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Oriflame Co-Founder Jonas af Jochnick Steps Down from Board of Directors

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Jonas af Jochnick, co-founder of Switzerland-based cosmetics giant Oriflame, has declined re-election and will step down from the board of directors after serving as a director since the founding of the company in 1967.

Jonas af Jachnick

Jonas af Jachnick

“After 50 years it is time for me to leave the Board and provide room for a new generation,” said Jochnick. “In my view the entrepreneurial corporate culture of Oriflame is, and always has been, one of our key differentiators and part of the company’s DNA from the start. I am confident it will live on for the years to come, and I am very pleased that my daughter, Anna af Jochnick, has been proposed as new Board Director.”

Anna af Jochnick has extensive company-specific and direct sales experience. According to the company, she will bring shareholder and cultural focus to the board. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M), Major in Business Law from Lund University. Her career includes Associate at Grönberg Advokatbyrå as well as several positions within Oriflame, including tax manager, area sales manager, and regional online implementation and business development manager for the Western European region.

Gunilla Rudebjer was also nominated to the board of directors. Rudebjer will bring extensive managerial, financial and accounting experience to the board. She holds a MSc in business administration and economics from the Stockholm School of Economics. Her career includes several executive position, including CFO at Scandic Hotels, Cision, Parks & Resort Scandinavia, Mandator and TUI Nordic (Fritidsresor). Rudebjer is Bobard member and chair of the Audit Committee at Capio, Ambea, Optigroup and NCAB Holding.

Founded in 1967, Oriflame is a beauty company selling direct in more than 60 countries. Its wide portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty products is marketed through approximately 3 million independent Oriflame Consultants, generating annual sales of around €1.4 billion. Respect for people and nature underlies Oriflame’s operating principles and is reflected in its social and environmental policies. Oriflame supports numerous charities worldwide and is a co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation.

ARIIX Opens in France; Launches Innovative Travel Program

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ARIIX, a Bountiful, Utah-based company that promotes healthy, toxin-free living, recently announced the launch of France as an official market. The announcement was made during the company’s Next Level World Tour held in Lyon, France.

In 2017, year-end sales for France reached $2.95 million and for the first half of Q1, 2018 sales have already reached $910,000. France is home to 1,777 ARIIX Representatives, and that number continues to increase exponentially.

“Exciting things are happening in Europe,” said Mark Wilson, ARIIX president and founder. “France is an impressive advancement among the many we are experiencing with European growth. Five out of the top 25 worldwide Power Rankers of 2017 are from Europe, and the country continues to hold steady as our third fastest-growing market month after month. We’re thrilled with our market leaders and can’t wait to witness the success in 2018!”

France is the 17th official market for ARIIX in just six years of business. According to the company, growth is a key factor for official market consideration at ARIIX, and new markets will continue to open across the globe as ARIIX expands its international reach.

During the launch on March 17, ARIIX also announced a new loyalty rewards program that will allow ARIIX preferred customers and representatives to travel at wholesale rates.

The program will offer a dollar-for-reward dollar return when purchasing ARIIX products and a dollar-for-reward dollar return when out-of-pocket travel costs accrue through the ARIIX travel portal. For 28 days after the launch, ARIIX is also offering a retroactive dollar-for-reward dollar match for past purchases dating back to when the representative or customer first joined ARIIX.

Plexus Worldwide Names Gareth Hooper Chief Information Officer

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Plexus Worldwide, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based health and wellness company focused on health and happiness, has announced that direct selling veteran Gareth Hooper has been named chief information officer.

In his new position, Hooper will be responsible for leveraging new technology to drive organizational growth, improve both front-end and back-end website performance, develop scalable solutions for customer and Ambassador needs, and orchestrate transformative business strategies through data-driven decisions.

“Gareth Hooper is an accomplished, results-oriented IT management executive with more than 20 years of achievement, and we are thrilled to have him on our team,” said Plexus Worldwide CEO Tarl Robinson. “He is a champion of innovation who brings a wealth of experience developing technology solutions, building high-performance teams and driving growth. He will be instrumental in creating and delivering mission-critical IT projects to handle Plexus’ explosive growth and international expansion. “

With his background in global information technology operations, strategy and execution, Hooper previously served as chief information officer for two direct selling companies and IT director for another, as well as held leadership roles at Blockbuster.

