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SimplyFun Games Earn Prestigious Awards

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SimplyFun, LLC., publisher of award-winning educational board games, has received two awards for 2018 game releases from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and Academics’ Choice Awards.

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio awarded Math & STEM game, Marble Matrix, the 2018 Gold Seal Award. Gold Seal Awards are given to outstanding new products that enhance the lives of children. Oppenheim award winners are selected by a noted expert in child development, children’s literature and education, and are further tested by Oppenheim’s most objective panel of judges—kids. Previous SimplyFun recipients of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award are Dinosaur Challenge and Kilter.

SimplyFun has also been awarded a 2018 Academics’ Choice Brain Toy Award for its newly released Life & Thinking Skills game, Rolling Tides, which was selected for its mind-building excellence. Academics’ Choice Awards program and its seal of excellence are recognized worldwide by consumers and educational institutions as a mark of genuinely effective learning tools that stimulate the mind and provide potential for the student to fully develop higher order thinking skills. This is the 12th Academics’ Choice Award for SimplyFun.

“Our product team at SimplyFun deserves much credit for creating games that merit awards such as these; and it is of note that all of SimplyFun’s 2018 releases have been recognized with awards of achievement,” said Patty Pearcy, president and CEO of SimplyFun. “We are honored that both Oppenheim and Academics’ Choice chose to award SimplyFun games from the many games that they evaluate each year.”

Trends in Influencer Marketing

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In September, Red Aspen was center stage at the Miss America pageant when 26 contestants took up the company’s offer to try its signature lashes.

The Boise, Idaho-based beauty and cosmetics startup attributes its fast growth to an interest in false eyelashes by millennial women. However, its success at the Miss America pageant is an example of how influencer marketing can pay huge dividends for a company.

In the past few years, there has been a growing trend for influencer marketing—relationship building in which a company develops rapport with the people who can create visibility for their product or service, such as a niche blogger or celebrity. It has been extremely successful for companies like Red Aspen because one, company messages are woven into the influencer’s content and two, there is no ad blocking like in content marketing. It is also perfect for today’s social media–driven world.

According to a recent article by Deep Patel on entrepreneur.com, influencer marketing is growing by leaps and bounds every year. It is poised to reach between $5 billion and $10 billion by 2022. As more businesses begin to experiment with influencer marketing, it continues to evolve and adapt to the market. The author has shared 10 trends in influencer marketing that you should pay attention to in the coming year.

1. Increasing emphasis on influencer marketing.

Businesses are finding a solid return when it comes to influencer marketing. According to the Influencer Marketing Hub 2017 study, businesses are making $7.65 on an average for every $1 spent, so it’s no surprise that influencer-marketing platforms have more than doubled in the last two years.

2. Micro-influencers are making an impact.

As it turns out, bigger isn’t always better when it comes to influencers. Brands are homing in on the power of micro-influencers, or influencers who generally have fewer than 10,000 followers on social media. Micro-influencers are seen as more like “normal” people.

3. Focus on storytelling.

At its core, influencer marketing is about storytelling. The best campaigns are crafted when a brand partners with an influencer to create unique content that really engages the audience. Storytelling connects with customers and makes them more likely to make a purchase. One study from ad agency Hill Holliday found that not only are customers more likely to buy from a brand with a good story; they’re also more likely to pay a higher price per item.

4. Video content and live streaming are growing on social media.

We are short on time and attention, but we love to be entertained. This is why video marketing is growing across all platforms, and currently represents more than three quarters of all internet traffic.

5. Transparency in advertising.

Transparent advertising levels the playing field, so influencers and brands are all playing by the same rules. So make sure you disclose every paid piece of content. Even if the content seems like an obvious ad, you need to disclose the partnership in each paid post. One option is to use hashtags such as #ad, #sponsored or #paidpost to make it clear that a post has been sponsored.

6. Influencer authenticity and honesty is a must.

Audiences have zero tolerance for content that comes off as fake or halfhearted. Influencers should honestly connect with the brands they’re endorsing. This type of marketing only works if an influencer is authentic in how they promote a product; they must genuinely like the product or brand, or the campaign will fall flat.

7. Influencer fraud and fake followings.

As influencer marketing increases, a shady side of the business has begun to rear its ugly head: influencer fraud. This happens when influencers artificially inflate the numbers of their followers and likes. Up to 20 percent of mid-level influencers’ followers are likely fraudulent, according to a Points North Group study.

8. The rise of virtual influencers.

One emerging trend to keep an eye on is the use of carefully curated avatars as influencers. This trend was kicked off by the creation the internet’s first “fictional it girl” and virtual influencer, Miquela Sousa or Lil Miquela. Her very virtual existence is drawing both awe and ire as marketing trend watchers try to decide if they love or hate this new development in influencer marketing.

