USANA Health Sciences Inc. (USNA), a global nutritional company, announced that it has completed its most recent xeriscaping project along the east side of international headquarters, in Salt Lake City. To date, more than 89 percent of the company’s landscape has been replaced with rocks, mulch, trees and low-water plants.

“Over the past six years, we have been able to save an average of 625,000 gallons of water each year and with our newest xeriscape expansion, we hope to conserve nearly a million gallons a year,” said USANA Green Coordinator, Jeff Robertson. “I’m glad to be a member of a company that takes the well-being of the environment seriously and am honored to be a part of USANA’s green program.”

USANA is an EPA WasteWise member, an EPA Green Power Partner, and is one of 235 organizations to become founding members of the Climate Registry. As a result of their efforts the company has reduced emissions by more than one-third and has earned the title of Clean Utah Partner.

To view the full press release, click here.

 

Mary Kay, the No. 6 direct seller in the world according to the 2011 DSN Global 100, recently reached the 1 million Facebook fan mark, a number that has become the benchmark for successful consumer engagement for brands.

“The million fan mark on Facebook is the quintessential gold standard of a brand’s success in engaging consumers,” said Sara Friedman, Mary Kay’s U.S. Vice President of Marketing. “Every time a person gives us the ‘thumbs up,’ it means that one more person is engaged with our brand and loves our products. Our fans love every aspect of Mary Kay from our irresistible products to the rewarding opportunity to the positive community impact. An engaged consumer who is an advocate for your brand is one of the most valuable partners any company can have.”

Mary Kay launched its official Facebook fan page in November 2009. In March 2010, the U.S. fan page reached 100,000 fans and half a million by August 2011. Over the last year, activity on the page has increased significantly with a 600 percent increase in content posted by fans and 848 percent increase in fan comments. All this activity has driven fan engagement and a steep increase in fan growth over the last several months.

“Social networking isn’t a new concept to Mary Kay,” said Kim Sater, Mary Kay’s U.S. Director of Consumer Marketing. “For nearly 50 years, we’ve relied on people interacting with one another and word-of-mouth advertising to increase our brand awareness. Facebook and other social media tools provide another venue for us to engage consumers. We’ve basically replicated our 50-year history of social networking into social media.”

Along with Facebook, Mary Kay’s social media presence extends to Twitter, YouTube and newly launched Pinterest. Mary Kay’s combined social media presence engages more than 1.6 million consumers around the world.

To view the full release, click here.

Stampin’ Up!, the direct seller of decorative rubber stamp sets and accessories for greeting cards, craft projects, scrapbooking and home décor, announced that Stampin’ Up! Europe will expand into Austria and The Netherlands before the end of 2012.

Stampin’ Up! Europe has seen exceptional growth and demand for their crafting products outside of the United Kingdom, Germany and France. On average their growth has been 80 percent year on year for the last 4.5 years in the existing trading markets.

Axel Krämer, Managing Director Europe, said: “Our business model is flexible, allowing our demonstrators to enjoy our products as a hobby; and at the same time, it provides the chance to turn their hobby into a part-time or full-time career. Expanding our presence in Europe will increase visibility and opportunities for our demonstrators, allowing more people to connect with our brand.”

Approximately 3,000 Stampin’ Up! demonstrators are currently operating in Europe, and over the last few years Stampin’ Up! has received increased demand from many customers, specifically in The Netherlands. The Dutch market has recently experienced considerable interest in purchasing the English product offering, and similarly, the Austrian market has increased purchasing of the German offering.

Stampin’ Up! will continue to operate in three languages—English, French and German—and will not add the Dutch language. The expansion into Austria and the Netherlands will offer Stampin’ Up! products and the business opportunity to more people than ever before. Under the current business model, product sales can only be made within each specific country by hosting home parties and other events. However, as part of the expansion plans, Stampin’ Up! will now allow cross-market selling and recruiting between the five European countries.

“Our demonstrators’ businesses will now benefit from their extended contacts with consumers in other countries, as by removing the trading border controls, we are encouraging cross border selling and recruiting,” Krämer said.