“I am excited to join the Plexus leadership team during this exciting time of growth,” said Hooper. “I saw early on as a child growing up in a small town outside London how direct selling can help families like mine make ends meet through hard work and a positive attitude. I am eager to contribute my technical expertise as we develop new products and grow the organization.”

Natura Reports Strong Revenue Increases during Transformational 2017

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Photo: Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil

Natura Cosmeticos, a Sao Paolo, Brazil-based multinational direct seller of cosmetics, personal care and beauty products, announced its financial results for the full-year 2017.

The company reported a strong increase in consolidated net revenue, supported by growth in all businesses, that led to consolidated net revenue of R$9,852.7 million (real) in the year, up 24.5 percent from 2016. This included four months of revenue from The Body Shop, which Natura purchased in July 2017.

Natura management commented: “2017 was a transformational year for Natura, which marked the creation of a new group bringing together three strong and distinctive brands—Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop—with a strong set of results, a new governance structure and a new corporate identity. Natura & Co., the new brand identity unveiled this February, consolidates the creation of a global, multi-channel and multi-brand cosmetics group that is driven by purpose. Natura & Co. refers to the brand that gave birth to the group, but it also brings elements that convey the collective construction of this union: The ‘&’ represents a link and bond, shaping a sense of community, while the ‘Co’ expresses connection, collaboration, co-creation and coexistence. This new identity is underpinned by the creation of a Group Operating Committee, a new corporate governance body responsible for group strategy, respecting the autonomy of the three businesses but also fostering cooperation and identifying and capturing synergies.”

For the fourth quarter of 2017, Natura revenue increased 9.0 percent on the back of 6.5 percent sales growth in Brazil and a strong 17.5 percent improvement in Latam. Aesop has growth of 27.2 percent and The Body Shop’s revenue was up 2.1 percent.

For the full-year 2017, Natura’s top line grew 7.8 percent from 2016, with Brazil growing 4.5 percent and Latam 18.0 percent. Aesop revenues rose 30.3 percent and The Body Shop’s pro forma sales grew by 2.2 percent.

According to the company, “With strong financial results, improvement in all three of our businesses and further positive impact on sustainability issues, 2017 thus provides a first demonstration of the great potential we see in the new and distinctive Group we are building day after day.”

To read the full Natura Q4 report, click here.

Nature’s Sunshine Q4 Revenue Up 5%; Slight Increase for 2017

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Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., a Lehi, Utah-based maker of nutritional and personal care products, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.

For the fourth quarter, net sales increased 5.2 percent to $88.3 million; for the full year, sales increased 0.3 percent to $342.0 million.

“Our fourth quarter results reflect continued year-over-year net sales growth, driven by gains across our Synergy Worldwide markets and strong growth in our NSP business in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe,” said Chairman and CEO Gregory L. Probert.

“We believe the disruptions to our North America business as a result of a new ERP system deployed in April 2017 are now behind us, but we have additional work to do to re-energize the market,” Probert continued. “We posted growth in China and continue to emphasize expanding our direct selling efforts in this market with the goal of building a long-term profitable new market. Consistent with our initiative to evaluate our cost structure through a review of our direct and indirect costs, during the fourth quarter we took some actions to reduce SG&A, which led to some nonrecurring restructuring and severance costs during the period. Our focus will continue to be to support and grow our business while matching our organizational structure to our business outlook in order to enhance profitability and shareholder value.”

