
Headquarters: Lexington, Ky.
Year Founded: 2001
FreeLife sells food/gourmet items, nutritional supplements and oral hygiene, personal-care, skincare and weight-management products. The company is committed to promoting good health, well-being and the opportunity for an abundant life.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $100 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Food/gourmet items, nutritional supplements, and oral hygiene, personal-care, skincare and weight-management products
Markets: 26
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 120
Headquarters: Phoenix, Ariz.
Year Founded: 1995
The Longaberger Company is the No. 1 maker of handmade baskets in the United States, selling nearly 10 million a year. Baskets account for about half of the company’s sales. It also sells fabrics, pottery and wrought-iron home accessories.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million*
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Handmade baskets
Markets: United States
Distributors: 45,000
Employees: 1,500
Headquarters: Newark, Ohio
Year Founded: 1973
*Longaberger is a privately-held, family-owned company and does not disclose specific sales numbers.
Neways Inc. designs, makes and distributes approximately 300 personal-care items—including cosmetics and hair-care products, aromatherapy items, and nutritional supplements—to 29 countries worldwide.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Cosmetics, hair-care and aromatherapy products and nutritional supplements
Markets: 29
Distributors: More than 500,000
Employees: More than 1,000 globally
Headquarters: Springville, Utah
Year Founded: 1992
Pampered Chef sells more than 300 gourmet kitchen tools, cookware, cookbooks and foodstuffs. Founded in 1980, Pampered Chef was sold to Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate controlled by billionaire Warren Buffett, in 2002.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: High-quality, multifunctional tools for cooking and entertaining
Markets: 5
Distributors: 60,000
Employees: 800
Headquarters: Addison, Ill.
Year founded: 1980
Stock Symbol: BRK-A—NYSE
Still in its formative years of corporate existence, XanGo markets a mangosteen beverage to consumers worldwide. The company was recently named one of the Emerging Elite by the Utah 100, a group that honors Utah companies for growth and sustained vision.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements and skincare products
Markets: 27
Distributors: Not available
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Lehi, Utah
Year Founded: 2002
In 1982, Yanbal International was founded in Peru. The company sells cosmetics, personal-care products, fragrances and jewelry through catalogs and its beauty consultants.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: More than $100 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Single-level
Products: Personal-care products, cosmetics, jewelry and fragrances
Markets: 8
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 3,000
Headquarters: Lima, Peru
Year Founded: 1967
At a very young age, GNLD Founder Jerry Brassfield discovered the impact quality supplements could have in helping restore good health. As a boy who suffered from allergies and asthma, Jerry’s only relief came after his mother added nutritional products to his diet.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $100 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Food/gourmet items, nutritional supplements, water treatment systems, and health/fitness/wellness, home-care, personal-care, skincare and weight-management products
Markets: 50
Employees: 90
Headquarters: Freemont, Calif.
Year Founded: 1958
Southern Living At Home was founded by Dianne Mooney in 2001 and is owned by Entertaining At Home Inc.
Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $100 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Books, garden accessories and home décor
Markets: United States
Distributors: Not available
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Birmingham, Ala.
Year Founded: 2001
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* This information was not confirmed by the company itself.
