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Mary Kay Celebrates Six Decades of Women Empowerment

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Since 1963, Mary Kay’s beauty brand has been built with the purpose of transforming lives and igniting self-growth. Today, the company sees itself as “a beacon of women’s empowerment.”

“We believe every woman deserves the chance to build something of her own – on her own terms,” the company wrote in a statement. “Through direct selling, we are proud to foster a low-risk pathway to independent entrepreneurship that evolves with the needs of women and consumers at every stage of their lives.” 

Of the 6.2 million Americans actively engaged in direct selling, 73% of those direct sellers are women. At Mary Kay, 30% of the distributor sales force are under the age of 35, making it an opportunity-driver for the younger generation.

“Our community of Independent Beauty Consultants (IBCs) around the world is as diverse as the goals that fuel it,” the company wrote in a statement. “They know that with the Mary Kay opportunity they are ‘in business for themselves, but not by themselves.’ We equip them with education, mentorship and digital tools to meet customers where they are, while keeping the human touch that defines us. Our commitment to their personal and professional growth has changed the trajectory for millions of women who, in turn, have made a profound impact on their families and communities around the world.”

Zinzino Releases Preliminary January 2026 Sales Report

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Zinzino AB announced its preliminary sales results for the month of January 2026. Revenue during the month for Zinzino’s markets grew by 20%, totaling $30 million. The Faun Pharma external sales segment also experienced growth, totaling $786,000. Overall, group revenue reached $31 million.

South America, which includes Peru and Colombia, saw the strongest growth (344%). North America, which includes Canada, US and Mexico, grew by 94%. All other markets, with the exception of East Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania) saw positive growth rates.

Cambridge Nutritional Foods Launches PortionIQ

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Cambridge Nutritional Foods announced the launch of its new PortionIQ, a portion-controlled range designed for people using GLP-1 medications for weight loss. As appetite-suppression weight management medications become more commonplace, it can be difficult for GLP-1 users to meet their nutrition needs. With PortionIQ, Cambridge hopes to bridge that nutritional gap by offering shakes, soups, bites and electrolyte drinks formulated with balanced protein, fiber and vitamins and minerals.

These convenient, balanced, pre-portioned servings make on-the-go nutrition feasible, even for people whose appetite has been reduced.

PortionIQ products include Vegetable Soup with Croutons, Mixed Berry Shake, Very Berry Bites and St. Clements Electrolytes, products designed to nourish the body and support energy, metabolism, immune function and cognitive wellbeing.

“Cambridge Nutritional Foods has more than four decades of experience turning nutritional science into practical solutions that support people throughout their weight management journey,” said Mark Gilbert, PortionIQ Nutritionist. “PortionIQ provides a straightforward, controlled approach to meeting protein, fiber and vitamin requirements. With an ‘every bite counts’ philosophy, precision portioning and science-led balance, every shake, soup or snack delivers maximum nourishment and satiety in every calorie in minimal volume, supporting sustained energy, appetite control and confident daily progress. When appetite changes, people shouldn’t have to worry about whether they’re getting the right nutrition – and that’s exactly the problem this range is designed to solve.”

Coway Reports Q4 and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

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Coway Co., Ltd. announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025. Fourth quarter revenue reached $871 million, a 13% increase year-over-year. Operating profit during the quarter was down one percent year-over-year to $124 million.

Full year 2025 revenue was $3.3 billion, a 15.2% year-over-year increase. Operating profit was up 10.5% year-over-year to $600 million.

Coway’s domestic business reported an annual revenue of $1.9 billion in 2025, representing an 11% year-over-year increase. The company stated that this performance was bolstered by strong sales in the ice water purifier category, as well as the BEREX lineup of beds and massage chairs. Annual rental gross adds increased 7.7% year-over-year.

Coway’s overseas subsidiaries contributed $1.2 billion in annual revenue in 2025. The company’s Malaysian subsidiary added $963 million in revenue, a 21.7% year-over-year increase. The company’s subsidiary in the US saw a 10.5% year-over-year increase in annual revenue, totaling $161 million.