For the fourth quarter, net sales of $88.3 million increased 5.2 percent, compared to $84.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. On a local currency basis, net sales increased 3.8 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. NSP China net sales increased 200.3 percent, compared to the same period in 2016. Synergy WorldWide net sales increased 3.6 percent compared to the same period in 2016 (or 0.4 percent in local currencies). NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe net sales increased 7.9 percent compared to the same period in 2016. NSP Americas net sales decreased 4.9 percent compared to the same period in 2016 (or 5.1 percent in local currencies). Net sales were impacted by $1.2 million of favorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

For the full-year 2017, net sales of $342.0 million increased 0.3 percent, compared to $341.2 million in 2016. On a local currency basis, net sales decreased 0.2 percent as compared to 2016. NSP China net sales increased approximately 91.4 percent compared to the same period in 2016. NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe net sales increased approximately 7.3 percent compared to the same period in 2016. NSP Americas net sales decreased approximately 5.6 percent compared to the same period in 2016 (or 5.7 percent in local currencies). Synergy WorldWide net sales decreased approximately 0.8 percent compared to the same period in 2016 (or 1.7 percent in local currencies). The weakening of the U.S. dollar versus local currencies resulted in an approximate 0.5 percent or $1.6 million increase in net sales during the year.

To read the full Nature’s Sunshine Q4 report, click here.

Isagenix Matches PGA Star Rahm’s $21,000 Donation to Mexican Red Cross

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Isagenix International, a Gilbert, Arizona-based global health and wellness company providing nutrition and lifestyle solutions, has announced it is matching PGA Tour star Jon Rahm’s $21,000 donation to the Mexican Red Cross.

Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm

The donation stems from the Team Isagenix Elite athlete’s performance at the WGC-Mexico Championship March 1-4.

Shortly before the golf tournament, Rahm, ranked No. 2 in the world, announced he would contribute $1,000 for every birdie and $3,000 for every eagle to the Mexican Red Cross to help those affected by the recent earthquakes in Mexico.

“As soon as we heard what Jon was doing, we had to get involved,” said Erik Coover, Isagenix senior vice president of global field development and culture. “Isagenix is passionate about helping victims of disaster, so Jon’s generosity and heart for the people of Mexico really resonated with us. We’re honored to help him support the Mexican Red Cross as it provides much-needed assistance to those affected by the earthquakes.”

The company’s matching donation marks the second time Isagenix has contributed to the Mexican Red Cross. In 2017, it donated to the organization’s earthquake disaster fund. Isagenix also encouraged its customers to purchase a box of IsaBar™ Avena con Pasas protein meal replacement bars last year to donate to Mexican Red Cross relief efforts. The company matched those purchases by donating one box of IsaBar for each box purchased.

In 2017, Isagenix contributed nearly $7 million in monetary and product donations to disaster relief and charitable groups supporting children and families.

“I’m thrilled that Isagenix is matching my donation so it will have the greatest impact possible on a community that needs our help,” Rahm said. “I truly appreciate having a sponsor that supports and shares my desire to make a difference in the lives of others.”

USANA Named Top Rated Direct Selling Brand for Fifth Time

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USANA, a Salt Lake City-based cellular nutrition company, was named the 2018 Top Rated Direct Selling Brand in ConsumerLab.com’s Survey of Vitamin and Supplement Users.

This is the fifth time USANA has earned this award, which is based on customer satisfaction. According to the survey, a greater percentage of consumers were highly satisfied with USANA than with other direct selling brands.

“Receiving this kind of feedback directly from our consumers is something we value a great deal,” said Dan Macuga, USANA’s chief communications and marketing officer. “It serves as an indicator of our passion and focus for putting our customers first. Our investment in research and development and manufacturing are validated by consumer satisfaction awards like this. With the further development of our USANA InCelligence Technology® and brand new Celavive® skincare system, 2018 and beyond will be a great time to be a USANA customer.”

ConsumerLab.com is an independent, third-party supplement testing company providing results, reviews, ratings and comparisons of vitamins, supplements, herbs and nutrition products to consumers. It surveys its readers annually regarding their use, choice and satisfaction with supplements.

“This top rating demonstrates high satisfaction among USANA supplement users,” said ConsumerLab.com President, Dr. Tod Cooperman.

Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report Shows Key Drivers of Entrepreneurial Spirit

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Amway, the largest direct selling company in the world, has released its annual findings on the state of entrepreneurship worldwide.

