PM-International AG, a Schengen, Germany-based direct seller of wellness and cosmetics products, has reported $632 million in annual sales for 2017, a 37 percent increase over 2016 sales. Rolf Sorg, the founder and CEO of the company, announced the results to the more than 3,300 sales partners present at this year’s kick-off event. “My greatest respect […]

Brittany, France-based Groupe Rocher has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Arbonne International, a Irvine, California-based seller of botanically based beauty, personal care and nutrition products. The acquisition will complement and expand Groupe Rocher’s portfolio of strong brands and fulfill its growth objectives, particularly outside the European area. Also part of the acquisition is […]

Orlando, Florida-based Tupperware Brands Corp. has reported operating results for the fourth quarter 2017. Net sales were $588.6 million, down 2 percent (4 percent local currency). On a comparable basis, adjusting for the impacts of the 53rd week in 2016 and the closure of BeautiControl, local currency sales were estimated to be up 3 percent. Emerging […]

LifeVantage Corp., a Sandy, Utah-based health and wellness company, has commenced a cross-border e-commerce model that leverages social marketing in China, making LifeVantage products available for the first time throughout the country. Select LifeVantage products will be available for purchase throughout China via a secure e-commerce website hosted in China. Products will be shipped directly […]

The real success stories in direct selling are as much about personal growth and self-improvement as they are about business. Take the story of Mary Kay Ash as a perfect example. Born in 1918 in Hot Wells, Texas, Ash went from housewife to door-to-door saleswoman to cosmetics mogul all in the span of about 25 […]

Special section of the February, 2018 Cover Story Several trends, shaped by consumers’ evolving preferences about how they like to receive information, will continue to impact the way direct selling companies share personal development resources both to their employees and independent salesforce members in 2018: Microlearning: The term “microlearning” refers to learning in short bursts, […]

Managing an $8.8 billion global enterprise while being the face of a $183 billion international market is a lot of responsibility. But Amway, the world’s largest direct selling company, with headquarters in Ada, Michigan, seems comfortable with—and energized by—the challenge. Amway Founded: 1959 Headquarters: Ada, Michigan Top Executives: Co-CEOs Steve Van Andel and Doug DeVos 2016 Revenue: $8.80 billion […]

Eight years ago three sisters began brainstorming, looking for a way to recreate the cute nail wraps only available at salons. All three cost-conscious moms, Lyndsey Ekstrom, Christy Hepworth and Keri Evans, enjoyed the creative self-expression found in manicure and pedicure colors and styles. But at $60 for hands and another $60 for toes, the […]

In their first seven years, Heidi and Orville Thompson built home- and personal-fragrance company Scentsy into one of direct selling’s top-line players. What began in a 40-foot metal shipping container on a Meridian, Idaho, sheep farm in 2004 led to meteoric growth by 2011 when they hit $535 million in revenue. The next year Scentsy […]

As part of its evolution and adaptation to market trends, the direct selling business model continues to adopt features of online commerce. While incorporating the strengths of e-commerce is important, the channel still has its own unique strengths—strengths that need to be communicated as part of a strategic and well-implemented communications program. Almost anyone can […]

Personal development and self-improvement have been linked with the direct selling segment for decades. The notion of improving your current situation is what draws so many people to direct selling in the first place. As you’ll learn from this month’s cover story, personal development remains fundamental to the best of what modern direct selling has […]

In Washington, D.C. and across the country, there is an association for everything. Each industry, product or interest group has its own agenda. And there is an association to advocate for each one of those agendas on all levels of government. For Americans, it seems only natural to stand together and advocate for a point […]