Coway’s Thailand and Indonesia subsidiaries saw rapid growth with year-over-year revenue increases of 38.8% and 67.5% respectively.

Mary Kay Ash Foundation Grant Supports Revolutionary Breast Cancer Research

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Mary Kay Inc., through its Mary Kay Ash Foundation, is supporting a groundbreaking initiative that aims to revolutionize early detection and intervention strategies for breast cancer. The foundation’s generous grant is funding the TRIM-EBC Trial (Tirzepatide weight loss in patients with MRD and Early Breast Cancer) in alignment with Baylor Scott & White Health and the Texas Cancer Interception Institute (TCII). Led by Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, the study investigates whether weight loss through tirzepatide could reduce breast cancer occurrence by lowering or eliminating circulating tumor DNA.

Dr. O’Shaughnessy

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation’s donations to these efforts are part of its long-term commitment to advance the critical work of reducing the risk of breast cancer and finding cures for cancers affecting women, and reflects its dedication to shaping the future of cancer interception and prevention strategies.  

Dr. O’Shaughnessy is a key player in the TRIM-EBC Trial and was honored as one of the nation’s leading breast oncologists at the 2025 Celebrating Women Luncheon, where the Mary Kay Ash Foundation was also honored with the prestigious Circle of Care Award.

“When I started more than 35 years ago, there were no senior women faculty at my institution – none,” Dr. O’Shaughnessy said. “The opportunities just weren’t there. That has changed dramatically. Once women began moving into leadership roles and succeeding, it created a snowball effect. Seeing women in those positions makes others realize it’s possible. That visibility is critical – not just for women in general, but also for minority women. You need to see someone like yourself doing the job to believe you can do it too.”

Partner.Co Launches Wellness Academy

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Partner.Co announced the launch of its new Wellness Academy, a one-year intensive program that covers product science, compliance and regulatory best practices and effective communication strategies. Designed for Brand Partners, who will be known as Fellows within the program, the Academy will be led by members of the Scientific Advisory Board. Fellows will learn from these experts as they complete structured, hands-on training and graduate as Alumni who will be empowered to educate Brand Partners within their markets and beyond.

Scientific Advisory Board members participating in the Academy will teach within their specialties and Fellows will regularly attend classes to enhance their knowledge across a range of topics. Upon graduation, Alumni will be invited to speak at Partner.Co events, participate in a graduation ceremony on stage at PXP | The Partner.Co Experience and receive an official Wellness Academy jacket and patch.

This year’s Fellows have already been selected, but applications will open annually to be vetted by a team of Partner.Co executives and Scientific Advisory Board members.

“Successful candidates are already established in their respective fields and may include medical doctors, registered nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, physical therapists and high-performance or professional athletes,” the company wrote in a statement. “By inviting future Fellows from different disciplines, we aim to build a diverse and dynamic learning community dedicated to elevating wellness, performance and holistic health worldwide.”

Natural Health Trends Reports 2025 Financial Results

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Natural Health Trends Corp. announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025. Revenue during the fourth quarter grew by 3% sequentially to $9.7 million, but declined 10% year-over-year. Fourth quarter operating loss was $635,000 with a net loss of $588,000. Active Member numbers were 26,650, compared to 30,870 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Full year 2025 revenue was $39.8 million, down 7% year-over-year, with an operating loss of $1.8 million. Full year 2025 net loss was $882,000, or $0.08 per diluted share.

“In the fourth quarter we managed to achieve a 3% sequential increase in revenue despite the difficult macroeconomic environment and continued pressure on consumer sentiment,” said Chris Sharng, Natural Health Trends Corp. President. “We have substantially completed the major restructuring initiatives announced last quarter and expect to realize most of the associated $1.5 million annualized cost savings in the coming year. We also relocated about 40% of our total product sourcing base from America to East Asia, much closer to our main markets, to reduce tariff uncertainty and streamline logistics. Looking ahead, 2026 marks our 25th anniversary, a significant milestone for the company. We have prepared an exciting program, including a big celebration in Hong Kong where we anticipate 1,500 attendees from around the world, signature products and incentives to leverage these moments effectively, and we are focused on making this anniversary a catalyst for renewed momentum.”