Stampin’ Up! continues to drive the crafting marketing in Europe and recently announced that the European product catalogue will expand to be aligned with that of the North American market. This change to the Annual European catalogue strategy will ensure that all demonstrators have access to a significant increase in products from October 1, 2012.

For more information on Stampin’ Up! Europe, visit www.stampinup.co.uk.

Neways Enterprises, a worldwide leader in dietary and personal-care products, today announced that the company’s Board of Directors has appointed Robert S. Conlee to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

James Zenni, President and CEO of Z Capital Partners, said: “Robert is a proven leader who brings to Neways more than 20 years of executive and management experience in the direct-sales industry. Robert has established a demonstrated track record of successfully leading teams in multiple global markets and in different stages of business cycles, including inception, turnaround and growth. We are confident that under his leadership, Neways will continue to successfully execute on its strategy of growth through creating substantial opportunity for distributors, expanding into new markets and introducing innovative, exclusive new products.”

Before joining Neways, Conlee served as the CEO and Board Member for Xango. Prior to Xango, Conlee served in various leadership roles at Nu Skin Enterprises, including Executive Committee member, President-North Asia Region, President-Nu Skin Japan, and COO-Pharmanex Nutritional Division.

For more information, click here.

A recent article by Michael Tasner on Huffington Post explained how with social media marketing becoming the staple of communication between businesses and their customers, content creation and a well-executed strategy is vital in order to increase your brand’s social reach and grow your customer loyalty.

Tasner cites a study by DDB, a leading global ad agency, which found that 75 percent of Facebook users who follow a brand have made more than one online purchase recently, and 84 percent of them use the brands they follow.

Another survey, this time by Market Force, found that 79 percent of consumers “like” a brand page to receive discounts or other incentives, and 70 percent of them are looking for details on sales and events,

What the survey tells us, says Tasner, is that consumers on social media platforms like to be informed, and like to receive things in return for their loyalty. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are platforms for brands to have a far more targeted reach than traditional advertising, and when a consumer likes or follows a brand, it means they want information, and they intend to take action with the knowledge provided to them.

In addition, consumers apply what they see on a brand’s social page to either purchasing decisions, or more importantly for brands, the purchasing decisions of others through personal recommendations.

For direct sellers, having a well-developed social media marketing plan is critical to reaching those friends of friends who can increase your brand’s social reach.

To view the full article, click here.

John Parker is used to being in situations that are a little scary and uncomfortable, whether it is surfing the world’s oceans or spending several years overseas in a completely different culture.

What he likes about those situations are the challenges posed—the process in getting through them, to him, is the ultimate reward.

This month, Parker, Vice President and Chief Sales Officer for Amway, will take on another challenge as the new Chair of the DSEF Board of Directors: to guide the Foundation as it works with its many partners to execute programs that promote ethical entrepreneurship and champion consumers rights on behalf of the industry.

“The DSEF does so much in terms of bringing credibility and understanding about our industry to key influencers,” says Parker, who is also a member of the Direct Selling Association Board of Directors. “By building those relationships with individuals and establishing partnerships with some really respected organizations, it creates an environment in which we can have others tell our story in a compelling way and speak for us in times of crisis. I think there is just a lot of power to that.”

Parker assumes his new position with a focus on a few key initiatives, such as the Direct Selling Entrepreneur Program, a new community college curriculum developed in partnership with NACCE (National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship), —and the CBBB (Council of Better Business Bureau) program, which helps DSEF spread the message of the direct selling industry’s commitment to ethics and trust in the marketplace.

Parker would also like to expand the global relevance of DSEF, which already successfully supports consumer welfare globally through such programs as APEC /CEPI (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Consumer Education and Protection Initiative). From his extensive international experience, Parker knows that international markets could benefit from a variety of DSEF programs.

Charlie Orr, Executive Director of DSEF, thinks Parker’s knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the Foundation and its Board. “He brings both a domestic and global perspective,” says Orr.  “And he knows and respects the distributor mindset as well as anybody in our industry.”

