Viridian Energy is taking its first step outside the U.S. with a forthcoming expansion into Australia, the green energy provider said Tuesday.
The Stamford, Connecticut-based company is now signing on Independent Associates in Australia’s eastern and southern states, with plans to launch services in the second quarter of 2016. Viridian’s offerings include electricity that is more than 50 percent renewable, natural gas mitigated by carbon offsets and residential solar power. More than 22,000 Independent Associates work with the company in 19 markets across the U.S.
“Viridian is thrilled to bring a unique and differentiated opportunity to the more than 400,000 direct sellers already engaged in network marketing in Australia,” Cami Boehme, Chief Strategy Officer, said in a statement. “With limited opportunities for Australian network marketers to offer services today, we look forward to helping Aussies embrace the potential of service-based direct selling, today the fastest-growing segment of U.S. network marketing.”
Operating solely in the U.S., Viridian generated revenue of $328 million in 2014, ranking No. 29 on the DSN North America 50, a list of the largest direct selling companies in the region. With its entry into Australia the company is targeting a region that accounts for 45 percent of direct sales worldwide, according to research from the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations. In 2014, channel sales in the Asia Pacific region increased 9.1 percent to $81.5 billion.