The company ended the year with cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $28.9 million.

LifeVantage Reports Fiscal Q2 2025 Financial Results

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LifeVantage Corporation announced its financial results for the second fiscal quarter, ending December 31, 2025. Revenue during this period was $48.9 million, up 2.9% sequentially, but down 27.8% year-over-year. Revenue in the Americas fells by 32.6% while revenue in Asia/Pacific and Europe saw relative stability with a 2.1% decline.

The company attributed revenue challenges primarily to declines in sales of the MindBody GLP-1 System, but stated that its acquisition of LoveBiome and the LoveBiome product line helped offset this decline. Gross profit during the period was $36.2 million, or 74% of revenue, down from $54.6 million and 80.5% of revenue in the prior year’s period.

Adjusted EBITDA was $3.9 million, compared to $6.5 million in the prior year’s period, while operating income was $0.5 million, compared to $3.4 million last year.

“The second quarter reflected challenging competitive dynamics in the weight loss market as we cycled the launch of our MindBody GLP-1 System in October 2024,” said Steve Fife, LifeVantage President and CEO. “We acknowledge that our performance during the quarter did not meet your expectations or ours and we are redoubling our efforts to stabilize our GLP-1 business and make the other changes necessary to return to revenue growth. While the growth trajectory of MindBody may have changed, we remain committed to this proven, scientifically validated natural weight loss solution. We continue to be very well positioned across the broader health and wellness ecosystem and are particularly excited about the momentum we are seeing in LoveBiome, including several new products launching over the next couple quarters that will expand the portfolio into adjacent, high-growth categories. This summer and beyond, LifeVantage also plans to expand into new international markets, another key element of our overall growth strategy. With a strong balance and proven track record of returning capital to shareholders, we remain steadfast in our commitment to driving long-term shareholder value.”

The company ended the period with cash and cash equivalents of $10.2 million, down from $20.2 million in the previous quarter, with no outstanding debt.

Latin America’s Moment

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Why the next era of direct selling growth will be built on community, trust and omnichannel leadership.

You can also listen to the Direct Selling University presentation that inspired this article! Listen now or read below!

Latin America is no longer an “emerging opportunity.” It is an accelerating one.

For years, global conversations about growth in direct selling have focused on North America and Asia. Those regions still matter deeply. But today, a third powerhouse is coming into focus—one defined not just by population size, but by culture, connectivity and an extraordinary hunger for opportunity.

That region is Latin America.

To understand why, we need to stop looking at markets in isolation and start looking at communities—how they trust, how they connect and how they build economic momentum together.

A Region Built on Community

Latin America is home to more than 662 million people, united not only by geography but by shared language, cultural values and a deep sense of community. Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world, and Portuguese closely follows through Brazil. These are not fragmented micro-markets—they are interconnected ecosystems.

What defines Latin America most clearly is not just scale, but cohesion. Families are multigenerational. Households are communal. Entrepreneurship is often shared across relatives, neighbors and friends. Trust flows through people—not platforms.

And that matters enormously in direct selling.

Why Community Leaders Matter More Than Products

Across every successful direct selling market I’ve studied—globally and over decades—the same pattern emerges.

Growth is not driven by:

  • The best compensation plan
  • The most advanced product formulation
  • The most sophisticated training materials

Growth is driven by community leaders. The people who already hold trust. The mentors who translate opportunity into belief. The connectors who help others see a path forward.

This is especially true in Latin America, where trust in institutions—and historically, in digital commerce—has been fragile. For many years, people were skeptical of online systems, payments and promises. That changed rapidly during the pandemic, when digital adoption accelerated by necessity.

Today, Latin America is moving fast—but it is still one step behind Asia. And that is precisely why the opportunity is so powerful.

Learning from Asia’s Blueprint

Asia-Pacific currently represents approximately 42 percent of global direct selling market share, with nearly $68 billion in annual retail sales. This dominance didn’t happen by accident. Asia succeeded because it mastered three critical elements:

  1. Cultural community cohesion
  2. Deep trust in leadership and hierarchy
  3. Hybrid models that blend personal relationships with digital scale

In Asia, digital tools are not replacements for connection—they are vehicles for it. Influencer-driven commerce, livestream selling, mobile-first engagement and social platforms work because they are anchored by trusted leaders within the community.