The 2018 Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report (AGER) was conducted by Amway in partnership with Dr. Isabell M. Welpe, a professor and the chair of strategy and organization in the School of Management at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and spans 44 countries, with in-person and telephone interviews conducted with nearly 49,000 men and women aged 14–99.

“Gaining a greater understanding of why people decide for or against owning a business and what kind of businesses are most appealing is helpful for effectively fostering a world of entrepreneurs,” said Amway President Doug DeVos. “This knowledge can help business and government leaders to make decisions and take actions that help more people start their own businesses and reach their full potential in this area. More entrepreneurs mean more opportunity, more economic growth and more prosperity for everyone.”

The 2018 study finds that more U.S. respondents (57 percent) have the desire to start their own business compared to global respondents (49 percent). While the desire to become an entrepreneur in the U.S. is down slightly from the previous year (61 percent), there is a strong sense of continued optimism among respondents.

Age, gender and education levels also can potentially impact attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Most surprisingly, in the U.S., the education gap is significantly shrinking when it comes to desirability of starting a business. The report explains that having a university degree does not play a significant role in shaping entrepreneurial spirit; those with and without university degrees exhibited similar sentiments.

The report confirmed the desirability of starting a business falls with age. While the Amway Entrepreneurial Spirit Index (AESI) score is the same (58) for respondents under 35 years of age and those between the ages of 35 and 49, it is considerably lower (51) for respondents over 50 years old. The youngest age group surveyed demonstrated the strongest desire (68 percent) to start a business. This falls to 60 percent for the middle age group and 48 percent for the oldest group of respondents. Most interestingly, the feasibility of becoming an entrepreneur follows a different demographic pattern with respect to age. It is the lowest for the youngest respondents (58 percent) and highest for the middle-aged respondents (64 percent).

The report also states that gender plays a clear role in shaping the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans. While 67 percent of U.S. males reported starting a business would be desirable, only 47 percent of U.S. females reported the same. Similarly, 69 percent of U.S. male respondents felt they have the requisite capabilities to become an entrepreneur compared to 52 percent of U.S. females. In general, men also had higher AESI scores (62 percent) compared to women (48 percent), roughly similar to previous years.

“Across the United States, the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and thriving, from coast to coast,” said Dr. David B. Audretsch, professor and director of the Institute for Development Strategies at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. “This year’s AGER confirms Americans continue to view entrepreneurship in a positive light and are open to the idea of starting their own business. Compared to the global average, attitudes towards entrepreneurship in America are sustaining momentum from previous years and are on track to experience continued growth.”

Similar to previous years, the AGER features the AESI. Introduced in 2015, the AESI measures three dimensions that influence a person’s intention to start a business: desire, feasibility and stability against social pressure. The average for all countries slightly declined from 50 to 47. In the U.S., AESI score was 54, similar to recent years (2016: 56 and 2015: 53). Additionally:

  • 57 percent of U.S. respondents expressed the desire to become an entrepreneur – desire
  • 60 percent of U.S. respondents felt prepared for entrepreneurship – feasibility
  • 46 percent of U.S. respondents would not dismiss their dream of starting a business if their family or friends stood in the way – stability

In looking at U.S. respondents’ abilities and attitudes regarding starting and running a business, the majority (88 percent) perceive themselves as socially supported (compared to 64 percent globally). When it comes to taking risks, 74 percent of U.S. respondents consider themselves to be risk-takers, compared to 47 percent of respondents globally.

The first iteration of AGER launched in 2010 as the Amway European Entrepreneurship Report, then expanded worldwide with the 2013 AGER, encompassing 24 countries. The 2018 AGER Fieldwork was completed by the Gesellschaft fuer Konsumforschung, Nuremberg, from April through June 2017. Results are shared with the scientific community, including the 44 AGER academic advisors and all interested think tanks and academic and public institutions.

Full results and more information about AGER can be found here.

Brett Blake to Become New AdvoCare CEO

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Plano, Texas-based AdvoCare International, L.P. recently announced that Brett Blake has been promoted to chief executive officer. He will assume the new role on April 1.

