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Avon Introduces New Brand, Distillery

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Avon Products, Inc. announced the launch of Distillery, a new skincare and make-up brand that celebrates clean beauty without compromise.

According to Avon, the new collection offers huge potential for driving the company’s brand rejuvenation and growth. It’s backed by an innovative Instagram virtual distillery to create an engaging journey to purchase, opening up access to Avon where interested consumers are already engaging with beauty conversations, browsing and shopping.

“Compelling concepts like clean beauty without compromise not only keep Avon relevant and on-trend in the fast-moving, modern beauty space, but help make our Representatives a destination,” said Avon’s Chief Beauty and Brand Officer James Thompson. “They’re offering something consumers can’t get anywhere else: the choice to select the products that suit their beauty preferences with personal service and accessible prices.”

The nine super-concentrated products—five skincare and four make-up—are distilled to their essence with the highest levels of actives and no unnecessary fillers. Each one combines high-performance, vegan-friendly ingredients with environmentally conscious packaging.

“Avon has always been committed to delivering high-performing products while also considering our impact on the planet,” said Louise Scott, Avon’s chief scientific officer. “With Distillery we’re taking another step on that journey by leveraging our cutting-edge science and top-quality ingredients to create a collection that is both pure and potent but also eco-conscious.”

The collection launches with the five skincare products first. The make-up range will follow in early 2020.

Herbalife Partners with Tencent, China’s Largest Internet Technology Company

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Herbalife Nutrition announced a partnership with Tencent, China’s leading internet and technology company.

According to Herbalife, the partnership will help independent distributors more effectively sell products online. Herbalife Nutrition China will efficiently link its online and offline offerings with a focus on consumer needs and driving business development forward.

The three-year plan to improve the company’s digital capabilities will deliver a personalized online store for service providers and sales representatives on a comprehensive social customer relationship management platform. Tencent will be fully responsible for the technical development, including system research, requirements analysis, solution design, system design and program development. The partnership gives Herbalife Nutrition access to Tencent’s technologies, its social ecosystem, as well as its expertise in supporting digital transformations of companies in various industries, to help boost Herbalife Nutrition’s business growth in China.

“Our partnership with Tencent will significantly upgrade our technological capabilities, empowering us to improve our operational efficiency and further expand our competitive advantage,” – Woody Guo, Managing Director of Herbalife Nutrition China

The enhancements to the company’s digital platforms will become a key strategy for Herbalife Nutrition’s business development in China, allowing customers to use Tencent’s social media ecosystem and technology to enjoy a better service with more touch points to the products and improved online and offline channels. Meanwhile, the service providers and sales representatives will be able to obtain higher rates of customer insight and access to more data.

“I am very happy that Tencent will establish a partnership with Herbalife Nutrition, a world-leading nutrition company,” said John Dao, vice president of Tencent Cloud. “With the implementation of an ‘Industrial internet strategy’ and the development of the digital economy, Tencent is committed to partnering with various industries in their digitalization efforts and becoming the driving force behind China’s digitalization.”

MONAT Global Launches Skincare Line; Expands into Ireland, Poland

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MONAT Global Corp recently announced it has expanded its naturally based anti-aging products beyond haircare with the introduction of MONAT Skincare.

Co-founder and CEO Ray Urdaneta announced the company’s evolution into skincare at the company’s annual conference on Sept. 14.

“Natural anti-aging innovation is the core of who we are as a company,” said Urdaneta. “We are always looking ahead and asking, ‘What’s next?’ As we’ve optimized our haircare products to wild success, we’ve known for some time that we wanted to bring what we’ve learned about anti-aging beyond haircare.”

MONAT will launch into the skincare market with eight products: Be Balanced™ Foamy Cleanser, Be Balanced™ Lightweight Moisturizer, Be Gentle™ Creamy Cleanser, Be Gentle™ Nourishing Moisturizer, Berry Refined Scrub™, Eye Smooth™ Nourishing Eye Cream, Rewind™ Age Control Nectar and Skin Revitalizing Essence™.