When I first experienced this model in Asia, it fundamentally changed how I understood direct selling. What I saw wasn’t technology leading people—it was people leading technology. That same blueprint is now available to Latin America.

The Omnichannel Imperative

Latin America is not choosing between digital and in-person. It is embracing both. The future belongs to fully omnichannel leaders—those who can build relationships face-to-face while simultaneously engaging audiences through mobile, livestreaming and social commerce.

In Asia, top leaders regularly conduct ten or more meetings at once through mobile devices—replicating the intimacy of in-person connection at digital scale. Each screen represents a real conversation, a real relationship, a real business being built.

This is not about becoming “more digital.” It’s about becoming more accessible.

Influencers as the New Channels of Trust

In Latin America, influencers are not a trend. They are the new trust infrastructure. Younger generations spend three to four hours a day on their phones. They learn, evaluate and decide based on people they feel they know—not corporations they don’t. This presents both a challenge and a responsibility.

Without strong mentors, young people are vulnerable to misinformation, distraction and unsustainable income models. But when influencer-driven commerce is anchored in real leadership, education and community, it becomes a powerful engine for economic mobility. What matters is authenticity.

The most effective influencers in Latin America are not celebrities or models. They are ordinary people with credibility, consistency and lived experience. People others can relate to. People others trust.

That trust converts into action.

The Untapped Scale of the Opportunity

Despite its size and cultural strength, Latin America’s direct selling penetration remains relatively low.

The region currently represents roughly $22 billion in annual direct selling sales—far behind Asia and North America. Countries like Mexico and Brazil, despite being massive economies, remain underpenetrated. Even within the United States, the Latino population—nearly 19 percent of the total population—is significantly underserved by the channel.

By 2031, one in five US workers will be Latino. This is not a future demographic. It is the present workforce.

And there is a powerful bridge connecting these markets: remittances. Latin Americans working abroad send more than $155 billion annually back to their home countries—more than foreign direct investment in many regions. But money alone does not create sustainability. Opportunity does.

What if, instead of sending only money, people sent business ownership? What if cross-border sponsorship, shared language and digital tools allowed families to build income together?

Many companies are already proving this works.

Digital Infrastructure Is Catching Up—Fast

Historically, barriers such as unbanked populations and limited payment systems slowed digital commerce in Latin America. Those barriers are falling rapidly. Mobile wallets are expanding. Regional ecommerce platforms are scaling. Social commerce adoption is accelerating.

Mexico is now one of the fastest-growing ecommerce markets globally, and digital penetration across Latin America is projected to grow sharply through 2026 and beyond.

What Companies Must Do Differently

Latin America cannot be treated as an extension of the US model. That approach fails. To unlock Asia-level growth, companies must:

  • Think regionally, not country by country
  • Invest meaningfully, not incrementally
  • Empower connectors who can bridge multiple markets
  • Unify branding and messaging across borders
  • Equip leaders digitally with real tools and training
  • Leverage the US Latino diaspora as a commercial bridge

Growth does not come from “crumbs.” It comes from commitment.

Why This Moment Matters

Latin America has everything required to become the next global growth engine for direct selling:

  • A young, entrepreneurial population
  • Strong family and community structures
  • Shared language and culture
  • Rapid digital adoption
  • A deep need for mentorship and opportunity

What it needs now is leadership willing to invest. This is not about short-term margin optimization. It’s about top-line growth. It’s about legacy. It’s about believing in people.

A Call to Action

Latin America is rising. Asia dominates today—but history shows that growth follows those who recognize momentum early and act decisively. The question for leaders is simple: Will you treat Latin America as a side market—or as the future powerhouse it is becoming?

The people are ready. The culture is aligned. The opportunity is open.

Now it’s time to lead.

Check out this week’s bonus episode of the Direct Approach podcast to hear more from Sol Flint about unlocking the next growth engine.