Parker’s knowledge of the distributor mindset comes from nearly two decades of working with Amway distributors around the world.  Parker joined the company in 1993 as a Distributor Relations Sales Manager and assumed several management roles within the company over the years, including Chief Marketing Officer.

In 2007 he was named President of Amway Japan, where he led all operations for one of Amway’s largest affiliates. “It was a fantastic experience, both personally and professionally,” says Parker. “It was an opportunity to experience a very different culture. I think my children will forever see the world differently. Certainly I will forever see the world differently.”
Parker’s time in Japan provided him with a new global perspective of the industry. “It was interesting to see the challenges the direct selling industry is going through in Japan. Some markets are a little more organized than others, but as a whole the industry has very similar issues around the world,” he says. “I had a better understanding of that within the context of Japan, and now that I’m back here, we’ll be able to support our business and the industry as we try to improve the environment for direct selling in Japan.”

In addition, that global experience helped Parker, who is an avid surfer and golfer, see a connection between the world of sports and the world of direct selling industry. “We think about our industry as individual distributors doing their thing—and they are—but it’s also a community, a team environment,” Parker says. “If direct selling were a sport it would be a team sport. because the encouragement, the community and the social dynamic of direct selling make it more than just people selling products and getting compensated for it.

“The relationships are probably the things that make the industry so special,” Parker continues. “And I think that’s true in sports as well. You have a feeling about your friends and your teammates that you carry with you your whole life. I think our industry is very much the same way. We are out building businesses but we are also out building friendships. I think that is a pretty great part of the industry and a pretty special part of life.”

Parker’s new team at DSEF will include two new members to the Board: Orville Thompson, CEO of Scentsy, who will also serve on DSEF’s Executive Committee, and John Wadsworth, President of Morinda Bioactives.

“As we welcome our new Board members, I am looking forward to having their perspective and guidance as we continue to grow our existing signature programs and pursue several new exciting strategic opportunities,” says Orr.

Orr also acknowledged outgoing Board members Heather Chastain (Celebrating Home), Al DiLeonardo (CUTCO/Vector Marketing), Sandy Spielmaker (Amway) and Jim Stitt (CUTCO/Vector Marketing) for their contributions. “I thank them for their service and their support over these last several years,” he says.

For more on the Direct Selling Education Foundation, click here.

Amway, the No. 2 direct seller in the world, was recently profiled by ABC affiliate WZZM for its commitment to Michigan.

The company, which is headquartered in Ada, Michigan, continues to bring thousands of jobs to the state economy at a time when many businesses are opting to move elsewhere.

Amway currently has 20,000 employees worldwide, with 4,000 in Michigan, including the Ada plant that produces approximately 2.5 million gallons of product and 80 million units each year.

“We have to do what is right for our business, but at the same time, it makes sense to bring production and have it centralized here in the United States,” said Brandon Goodyke, Amway’s Director of Global Manufacturing Strategy and Operations. “We want to make it here in Ada. We are committed to Michigan. We are committed to the people here in Grand Rapids.”

To view the story and video, click here.

In other news, Amway North America earned the #1 ranking in the Health & Beauty category in the Internet Retailers annual Top 500 Guide. It was the ninth consecutive year that the company has earned the top spot.

“Amway Independent Business Owners always look to the future and new technology trends and that’s helped us achieve this level of success online. Using social media and cutting-edge technologies, Amway IBOs serve customers wherever they are: in person, on their computers, phones or tablets,” said Tanios Viviani, Regional President of Amway Americas. “This ranking also reflects the high quality of our products and appeal of our major health and beauty brands, NUTRILITE nutritional supplements and ARTISTRY skin care and cosmetics.”

Internet Retailers’ definitive ranking and analysis of America’s 500 largest e-retailers is based on 2011 Internet sales, researched by Internet Retailers and confirmed by retailers.

To view the full story, click here.

Oriflame, one of Europe’s leading beauty brands, recently announced that its partnership with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) will expand across the globe.