The company also announced its European expansion into Ireland and Poland this fall. The company had a successful launch in the U.K. in 2018.

“MONAT has seen explosive growth in the United States since 2014 and continued that success with our U.K. launch last year,” said Stuart MacMillan, president of MONAT Global. “Now we are ready to bring our products and business opportunity to entirely new audiences in Ireland and Poland.”

Shaklee Welcomes Two Modern Pentathlon Athletes to Pure Performance Team

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Shaklee Corporation recently announced the induction of Samantha Achterberg and Charles Fernandez to the Shaklee Pure Performance Team.

The Pure Performance Team consists of Shaklee’s more than 80 sponsored athletes. Achterberg and Fernandez are Modern Pentathletes and have qualified for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.

Achterberg won an individual silver medal at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, in July. It was her most noteworthy athletic achievement in her nine-year career in the Modern Pentathlon, which includes Fencing, swimming, equestrian, shooting and running. She also paired with USA teammate Jessica Davis to grab the gold medal in the Women’s Relay event.

“I know that there is still work to be done, but ‘m looking forward to this season to gain the experience needed on my path to Tokyo,” said Achterberg. “These medals mean so much to me for so many reasons—the obstacles and the amazing people that have helped me—and I am forever grateful. I’m also grateful for Shaklee’s support. Knowing the supplements and products I use are safe and effective is a huge relief for an elite-level athlete.”

Fernandez, who competes for Guatemala, is fresh off his second consecutive gold-medal performance in the Pan Am Games, having also topped the podium in 2015 when the Games were hosted in Toronto. In addition, he competed in the 2016 Summer games in Rio de Janeiro where he placed 15th and expects to be a strong contender for a medal in Tokyo. A dual citizen with the USA, he intends to train in Colorado Springs at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center with several other Shaklee Pure Performance Team athletes.

“I’m excited to join the Shaklee Pure Performance Team because Shaklee genuinely cares about their athletes, treating everyone like family and caring for them in the most professional way possible,” said Fernandez. “I believe Shaklee can help me achieve my goals going into 2020 and beyond.”

Herbalife Donates $1.5 Million to Beijing Sport University Education Foundation

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Herbalife Nutrition recently announced a donation of $1.5 million from the China Growth and Impact Investment Program to the Beijing Sport University Education Foundation.

The donation will help to further nutrition research and assist in the development of winter sports in China.

The Herbalife Winter Sports Development Program is a key component of the company’s commitment to supporting “Healthy China 2030,” a government initiative focused on the health of Chinese citizens, and aligns with the country’s goal of popularizing winter sports ahead of hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

“Working closely with Beijing Sport University to develop their winter sports program aligns with our corporate vision of supporting healthy, active lifestyles around the globe,” said Dr. John Agwunobi, co-president and chief health and nutrition officer of Herbalife Nutrition. “We hope through our close collaboration we can further the Healthy China 2030 campaign and the further development of winter sports in the country.”

By providing access to equipment and training, the program aligns with Chinese government’s priorities on striving for better performance in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

“Winter sports are rising in popularity in China, particularly among youth and college athletes, and we’re eager to increase our participation and visibility at the international level,” said Mr. Cao Weidong, CPC Committee secretary and president of Beijing Sport University. “Herbalife Nutrition’s support enables us to leverage their expertise in nutrition and sports performance to strengthen our talent and capabilities in this arena.”

Herbalife Nutrition was also designated as the “China Ice Hockey Nutrition Guidance Unit” by the Chinese Ice Hockey Association due to the company’s expertise in nutrition. Part of the donation will support the establishment of the Herbalife Winter Sports Nutrition Research Center at the university, with a focus on furthering the development of key winter sports such as ice hockey, figure skating and curling. Program funds will also be used to develop a training curriculum, hire professional coaches and donate sports gear and synthetic portable ice rinks, benefiting approximately 80 schools and 18,000 teenagers in China. The company will also tailor and customize sports nutrition programs for student athletes to improve overall sports performance and endurance, as well as support the national team as they prepare to compete in the Winter Olympics.