Available on your favorite platform! Apple, Spotify, Audible, YouTube

SOL FLINT | General Director of Latin America for Nature’s Sunshine, is a global direct selling executive with extensive leadership experience across Latin America, Asia and North America. She is known for building community-driven growth strategies and advancing omnichannel models that integrate trust, culture and digital innovation.

An Online Exclusive from Direct Selling News magazine.

Exigo Launches New Website and Exigo AI Beta

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Enterprise platform Exigo announced the launch of its newly redesigned website and beta release of Exigo AI. The website was designed to reflect the company’s evolution as both a platform and a company, with greater emphasis on clarity, product depth and an updated experience that helps prospective and existing customers support large, complex organizations and operations across markets and channels.

The addition of Exigo AI is expected to help organizations identify trends and answer questions without the delay of manual analysis. The company emphasized that Exigo AI is not positioned as a standalone product or generic AI layer, but rather an embedded functionality of the Exigo platform and “grounded in the operational realities of how direct selling organizations function today.”

“Most direct selling organizations are sitting on years of valuable data, but accessing it in a meaningful way is still too difficult,” said Tyler Mortensen, Exigo Chief Revenue Officer. “Exigo AI is about lowering that barrier. It helps teams get answers faster so they can spend more time acting on what matters, especially in an environment where growth is harder to come by.”

The 8 Small Business Trends Shaping 2026

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Summarized from Upwork

Launching or scaling a small business in 2026 will mean understanding key trends and how to align your organization with these shifts. Upwork, an online marketplace for hiring skilled freelancers, dug into the top trends shaping the small business landscape in 2026 and how adapting your strategy to match could empower you to make more confident decisions, prioritize investments and structure your business for long-term resilience.

1. AI Adoption and Automation

AI adoption is up. As of 2025, almost 60% of US small businesses used AI tools in their operations – more than double the rate in 2023. Automated workflows are making routine tasks like invoicing, scheduling and data entry hands-free so that teams can focus on person-to-person tasks rather than administrative tedium. Marketing and content creation is receiving an AI boost as well. More than a quarter (28%) of small businesses already use AI for marketing and social media as tools like ChatGPT and Jasper generate branded messaging and content marketing assets at scale.

2. E-Commerce and Omnichannel Growth

In the third quarter of 2025, online sales accounted for 16.4% of total US retail sales. Increasingly, small businesses are shifting away from brick-and-mortar establishments to e-commerce. These digital storefronts have lent to an ability for omnichannel experiences as target audiences can shop wherever they spend the most time – whether that be social commerce platforms like TikTok or Instagram, or a blend of physical and digital touchpoints. Mobile shopping has improved personalization strategies and AI-powered recommendations along with tailored product suggestions are helping small businesses deliver a more relevant shopping experience that can drive loyalty while repeating sales.

3. Hyperpersonalized Customer Experience

 With this data-driven personalization comes advanced segmentation. Businesses can reflect on behavior, preferences and purchase history to create more precise marketing campaigns that convert better and strengthen shopper relationships. These relationships are always “on” with automated chatbots that can handle support queries instantly and provide tailored product recommendations.

4. Cybersecurity Crackdown

With all of that data mining has come a heightened need for cybersecurity. As small businesses move to digital and expand online, so too do the threats to sensitive customer and financial data. Breaches can cause lasting damage to customers and to brand reputations, so small businesses are increasingly taking more proactive approaches to proactively prevent these risks and strengthen defenses.

5. Social Media Marketing

Social media continues to be a key driver for sales and engagement, but these marketing assets have expanded to include short-form videos and collaborations with microinfluencers who can bring their loyal followings and community-based trust to the product. AI generative tools can now brainstorm new content and automate post scheduling, making marketing planning even simpler.

6. Celebrating Sustainability

Eco-conscious consumers are reshaping markets and small businesses are responding with sustainability initiatives. Integrating sustainability into your business strategy is now non-negotiable, and there are a number of approaches to consider, including circular business models, eco-friendly supply chains and eco-friendly product adoption. Beyond environmental benefits, sustainability has become a true market differentiator.