9. Instagram is still king, but don’t overlook emerging platforms.

Instagram continues to reign supreme as the most important social network for influencer marketing, largely because of its enormous user base and easily digestible video content. But it’s not the only platform out there. YouTube is also full of potential influencers, especially if you’re targeting a younger demographic.

10. Expand your pool.

Because most micro-influencers have a relatively small audience, brands need to find ways to multiply their influencer impact. To do this, they often look to expand the pool of influencers they use. Using multiple influencers increases product mentions and audience engagement with the brand. And using different influencers will allow you to reach different audiences, as well as tap into different influencers’ unique ways of framing a product.

To read the full article, click here.

Growth of Digital Payment Market Being Driven by Millennials

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Millennials, who currently account for approximately 27 percent of the global population, are driving the growth of the digital payment market.

According to FinancialBuzz.com, a financial news portal, payments by cash are slowly fading as the emergence of digital, or cashless payment options, are quickly being adopted by consumers.

Technology is heavily integrated into the lives of millennials, as nearly 90 percent of them own or use a smartphone on a day-to-day basis. The group is identified to be heavily influenced by technology, while their buying habits are driven by instant gratification that smartphones, the internet and other modern conveniences provide.

Industry leaders are heavily investing into digital payments because of their convenience and technology-supported infrastructure. Consumers can easily make payments on their mobile devices at anytime and anywhere. With the growth of the market, consumers now have many payment solutions to choose from, whether its bank cards, net banking, e-wallets or mobile in-store applications.

Digital payments are also much more secure, especially now that tech companies are building software to improve security. According to data compiled by Mordor Intelligence, the global digital payments market was valued at USD 2.89 trillion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 6.49 trillion by 2023. Additionally, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.7 percent during the forecast period from 2018 to 2023. The market is also being accelerated by the increasing adoption of mobile smart devices that support digital payment platforms, which is primarily being driven by millennials.

“What remains key is consumer choice,” said Bill Gajda, global head of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at Visa. “Smartphones have democratized how companies innovate and placed the consumer back at the heart of the development process. People want a frictionless experience, taking the path of least resistance, just as long as they can remain secure. Millennials will continue to drive mobile money management and payments. More than nine in ten (91%) predict that they will be using their mobile devices for financial purposes in three years’ time, far above the national average of 72%.”

Jenna Dewan Named 2019 Brand Ambassador for Young Living

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Young Living Essential Oils announced that actress Jenna Dewan will be the new brand ambassador of its makeup collection, Savvy Minerals by Young Living®, in 2019.

“I am excited to enter into the new year as the brand ambassador for Savvy Minerals, a collection of naturally derived makeup products,” said Dewan. “I believe in products that are cruelty free and good for your skin as well as your body. Young Living is a brand that has a heritage in quality and purity, and with Savvy Minerals I can feel good about the clean products I use as part of my daily makeup routine.”

Savvy Minerals by Young Living is nontoxic and free of harmful parabens, synthetic colors and fragrances. Each product in the collection has been developed with safe, clean, innovative formulations anchored by naturally derived ingredients to create natural makeup that meets Young Living’s superior Seed to Seal®standard.

Dewan has worked with Young Living Essential Oils in the past to reveal the brand’s specially curated essential oils collection “Scents of Self” during New York Fashion Week in 2017.

“This will be a year of milestones as Young Living celebrates its silver anniversary,” said Jared Turner, president and chief operating officer, Young Living Essential Oils. “We look forward to collaborating with Jenna throughout 2019 to amplify the voice of the Savvy Minerals makeup collection while continuing to bring awareness to our products that make clean, natural beauty a priority.”

SimplyFun Donates $525,000 in Games for Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

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SimplyFun, LLC announced it will Play It Forward this holiday season by supporting the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation as a National Corporate Sponsor, donating board games valued at $525,000.

“We are very pleased to continue our partnership and welcome SimplyFun as a National Corporate Sponsor of the 2018 Marine Toys for Tots Campaign,” said retired Marine Colonel Ted Silvester, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Their community service goals certainly align with those the Marine Corps has promoted for over 70 years through our Toys for Tots Program. With the generous support from SimplyFun, we will be able to fulfill the Christmas holiday dreams and deliver a message of hope to thousands of less fortunate children.”

SimplyFun has also donated $30,000 in games to the My Stuff Bags Foundation to provide play to children in crisis, including children affected by the recent wildfires in California.

“SimplyFun has been an incredible supporter of My Stuff Bags for many, many years, bringing the gift of imaginative play to thousands of children who desperately need some joy in their lives.” said Janeen Holmes, president and CEO of My Stuff Bags Foundation. “We are enormously grateful for their compassion for children facing the loss of all their belongings.”

By partnering with these charitable organizations, SimplyFun carries out its mission to Play It Forward, a commitment to make play accessible to kids and families everywhere, regardless of their circumstances.