Plexus Sponsors New K9 Member of Salt River Police Department

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Plexus Worldwide recently sponsored a new police dog known as “Plex” to join the Salt River Police Department’s K9 Unit.

With its global headquarters and more than 400 employees located at the Pima Center, the company is within the jurisdiction of the Salt River Police Department (SRPD), which reported its resources had been stretched thin.

“It is extremely important to us as a company to support those who keep our community safe,” said Tarl Robinson, founder and CEO of Plexus. “When we heard about the SRPD’s strained resources, we asked what we could do to help. We are proud of the opportunity to be able to support the SRPD’s K9 Unit.”

The new police dog, which has been named Plex in honor of Plexus’ support, joined the SRPD K9 Unit in late 2018 and underwent months of extensive training. Plex, a Belgian Malinois, is trained in obedience, tracking suspects and defending officers as well as narcotics detection. Plex has now accompanied officers on a number of patrols and has played an integral role in some recent drug arrests as well as deterring unsafe behavior at public events.

“A K9 Unit is extremely important to a police department because the K9s are able to help keep officers safe by detecting illegal substances, identifying bombs and keeping dangerous individuals at bay,” said Sergeant Jared Leonard, who leads the SRPD K9 Unit. “We are grateful to Plexus for helping us to expand our police department’s resources. It is wonderful to have great community partners like Plexus to collaborate with on keeping our community safe and secure.”

Herbalife’s Chief Health and Nutrition Officer Attends 12th U.S.–China CEO Dialogue

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Herbalife Nutrition announced that Dr. John Agwunobi, co-president and chief health and nutrition officer, attended the 12th U.S.–China CEO Dialogue on September 10, in Beijing.

The event, co-organized by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC), is designed to further dialogue between U.S. companies and Chinese government officials. Dr. Agwunobi and other U.S. business leaders met with Premier Li Keqiang, as well as other opinion leaders during the meetings.

Separately, Agwunobi met with key leaders from the China Nutrition and Health Food Association (CNHFA), where he detailed the company’s long-term investment strategy for China and the company’s commitment to further developing both the nutrition and direct selling industries in China.

“Herbalife Nutrition’s mission—to help people live healthy active lifestyles through balanced nutrition and exercise—is a mission that is fully aligned with China’s national health strategy,” said Agwunobi. “With China’s demand for health products and services steadily increasing, Herbalife Nutrition is committed to actively working with the Chinese government to help advance the government’s interests in ensuring a healthier population in China.”

In accordance with the Healthy China 2030 Plan, a government initiative focused on the health of Chinese citizens, China’s health industry is expected to reach approximately $1.1 trillion by 2020 and more than $2.2 trillion by 2030. Direct selling, as a main channel for distributing health products in China, has advantages in terms of providing personalized plans and support, and is expected to gain more traction from the rapid development of the health industry.

Herbalife also recently announced a donation of $1.5 million from the China Growth and Impact Investment Program to the Beijing Sport University Education Foundation to further nutrition research and assist in the development of winter sports in China. The Herbalife Winter Sports Development Program is a key component of the company’s commitment to supporting Healthy China 2030.

Mary Kay Inc. Unveils Findings on Sun Care Research

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Mary Kay Inc. recently unveiled its findings on sunscreen viscosity at the 2019 Sunscreen Symposium presented by the Florida chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

A global beauty company and leader in skincare innovation, Mary Kay continued its decades-long commitment to skin science research as a sponsor of the event, which was held Sept. 12–14 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The symposium brought together hundreds of cosmetic industry professionals to highlight leading scientific developments globally and provide updates on current regulations.

Mary Kay presented findings on research experiments that demonstrated how sunscreen viscosity, a property that effects application to skin, can be adjusted using processing parameters.

“The use of sunscreens in daily wear products—such as moisturizers—make it critical for us to constantly develop sun care products that exceed our customer’s aesthetic expectations,” said Dr. Lucy Gildea, chief scientific officer at Mary Kay Inc. “Mary Kay’s research and development team is committed to developing leading-edge technology and we’re proud to share our latest findings on ways to develop sun care products with improved ease of application and proper coverage.”