Oriflame’s sponsorship of the Association, which previously covered Europe, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and Africa, will now expand to include the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

The company, which placed No. 8 in the 2011 Direct Selling News Global 100, has been the official cosmetics partner of the WTA since 2011. The new agreement will extend through the end of 2014. To reinforce Oriflame’s partnership, there will be significant WTA branding used throughout Oriflame’s catalogs and social media channels. Oriflame will also have a strong presence via WTA’s digital assets, including multi-language websites and social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Michael Cervell, Senior Vice President of Global Brand & Communications and Strategic Business Development for Oriflame, said: “We at Oriflame are excited to continue our successful partnership with the WTA, and organization which, like us, focuses on providing women with an opportunity to be successful, beautiful and confident, along with a platform to pursue their dreams.”

Oriflame is one of the fastest-growing beauty companies in the world. It operates in 67 countries and is the market leader in more than half. Although it is not established in the United States, it has a presence in Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

To view the full release, click here.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently warned that the continued job crisis and high unemployment experienced around the globe could permanently damage the economic prospects of today’s youngest workers.

The OECD said the lack of jobs for those aged 15-24 could create a “scarring effect” on the long-term career paths and future earnings prospects of these workers.

In 2011, 14.8 percent of American youth were neither employed nor in school or training programs. Of the 34 countries in the OECD’s study, the rate was 18.6 percent.

Harry Holzer, Professor of Public Policy at Georgetown, believes the reason that the labor force participation has dropped so much during the recession is that some people, when faced with a weak labor market, choose to simply drop out. He favors a combination of job training and educational, skill-building activities with work experience to help those currently jobless rejoin the labor force.

One answer is direct selling.

The direct selling industry offers job training and work experience for all ages. In fact, several direct selling companies—such as Southwestern and CUTCO—have long, successful histories in changing the lives of young people through their business opportunities.

Direct seeking helps young people grow personally and professionally, providing business training and personal development instruction to help them succeed in today’s business world.

Instead of dropping out of the labor force, young people should be encouraged to drop in to direct selling, where hundreds are companies are waiting to help them shape their career paths and reap financial rewards.

 

As part of its continuous efforts to inform and educate the public on the strength and scope of the direct selling industry, Direct Selling News has just released a 20-page Special Report of its Global 100 rankings. The list of the Top 100 direct selling companies in the world is published annually in the June issue of the magazine.

Publisher and Editor in Chief John Fleming states, “The DSN Global 100 rankings each year are eagerly awaited by corporate executives, and ever increasingly by the independent distributors and consultants who help the companies they represent attain this remarkable achievement. This Special Report gives any company that was ranked a top quality, independently-verified tool for their sales force.”

The Special Report consolidates the original article and removes all advertising. It is available in packs of 10 and provides companies and field a professional and economical way to share this remarkable achievement with prospects and customers.

Click here to view the Special Report.

 

Across Europe, direct selling continues to have a positive impact on economies that have been hit hard by the global recession. More than 11 million people are now engaged in direct selling—26,000 permanently employed in direct selling corporate offices. Last year saw a continuation of the sales growth experienced by the industry over the past five years, with 2011 sales topping 17 billion euros.

In the UK, the direct selling industry is the largest provider of part-time independent earning, with more than 400,000 people now actively selling for such companies as Kleeneze, Avon and The Pampered Chef. However, the contribution these direct sellers make to the economy has gone mostly unnoticed.

The UK DSA wants to change that.

Paul Southworth, Director General of the DSA, is determined to secure greater awareness and recognition of the direct selling industry, which not only has the ability to support people back to work and inspire entrepreneurs, but which also generates approximately (pounds symbol) 2 billion in sales each year.

Recently, Southworth and other DSA members attended a reception hosted by Conservative MP Brian Binley at the House of Commons.

“The event was extremely useful in enabling us to discuss the DSA’s priorities with key Members of Parliament, and to plan for the future of the industry—an industry which is closely aligned to the government’s current agenda around encouraging new business and entrepreneurialism,” said Southworth.

To view the full article, click here.