Blake replaces industry veteran Brian Connolly, who served as interim CEO during the extensive executive search. Connolly will continue to work closely with Brett serving as executive chairman of the Board.

Blake was hired in October to serve as president of Global Sales and Strategic Planning. He will continue to serve those functions in addition to the added responsibility of CEO.

“I am grateful for the confidence the Ragus family, Brian Connolly and the Board of Directors has in me,” said Blake. “I am so impressed with the caliber of people associated with AdvoCare and am looking forward to leading this company to even greater success as we look to secure our business in the U.S. and expand globally.”

Prior to joining AdvoCare, Blake served in executive or management roles with several direct selling companies and PepsiCo.

“Brett’s deep expertise in direct sales and leading successful businesses, paired with his passion for the Distributors and customers, made him the best choice to lead AdvoCare into the future,” said Debbie Ragus Cook, a member of the Board of Directors and the eldest daughter of AdvoCare founder Charles E. Ragus. “We are also so grateful to Brian Connolly for his immeasurable contributions to AdvoCare over the last two and a half years and are excited he will stay engaged through his role on the Board.”

Avon Launches Music Video with Icona Pop to Celebrate Courage of Women

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London-based Avon, the company for women, yesterday celebrated International Women’s Day with the launch of the music video “All My Girls” as part of its #Stand4Her movement, a campaign to honor and support young women to dream higher by sharing life-changing stories.

Recorded in Stockholm by Swedish electro-pop duo Icona Pop—formed by Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo—the “All My Girls” music video was inspired by stories of courage featured in the #Stand4Her movement. The video serves as a message of encouragement and as a tribute to these fearless girls who are promoting social change. It will be available on the website stand4her.com, along with the stories of young social entrepreneurs, writers, athletes and artists such as Evelina Cabrera, a 31-year-old Argentinian who grew up in poverty and became a soccer coach and founder of the Argentinian Women’s Football Association (AFFAR) and Buenos Aires’ first-ever blind women’s soccer team and MC Soffia, a 13-year-old Brazilian rapper who has gained fame by tackling racism in her lyrics and helping black youths to stand up for their rights.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Avon to send such a strong message to all girls out there,” said Hjelt. “As female artists, we have faced difficult moments throughout our careers and standing up for each other has always been very important. We want our song to empower girls to chase their dreams and to encourage other women to do the same.”

Added Jawo, “It’s very empowering to see what the girls from the #Stand4Her movement are doing for society. Together we are stronger, there’s nothing we can’t do.”

With 6 million Independent Sales Representatives, and as one of the biggest corporate supporters focused on female causes, Avon is more than a beauty company—it’s a global network of women. Since 1886, Avon has been empowering women to live on their own terms by offering them an alternative to achieve economic independence at a time where they were not even able to vote in most of the countries. #Stand4Her is another step in the company’s mission of inspiring and creating a world with more empowered women.

“We believe that when girls see other women changing the world, they feel inspired and encouraged to do the same,” said Avon’s Chief Brand Communication & Content Officer Danielle Bibas. “We want girls and young women to know that they have the right to dream higher, and they are not alone. Supporting women is supporting a better future. This campaign brings our mission as a company to life, which is creating a world with more empowered women. And a world with more empowered women is a more beautiful world.”

Young Living Names Ben Riley Chief Sales Officer

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Lehi, Utah-based Young Living Essential Oils recently announced that Ben Riley has been promoted to Chief Sales Officer after leading the company to record-breaking sales each of the last two years.

Ben Riley

Ben Riley

Riley has played a key role in helping Young Living expand on a global level, overseeing the business grow by over 30 percent with significant increases in every region. The company has also seen a 30 percent increase in new customers over the last year.

“Since joining Young Living, Ben has demonstrated his leadership through successful and consistent sales and direct selling strategies for the company,” said Jared Turner, Young Living president and chief operating officer. “Ben has an extraordinary ability to build strong relationships with our members and find innovative ways to continue to expand and grow Young Living’s business worldwide.”

Riley joined Young Living in 2016 to oversee global sales. As regional president of North America, he developed and integrated sales strategies, oversaw field leadership support and ensured the success of Young Living’s field leaders across the United States and Canada.