The Florida chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) is one of 19 chapters nationwide. Mary Kay’s sponsorship of the 2019 Sunscreen Symposium marks the latest in a series of partnerships between the global beauty brand and the scientific and academic communities.

“Participating in events like the 2019 Sunscreen Symposium, as both a sponsor and presenter, allows us to learn and share relevant, cutting-edge skin science research,” said Dr. Gildea.  “Innovation is in the DNA of our company and we are dedicated to discovering the trends and technologies that enable us to create irresistible products for our independent sales force and ultimately, for our Mary Kay brand lovers worldwide.”

California AB5 Sets Dangerous Precedent

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On Tuesday, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 5, which would provide new wage and benefit protections to workers at so-called gig economy companies.

The 29-11 vote now sends it back to the state Assembly for final approval. AB5, as it is also called, has drawn staunch opposition from on-demand delivery and ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft, who have vowed to fight the measure, as well as Republicans; it is winning support from many of the Democratic presidential contenders.

AB5 puts into law a California Supreme Court decision making it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors. The bill would make those companies classify their workers as employees instead. While the bill’s impact on gig economy companies has drawn most of the attention, it would affect a wide array of industries. Fortunately,  direct sellers were included in the first list of exemptions under the bill.

In an article posted yesterday, the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) opined that California’s passage of AB5 may have killed the gig economy.

FEE argues that the gig economy was never meant to be a traditional sector and treating it as such belittles what it actually is—an opportunity offering freedom and flexibility. In fact, says FEE, much of the reason it has been so profitable for all involved is because its model is brilliant.

Gig economy workers have made the choice to forgo employee perks—paid sick time, unemployment and disability insurance and retirement benefits—because they believed the benefits of the gig economy outweigh any potential negatives.

Yet, despite this being a personal decision that should be made by each individual, the state of California has presumed to understand the wants and needs of each gig economy worker through the passage of AB 5. And the entire gig economy may suffer as a result.

If the bill is signed into law, companies will have to determine a worker’s status—employee or contractor—through the “ABC test,” which was instituted in 2018 with the Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles ruling. If a worker does not explicitly meet the broad set of criteria, they are considered an employee, not a contractor.

This means that companies like TaskRabbit, DoorDash, Uber and Lyft will have to treat these individuals as employees, offering them minimum wage, benefits and all the perks that go along with it. They will suddenly be left with costs for which they never planned. For many, these costs will be impossible to afford and could signal their end.

FEE notes that the real danger with AB5 is the excuse it gives to other states for implementing similar policies. Now that one of the largest states has passed legislation it is likely that others may follow suit.

And what follows then? The bill could open the door for other business sectors to implement policies regarding the employee vs. contractor status. You never know, direct selling could be among them.

RCL Activates Disaster Relief Operation for Grand Bahama Island

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., a partner to Direct Selling News and several direct selling companies, recently mobilized initial relief efforts for Grand Bahama Island, which was ravaged by Hurricane Dorian earlier this month.

Last week, more than 100 crewmembers from Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas became the first to activate the company’s disaster relief operation to bring relief supplies and 20,000 daily meals to the Grand Bahama Island community. Crewmembers prepared sandwiches, proteins with rice and fruits and snacks. Over the succeeding days additional ships from the fleet—Symphony of the Seas, Celebrity Equinox and Mariner of the Seas—all repeated the process.

Along with Empress, the company is deploying container ships with much-needed supplies, including 47,000 bottles of water, 362 generators, 250 tarps, 25,000 square feet of plywood, 55,400 diapers and 7,500 pounds of pet food.

Dorian was a category 5 hurricane when it struck the Bahamas. Satellite data suggests that 76–100 per cent of buildings analyzed have been destroyed. Hubert Minnis, the prime minister of the Bahamas, has said the natural disaster will leave “generational devastation” as it will take years to rebuild and recover from the psychological toll of the destruction.