New Age Beverages Merges with Morinda

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Colorado-based New Age Beverages Corporation (NASDAQ: NBEV) announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire lifestyles and beverage company Morinda Holdings, Inc based in Utah.

Consideration for the transaction will be $85 million, comprised of $75 million in cash and $10 million in New Age restricted stock based on the 40-day volume-weighted average price from closing. The cash consideration for the transaction will be sourced from New Age’s current cash balance. The transaction is expected to close in late December. At closing, Utah-based Morinda, which has operations in more than 60 countries around the world, will be bringing a minimum of $25 million in working capital and no debt.

Key Highlights:

  • Merger creates the 40th largest non-alcoholic beverage company in the world with $300 million in net revenue, $20 million in adjusted EBITDA, $200 million in assets, no debt, and $40 million in cash and working capital
  • Combination brings a leading portfolio of healthy beverages, with multi-channel penetration spanning traditional retail, e-commerce, and in-home; with a hybrid route-to-market spanning direct-store-delivery (DSD), wholesale, and direct-to-consumer
  • Provides New Age’s Health Sciences products and portfolio of CBD-infused beverages immediate access into 60 countries, especially in China and Japan

The newly combined global company will be headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with major operations in Shanghai, Tokyo, Munich, Utah and more than 20 other countries, and further strengthens New Age with the infrastructure to expand its portfolio of healthy beverages worldwide.

Hemp–CBD Legalization by Christmas?

New Age CFO Gregory Gould told Hemp Industry Daily that his company isn’t yet certain it will distribute its CBD line of beverages outside the United States, but the deal will provide the infrastructure that would allow it to do so. Like many CBD manufacturers, New Age is waiting for Congress to remove hemp-derived CBD from the Controlled Substances Act, which could happen by year’s end if lawmakers agree to a new Farm Bill.

Senate agriculture leaders have reportedly reached a final agreement on food stamp provisions within the US Farm Bill of 2018, and the included provisions for legalizing industrial hemp and its important CBD derivatives. The Nov. 29th Washington Post expects action before a Dec. 7th Congressional recess.

In other news, the US Hemp Roundtable reported a substantial contribution of $50,000 from Las Vegas-based HempWorx, a direct sales company selling hemp-derived CBD through some 200,000 members.  Last week Roundtable executives testified on hemp-expansion bills before the Georgia legislature, and also were monitoring hemp-bill improvements pending consideration in Michigan’s legislature.

Jeunesse Tour Raises $1.57 Million for Charity Initiatives

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The Jeunesse EXPO9 Thrive 2018 World Tour made stops in five cities from September through November, attracting 62,500 attendees and raising $1.57 million for charity.

The tour opened in Orlando, home of Jeunesse Global, and continued on to Bangkok, Macau and Rome, with a final stop at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. At each event, Jeunesse Founders Randy Ray, CEO, and Wendy Lewis, COO, along with Chief Visionary Officer Scott Lewis and wife Isabel Lewis, led a special celebration of the company’s ninth anniversary, beginning at the Orlando event on Sept. 9. Jeunesse was founded at 9 p.m. Sept. 9, 2009 — a date and time chosen specifically because the number 9 represents longevity in Asian culture.

Attendees raised $1.57 million for the company’s nonprofit Jeunesse Kids™ to fund local charity initiatives in each market aimed at saving and improving the lives of children: providing access to life-saving pediatric cancer treatment, education and clean water, funding rehabilitation services for disabled children, as well as supporting programs that provide increased food security and economic opportunity.

“The 2018 World Tour truly demonstrated how our family of Jeunesse Distributors is thriving by taking action each day to change the lives of people around the world and creating a global movement with lasting impact,” said CVO Scott Lewis. “This was evident in the growth, passion and commitment I witnessed in each market and the incredible support for our mission to provide a brighter future for children.”

Chiefs’ Quarterback Mahomes Newest Member of AdvoCare Endorsement Team

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AdvoCare recently announced the signing of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II as an AdvoCare Product Endorser.

The 23-year-old star, who is a candidate for this year’s MVP award, is an avid fan of AdvoCare products, having used the supplements as part of his health and performance regimen throughout his career. Originally from Tyler, Texas, Mahomes has been surrounded by people who used AdvoCare products, including his mom. He utilized the company’s Spark, among other products, before games during his college career. Once he joined Kansas City, he saw the extensive range of AdvoCare products and the huge role they played in the locker room.

“I am ecstatic to be professionally playing the game I love and representing a company that has helped me get where I am today,” said Mahomes. “Performing to the best of my ability—to be the leader my team and the Chiefs Kingdom deserves—is of utmost importance to me. It feels great to endorse a line of products I know bring real results, and the ‘family-first’ vibe AdvoCare champions makes me extremely proud to be a part of this company.”