Riley has more than 15 years of experience in the network marketing industry and sales and spent more than 10 years building businesses internationally. Prior to joining Young Living, he was vice president of sales in Australia and New Zealand for a major direct selling company.

Thirty-One Gifts Partners with Teacher Resource Center at Dallas–Ft. Worth Tour Stop

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Thirty-One Gifts’ pink mobile shop will roll into Grand Prairie, Texas, for a two-day event for the public and Dallas–Fort Worth-area teachers March 9 and 10.

Thirty-One Gifts is partnering with the North Texas Teacher Resource Center, which is operated by Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, to host an event where teachers may pick up free school supplies for their students on March 10. Each year, thousands of Dallas–Ft. Worth area teachers visit the Resource Center up to two times during the school year for free supplies.

The Teacher Resource Center has scheduled 225 area teachers to get a free Thirty-One storage bin filled with school supplies for their students. Teachers in qualifying schools who have a World Vision membership, where at least 70 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, may visit the center to stock up on learning and classroom supplies such as binders, notebooks, crayons, glue sticks and much more. Thirty-One Gifts has supplied tote bags throughout the year for teachers to use to fill with supplies.

“We’re expecting 15 teachers every 30 minutes,” said Resource Center Office Manager Ingra Green. “Many of the students are homeless, so we also provide hygiene kits and food items. The teachers are closest to the need and know which children aren’t eating or need extra help.”

During the two days, teachers and the public can participate in a community give-back event by helping to prepare Hope Kits, which are cosmetic bags filled with personal hygiene products for women escaping abuse, poverty or domestic violence. At the event, visitors may assemble the bags and include a handwritten note of encouragement to women who receive the bags in times of need.

The Grand Prairie stop will be the 19th of a 69-city nationwide tour celebrating the Columbus, Ohio-based company’s 15th anniversary. The Thirty-One shop comprises a 26-foot-long trailer pulled by a truck and is ADA accessible. Both the trailer and truck are painted in Thirty-One’s bright pink logo color and 15th anniversary branding. The trailer walls hinge open to accommodate visitors and create a store-like space. Guests may see products up close and place orders.

“We’re celebrating our 15-year success with our customers nationwide,” said Cindy Monroe, Thirty-One Gifts founder and CEO. “With their help, we’ve become one of the largest direct selling organizations in the world and we want to thank them and share gifts and host them at our shop in person. We look forward to meeting our customers and sharing our products and mission with those who don’t know us.”

With a theme entitled “The life you love is in the bag,” Thirty-One will give away an organizing tote each day to the first 50 guests (18 and older). There also will be prize drawings throughout each day with $100 worth of products awarded to five guests daily, and everyone who visits the shop will receive a gift.

Giving back is fundamental to Thirty-One, and through their charitable initiative, Thirty-One Gives, they work to empower girls, women and families to lead purposeful, thriving lives. Since 2012, Thirty-One Gives has donated $100 million in products and cash to charitable organizations that share their mission, including World Vision.

Thirty-One has partnered with World Vision for several years. Products donated to World Vision through their partnership are shared with communities in need to continue the important education they are providing to women and children in remote villages in Africa, where prenatal and nutritional supplies are desperately needed. Thirty-One Gives has donated over $37 million in product for World Vision’s programs in 25 developing countries, including over 12,000 blankets for at-risk newborns and tote bags for health and nutrition volunteers in remote villages. As the premier Giving Tuesday match partner, Thirty-One Gives donated $3 million in product to help World Vision raise $4.2 million in cash over the last three years.

The company will include its give-back mission at various other stops during the Celebration Tour. At several locations, community service projects will be conducted, working with Thirty-One Gives’ nonprofit partners. Projects also will be conducted for the Kids In Need Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Operation Homefront, and Girls on the Run, providing engagement opportunities for guests to support the organizations. In addition to preparing Hope Kits, Thirty-One will conduct community baby showers for families whose babies are in neonatal intensive care units at other stops.

For more information on the Celebration Tour, click here.