Royal Caribbean is committing $1 million to Dorian disaster relief and matching every dollar of guest and employee donations. To make sure those donations go where they can do the most good, they are collaborating with the Bahamian government and its non-profit partner, the Pan American Development Foundation, and a network of Bahamian charities and other local organizations, including the Bahamas Feeding Network.

“We can’t make every bad memory of Dorian go away. But we can start making things better—today,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

New Avon White Paper Explores Relationship Between Beauty And Happiness

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Avon Products, Inc. announced its major new white paper, Beauty, Happiness and the Rise of the “Perfectly Me.”

This cultural snapshot of Avon’s perspective on beauty explores the company’s new thoughts around women, happiness and ever-evolving attitudes to beauty.

The report was co-created by key members of Avon’s research and development and innovation teams and led by Chief Scientific Officer Louise Scott.

“Beauty is important,” says Scott. “At its best, it’s a catalyst for positive change. At worst, it’s confusing and alienating. By broadening the conversation around it, we enrich, explore and also challenge our perceptions of beauty.”

The white paper, following last year’s much-referenced report Beauty, the Future and the Power of Emotions, expands and develops the theme of an emotionally aware response to beauty by looking at the ways in which we believe our customers are manifesting those emotions right now.

Findings from the report:

  • Happiness is a key driver for customers right now. Where is this search for happiness coming from? How is it manifesting itself in women’s lives? And how is it informing their beauty choices?
  • The self-love movement is moving into a space of self-awareness and self-acceptance. Avon has coined this the “Perfectly Me.” But how do we ensure this message stays relevant? What are the nuances in the way she wants to look, and the way she wants to feel, that beauty companies should be alive to?
  • There’s a growing connection with products that can surprise and delight and foster a shareable sense of “play.” But there’s also an awakening to the idea that we should be broadening the definition of what beauty means, starting new conversations about things that affect women’s lives that don’t necessarily sit under the traditional banner of “beauty.”

According to Avon, the new white paper will help propel thinking into 2020 and beyond, both highlighting the importance of beauty in women’s lives and the responsibility of companies like Avon to enrich and inspire women everywhere.

Tupperware Brands’ PONDS Wins Fast Company Design Awards

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Tupperware Brands has been honored in Fast Company‘s Innovation by Design Awards for 2019 in the categories of Design Company of the Year and Best Design in North America.

“The Tupperware brand has long been synonymous with iconic kitchen products, but Tupperware is far more than meets the eye,” said Asha Gupta, chief strategy and marketing officer at Tupperware Brands. “Starting with Earl S. Tupper’s signature lid used to create a partial vacuum and seal in freshness to today, designing for product optimization in space. We are proud to receive this recognition from Fast Company and its distinguished judges for our work this past year. We will continue to push the boundaries of ingenuity so that we create sustainable and cutting-edge products that meet changing consumer needs.”

Tupperware’s development of PONDS in partnership with Techshot has been honored in the Best Design in North America category for its work enhancing astronauts’ ability to grow vegetables in space. Since 2014, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been growing a variety of leafy vegetables and colorful flowers inside the Vegetable Production System, otherwise known as the “Veggie” facility. In an effort to reduce the frequency that an astronaut must water plants growing in space, Dr. Howard Levine and his colleagues at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) began exploring new design concepts for the component of Veggie that holds the root structure of the plants, the so-called “plant pillows.” Research at KSC led to a semi-hydroponic design concept dubbed PONDS.

Tupperware Brands and Techshot partnered to further develop the concept and manufacture PONDS plant growth units for use aboard the ISS. Tupperware was chosen due to the Company’s heritage of design and innovation to help optimize the growth of plants while reducing the amount of time astronauts spend monitoring and watering them.

Tupperware is also one of the few companies honored for Design Company of the Year. Tupperware was chosen among applicants due to the quality, breadth and ambition of product design this year.

Fast Company‘s annual Innovation by Design Awards is the only competition to honor creative work at the intersection of design, business and innovation. The awards recognize people, teams and companies solving problems through design.

To see the complete list, click here.