“Showtime,” as Mahomes is nicknamed, is joining an impressive roster of AdvoCare Product Endorsers. The current line-up includes fellow NFL players Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals, Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals and Alex Smith of the Washington Redskins, as well as Trevor Harris of the CFL Ottawa Redblacks.

AdvoCare’s founder, Charlie Ragus, also played for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a defensive end for the team during the 1960s. It was during his playing days that he developed a great appreciation for the impact nutrition could have on performance, which ultimately led to the creation of AdvoCare and the company mission: “We Build Champions.”

Mannatech Employees Assemble 55,000 Meals for Malnourished Children

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Employees of Mannatech, Incorporated recently assembled over 55,000 meals for malnourished children around the world.

Working with Mission 5 Million (M5M) and Kids Around the World, employees gathered at the company’s headquarters in Flower Mound, Texas, to assemble the meals. Each meal packet contains six servings, and includes a mixture of lentils, rice, carrots, onions, tomatoes, celery, white cabbage, bell peppers, flax seed and Mannatech’s PhytoBlend powder, which combine to form provide badly needed nourishment to children.

“The love and energy in the room was amazing and wonderful,” said Sarah Louthan, executive director of M5M. “To have nearly 100 Mannatech employees, and even some local Mannatech Associates, giving their time and energy to prepare 55,000 meals is heart-warming and inspirational.”

“I loved that we could all take just a little bit of time and make such a positive impact,” said Stephanie Lusk, Mannatech’s senior director of Human Resources.

Mannatech, M5M and Kids Around the World have combined to provide 16 million meals for malnourished children in 2018. For every $100 in Mannatech products purchased, Mannatech donates a month’s worth of PhytoBlend for a child.

 

ENVY Jewellery Acquired by ARIIX

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Bountiful, Utah-based ARIIX recently announced the addition of ENVY Jewellery to its portfolio of product offerings.

ENVY is an Australian social shopping jewelry company that offers a collection of affordable fine jewelry, available exclusively through independent consultants at in-home parties, one-on-one or online.

“We couldn’t be happier to have ENVY Jewellery join our team,” says ARIIX CEO and Founder Dr. Fred Cooper. “Our market in Australia continues to grow, and with the acquisition of a company like ENVY, we will certainly experience growth in ways that we haven’t before.”

Shaklee Welcomes Renowned Physiologist, Former Olympian

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Shaklee Corporation recently announced the addition of world-renowned sports physiologist Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas and former Olympian Sarah Scherer-Oursland to the Shaklee Pure Performance Team.

Dr. Sokolovas has been the leading researcher on the impacts of lactic acid production in elite athletes. He has worked with Olympic gold medalists, including US swimmer Michael Phelps, and served as director of Physiology for the US Swimming team for nearly 10 years. He currently works with numerous sport national governing bodies to help analyze and prepare athletes for optimum performance in high-exertion activities. His research has led to the development of training and competition protocols for elite athletes all over the world.

“I have spent years seeing the positive impact Shaklee has had on many Games athletes through providing pure and effective nutrition products,” said Dr. Sokolovas. “I’m thrilled to join forces with Shaklee and their Pure Performance Team to explore how Shaklee nutrition can improve athletic performance for Games athletes and developmental athletes.”

Scherer-Oursland graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University with a BS in nutrition, then completed the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, an MBA, and a secondary degree in healthcare management. She was also a two-time member of the US Team, competing in shooting in the 2012 Games in London and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. She has won multiple National Championships and a World Cup gold medal and holds multiple national and world records. She currently resides in Montana and will consult remotely with Shaklee athletes worldwide.

“Many athletes often overlook the importance of proper nutrition, giving precedence to other aspects of their training regimen,” said Scherer-Oursland. “Convincing elite athletes that proper nutrition is fundamental to performance can be challenging. This provides a unique opportunity for me to relate my personal Games performance and nutrition expertise to the next generation of athletes.”

Both Sokolovas and Scherer-Oursland will advise the more than 90 team members on matters concerning sports nutrition and dietary supplements for top performance on the field of play.

Darryl Green Named Stemtech Board Chairman

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Stemtech Corporation recently announced the appointment of Darryl V. Green as its Chairman of the Board.

Darryl V. Green

“The company’s ability to attract someone of Mr. Green’s caliber to our team, reinforces the value proposition we are bringing to the marketplace,” said Ray Carter, Stemtech CEO. “His leadership will help us to reach new levels of global achievement.”

Green’s career has spanned over 30 years in the nutrition sector where he played an instrumental role in driving his former company’s market capitalization from $1 billion to over $3.7 billion.

“I am very excited about the amazing global infrastructure that has been built along with all of the revolutionary patented technologies developed at Stemtech,” said Green. “The company is poised to become a major industry player in the years to come and I am very committed to its success.”