7. Flexible Work Models

Remote and hybrid work have become an attractive carrot for workers who are weary of the return-to-office mandates from large corporations. A study from Forbes reported that 61% of employees report being more productive when working from home, leading to higher profitability, lower turnover and reduced operational costs. What’s more, this model allows companies to address skill gaps through hiring freelancers from around the globe.

8. Recurring Revenue Models

Subscription models for products and services help businesses maintain steady cash flow and reduce vulnerability during marketing fluctuations, while increased automation makes this subscription management process less taxing. With predictability, companies can conduct clearer forecasting and reduce seasonality, allowing them to allocate resources for growth and streamline financial operations.

Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition Hosts Kickoff Event at Florida Capitol

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The Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition held its inaugural kickoff event at the Florida Capitol, gathering business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry advocates to advance its mission to “protect and strengthen the direct selling channel in Florida.”

The two-day event highlighted the substantial economic and entrepreneurial impact of direct selling across the state. Coalition members engaged in discussions with state lawmakers focused on fair regulation, consumer protections and policies that preserve opportunity while strengthening trust within the channel.

The Coalition stated that from 2018 through 2024, direct selling generated $15.47 billion in cumulative sales in Florida, supported by an average of more than one million independent distributors selling products and services statewide, and contributes an annual economic impact in excess of $6.4 billion. These numbers, the Coalition stated, highlight the channel’s importance to Florida’s workforce, small-business ecosystem and consumer marketplace.

As part of the kickoff event, Coalition leadership participated in private meetings with senior members of Florida’s executive leadership, reinforcing the Coalition’s commitment to direct, constructive engagement on issues impacting direct sellers and consumers.

Legislators and VIPs who participated in the event included:

  • James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General
  • Jay Collins, Florida Lieutenant Governor
  • Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Chief Financial Officer
  • Sam Garrison, Speaker of the House Designate (2026–2028)
  • Mike Redondo, Speaker of the House Designate (2030–2032)
  • Rep. Fiona McFarland, Chair, Information Technology and Budget & Policy Subcommittee (Sarasota)
  • Rep. Danny Alvarez, Chair, Criminal Justice Subcommittee (Hillsborough)
  • Rep. Will Robinson, Chair, State Affairs Committee (Manatee)
  • Rep. Traci Koster, Chair, Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (Hillsborough)
  • Rep. JJ Grow (Citrus County)
  • Frank Walker, Executive Vice President of Government & Political Relations
  • Brett Doster, Political Consultant, Frontline Agency

The kickoff event was made possible through the support of the following organizations:

Amway, Bravenly Global, 47 Inc, Monat, PM International, Direct Selling News, Direct Selling Association, ANMP, Shapetech Solutions, AICE, PayQuicker, OTB Tax, and By Design.

“Their participation and support reflect a shared commitment to ethical business practices, consumer protection and empowering independent entrepreneurs,” the Coalition stated.

“This kickoff event represents the beginning of a sustained, collaborative effort to ensure Florida remains a strong and fair environment for direct sellers and the consumers they serve,” said Gordon Hester, Founder and Manager of the Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition. “With over one million Floridians participating in direct selling and billions in economic impact each year, our focus is on practical, forward-thinking solutions that protect opportunity while strengthening accountability across the industry.”

“Great direct selling companies have positively impacted Florida’s residents for decades.  Through this new coalition we can now be an example of how to help educate company owners, its members and the state legislature of the why and the how to protect this Free Enterprise model for the entire country,” stated Ryan Chamberlin, State Representative and Co-Founder of Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition.

The Florida Direct Sellers & Consumers Coalition plans to continue its work by engaging policymakers, educating stakeholders and advocating for responsible legislation that supports innovation, entrepreneurship and consumer confidence.

“What’s happening with the Florida coalition shows how effective advocacy becomes when strong state coalitions are connected to DSA’s national strategy. With leaders like Gordon Hester engaged locally, the channel is moving from reacting to proposals to helping shape how lawmakers understand the model as decisions are being made,” said Dave Grimaldi, CEO, Direct Selling Association.